Quarries Trail at Roche Harbor

Hiking Distance: Under a mile
Elevation Gain: 250 feet

From the resort, there is an interesting trail that gives good insight into the history of Roche Harbor. There are several places to explore in the quarries, but note that the signs may not direct you to all the different spots. The highpoint is definitely worth a visit, if you can find it. Unfortunatly, the trees are overtaking the view with each passing year.

Limestone was mined from as many as 15 quarries cut out of the hillside behind Roche Harbor. Quarries 7, 8 and 9 were the most productive. The faces of some of the quarries were over 200 feet high. Today in Quarry 9 on the north face white marble (limestone) deposits can be seen on the left and right of the black shale face.

A large body of men would bore holes in the side of a quarry using compressed air drills. Dynamite was then placed in these holes. At the end of the work day the dynamite charges were fired creating a large pile of loose limestone. The next morning a different crew loaded the stone into ore carts to transport to the kilns. This process would be repeated daily. The ore carts were at first pulled by horses which were later replaced with a small 3 foot gauge rail and steam locomotive. The paths and rail descended gradually down the hillside to the kilns.

The working crews were quarrymen, for which Roche Harbor has named the Quarryman Hall. This was hard, dirty and dangerous work fit for a young man. McMillin hygraded the quarries by mining in a way that only produced stone that was cheap and easy. Over the years this resulted in making the quarries inefficient to mine. Mining was discontinued permanently in 1956.

Lower trailhead sign

View of the resort from the upper trailhead area

There are a few directional signs

Trail through the quarry

On a cliff face looking down at a quarry lake

A view into Westcott Bay

Overgrowning quarry walls

Steps up to the viewing area at the highest point of the hill

Looking down into one of the quarry pits

Sydney B.C. from the overlook

Spieden Island in the distance

Vancouver Island in distance