The Dakota 576 Crash Site Trail near Port Hardy, Vancouver Island, leads to the sad wreck of a 1944 Royal Canadian Air Force Dakota plane. 

The out and back trail starts on a road near the Bear Cove parking lot.

Sidetrips to a narrow, overgrown trail.

Ends up in a rugged, muddy track with some steep sections requiring ropes.

Arriving at the crash is haunting. Wreckage still strewn through the forest.

Happily, the site seems little vandalized or looted.

Pilot Officer J.M. Talbot and Navigator T.S. Wardlow were killed. A third crew member, Sgt. T.R. Moss, survived the crash.