text: Picea sitchensis (Sitka spruce) achieves its best growth on the alluvial sites of river valleys along the Pacific Coast of North America1. The fourth tallest measured specimen - ”Carmanah Giant”, 95.7 metres - is located in Carmanah Walbran Provincial Park (165 km2) on the western side of Vancouver Island2. The trail leading to the Giant is closed but magnificent cathedral-like P. sitchensis groves can be seen along the open trails. The noble trunks are tall, smooth pillars, with dense crowns. Besides P. sitchensis the most important species are Tsuga heterophylla (western hemlock), Abies amabilis (Pacific silver fir) and Thuja plicata (western redcedar). Tree species diversity is low and most species are easy to identify.
  In the west the park adjoins Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. However, it is not allowed to enter the latter from Carmanah Walbran Park. To reach Carmanah Walbran, there is a long drive on gravel roads through huge clearcuts. Camping is allowed only in designated areas and on Carmanah Creek´s exposed gravel bars.