TJ Watt Photography Blog — TJ Watt Photography

Carmanah Valley From Above

An aerial view over the stunning Carmanah Valley in Ditidaht territory. Flying over the south coast, one quickly realizes just how hard it is to find a view of unbroken wilderness like this.

Nearly everywhere you look is a patchwork of clearcuts, second or third growth plantations, tufts of old-growth sprinkled about, and roads - everywhere roads.

It can almost feel strange then to see a sea of unbroken green like this. Like an emerald blanket, the forests wrap around every nook and cranny, peak and valley, for as far as the eye can see.

Knowing that this area is protected fills me gratitude, wonder, and joy. As a big tree seeker, staring down at the tapestry of tall trees has my mind spinning about what future adventures in this valley might uncover.

The old-growth forests of Carmanah wouldn’t still be here today though if it wasn’t for hard-fought efforts in the 1980’s and 90’s to stop clearcut logging by Macmillan Bloedel. It stands as a testament to the fact that your efforts can and do make a difference.

Let’s keep working together to protect the remaining endangered old-growth forests in BC for ours and future generations to cherish and explore.

Carmanah Valley: New Giant Spruce Tree Identified

UPDATE - 2024: We’ve since climbed and documented this tree with professional climbers! See the photos and story and watch the incredible video too!


At 12.5ft wide, over 250ft tall, and with a crown that is a world unto itself, this Sitka spruce may now be the largest known tree in the Carmanah Valley.

We came across it last weekend when myself and some friends were exploring in the park. After a long day of bushwhacking, daylight fading, and snow beginning to fall, its giant, multi-forked canopy caught our eye from a distance. We bumped into another group of big tree seekers before making our way over to this Goliath of the woods, shouting with excitement as we approached it.

Certain trees just enter into a different category of big and this would be one of them. It can be hard to comprehend their incredible age and immense size. To be in their presence is both humbling and inspiring, and fills you with stoke!!

The Carmanah Valley is special place. Protected in the 1990’s after hard fought conservation battles, it is home to some of, if not the the very best, old-growth Sitka spruce stands in the country. It’s also famous for having the tallest tree known in Canada, the Carmanah Giant, which stands 315ft or 95m tall.

With its sweeping valley bottoms and rolling slopes all still intact, it leaves you wondering what else could be out there. For now, this appears to be the biggest, but more could surely be in store. Only time and further exploration will tell!

The Easter egg hunt continues…