Just a 15-minute drive from the Hazelnut Inn, Teapot Hill is a woodland trail that feels as though it has wandered out of a fable.

The Story

Teapot Hill takes its name from a teapot discovered along the trail, and over the years, more porcelain teapots have appeared among the forest vegetation. Today, finding them tucked beside the path and nestled among the ferns has become part of the fun.

There is something delightfully unexpected about coming across a teapot in the middle of the woods — a little touch of whimsy that makes an ordinary walk feel like a treasure hunt.

The Climb

The trail begins along a gravel path before narrowing into packed-earth switchbacks as it winds steadily uphill. The climb takes roughly two hours to complete, allowing plenty of time to pause, explore, and keep watch for the teapots hidden along the way.

As you make your way deeper into the forest, the surroundings become increasingly peaceful. Moss, ferns, and towering trees create a cool, green woodland setting that invites you to slow your pace and look a little more closely.

The Woods

Sword ferns fringe the trail throughout the year. In spring, delicate phantom orchids appear among the forest floor, while summer brings tiger lilies brightening the greenery.

Listen for the knocking of woodpeckers and the distinctive calls of Steller’s Jays overhead. With a little patience, you may also catch sight of deer moving quietly through the undergrowth.

The Summit

At the top, the trail ends at a modest viewpoint where Cultus Lake can be glimpsed through the trees. It is a quiet place to pause, catch your breath, and take in the landscape before beginning the walk back down.

But the real pleasure of Teapot Hill isn't the view at the summit. It is the sense of discovery along the way — the unexpected teapots and the changing forest — small moments that make the hike a little more enchanting.

And, after a two-hour wander through the woods, you can return to your cozy suite at the Hazelnut Inn and settle in with a well-deserved cup of tea. Because sometimes the best part of a journey isn't where you end up, but the little wonders you discover along the way.

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Trail Overview

• Location: 22V8+2F, Cultus Lake, BC, V2R 0E1

• Travel Time: 15 minute drive

• Hiking Distance: 5 km round-trip

• Hiking Time: 2 hours

• Elevation Gain: 250 metres

• Difficulty: Moderate

Today is Beatrix Potter’s birthday.

Best known for her beloved “little books,” Potter was also a naturalist and a passionate advocate for the preservation of England’s Lake District — a landscape that inspired much of her work.

Her stories were also an inspiration for our Under Hill Suite. Beneath the soil, twisting tree roots, bespoke hand-painted wallpaper, and woodland-inspired details create a space that feels like stepping into a little world of its own. A little whimsical, a little hidden, and made for slowing down and looking a little closer — much like Potter’s stories themselves.

Happy Beatrix Potter Day!

Last week we posted a short video of our Under Hill Suite online, expecting it to settle quietly among the millions of other things people see in a day. Instead, it seems the internet had other plans. Late at night, the video was watched for the one-millionth time.

A million is a strange number. We don’t know how many individual people watched it, or how many came back for another look. We only know that, at some point, a little video of our room under the hill crossed that remarkable number.

And that feels a little magical.

The Under Hill Suite took months to build. We bent steel into the shapes of roots, worked concrete by hand, scraped quite a lot of it from beneath our fingernails, and spent an unreasonable amount of time deciding exactly what colour “dirt” should be. It was built slowly, carefully, and entirely by hand.

So to watch something that took months to make travel around the world in seconds is a strange and lovely thing. There were shares and tags, and plenty of comments, including one that made us laugh: “Adults only?… GLORIOUS!!!”

To everyone who watched, shared, tagged a friend, or simply paused for a moment to peek under the hill — thank you. We’re very glad our little room found its way to you.

Now, if you’ll excuse us, we have to go polish a tiny green stove.