Cedar Trees & Skunk Cabbage in Revelstoke

While staying at a motel in Revelstoke, I came across a promotional brochure that mentioned the Giant Cedars Boardwalk Trail in Mount Revelstoke National Park. Intrigued, I looked it up and pinned its location on my GPS. It sounded like a worthwhile detour, so we decided to check it out.

I had often read about the "Cedars of Lebanon" in the Psalms of the Bible and had always wondered what a cedar tree looked like in real life. The poetic language of Scripture gives these trees an almost mythical quality:

"The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars; the Lord breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon." (Psalm 29:5) "The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon." (Psalm 92:12)

To be able to walk among ancient cedar trees sounded both awe-inspiring and symbolic. It also made me reflect on why the cedar features so prominently in Lebanon’s national identity - even appearing on the country's flag. Clearly, it is a tree of deep cultural and historical significance.

The Giant Cedars Boardwalk Trail is located about 30km northeast of Revelstoke along the Trans-Canada Highway. By the time we arrived in the late afternoon, the trail was peaceful and quiet - we encountered only two other couples during our visit. It felt as though we had the entire trail to ourselves.

The boardwalk, which winds gently through a lush, old-growth forest, is approximately half a kilometre long. Walking along it was an incredibly serene and refreshing experience. Some of the cedar trees here are over 500 years old, their massive trunks and towering heights evoking a sense of timeless grandeur. Being surrounded by such ancient living beings felt humbling, almost sacred - a quiet testimony to the beauty and endurance of the natural world.

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On our way back to the motel, we noticed a sign which read "Skunk Cabbage Boardwalk Trail" and, out of curiosity, we decided to make a stop to see what it was all about.

Skunk cabbage is a wildflower that typically thrives in swampy, waterlogged forest areas. It’s not a particularly eye-catching plant - its broad, waxy green leaves give it a rather plain appearance. What makes it memorable, however, is its name. The plant is called "skunk cabbage" because when its leaves are crushed or bruised, they release a strong, unpleasant odor - often compared to that of a skunk or rotting meat.

Fortunately for us, we didn’t smell anything “skunky” during our walk! The boardwalk meandered gently through a marshy landscape, giving us a unique glimpse into this lesser-known wetland ecosystem. It was a short but educational detour, and we appreciated how the trail made the swampy terrain accessible and interesting, without any of the foul odor its name might suggest.

Two typical Red Chairs for resting along the Trail!

Skunk Cabbage.