AWD friendly. Honestly a wonderful drive, a ton of it is paved, to the quality and level you start wondering whether this is some public farmland road or something. I kept expecting to turn through somebodies ranch

There is a gate, as marked on the trail. Today it was open - though I never checked with Mosaic if this weekend was an exception, but it is typically locked according to their website. There is also a sign on the north side of the gate saying "will close at any time" . I was expecting it honestly to be closed so was pleasently surprised to find it not. It looks a bit in rough shape but its definitly functional, so I would not be surprised if its open/closed from time to time

Signage at the north shore main end is quite confusing, and with no cell service its a bit of a confusing go left or right. Left though takes you to the lake, though the signs at that intersection seemed to say Bamfield, Port Alberni and Cowichan lake was to the right