Easy hikes and walks around Area B (Discovery Islands/Mainland Inlets)

The Kay Dubois Trail weaves in and out of coastal forests and remote beaches. These underdeveloped beaches are rocky and often dotted with driftwood. The beaches will look different at different times of the day due to tides changing the water levels.

Sutil Road has roadside parking and is a good place to either start or end a hike along the Kay Dubois Trail. For a glass of wine after your hike, walk 700 meters south on Sutil Road to the SouthEnd Farm Winery, where you can enjoy wine tastings. Be sure to check the winery hours, as they are not open every day.

The Mud Lake Trailhead starts right off the roadside pull-off, with a simple, unmarked entrance leading straight into the forest. There’s no formal signage or built-up trailhead, so it can feel easy to miss at first. Once you step onto the path, you’re immediately on a narrow forest trail that heads toward the lake without much buildup.

Mud Lake is a small, quiet lake tucked into the forest at the end of a short walk. When you reach it, the shoreline feels still and slightly enclosed, with trees right up to the water and limited open views. You have a better and closer view of the lake from Walkan Road. Here, it's more of a peaceful spot to pause and take in the sourroundings. You’ll often have it to yourself.

The Mud Lake Trail is a short, easy route that leads through quiet forest to a small, secluded lake. The path is straightforward and mostly follows a single route, taking you through trees and along wet, low-lying ground before reaching the lake after about ten minutes. If you'd like to extend your hike, the trail connects with several other trails such as the Tripod Trail and Ridge Trail.

There’s a small roadside pull-off marking the start of the Mud Lake Trail, with limited space for a few vehicles. It’s easy to miss if you’re not looking for it, as there’s no large car park or formal entrance. Once parked, the trail begins right off the road and quickly heads into the forest toward the lake, so you’re on the path almost immediately.

Big Bay is a sheltered inlet on the west side of Stuart Island, and is a calm pocket of water in an area surrounded by powerful tidal currents and nearby rapids. Its protected waters make it a reliable anchorage and landing spot for boaters navigating the Discovery Islands. The bay is beautiful, and the surrounding forested shoreline and a handful of small community buildings, create a peaceful, secluded coastal atmosphere.

This beautiful forest-lined trail runs from the public dock at Big Bay north to Eagle Lake (and onward toward Basset Cove), and is a peaceful, relatively easy hike through coastal woodland. Along the way, you’ll likely see plenty of bald eagles and other wildlife, and Eagle Lake itself includes a small swimming float, a nice bonus if you want to cool off on a warm day. Because the island is mostly privately owned and access is limited, this public-access trail is one of the few ways for visitors to explore the island’s natural shoreline and forested interior.