Local Walks & Hikes
To see lots of pictures of these
favourite staff and visitor places to visit, click on the 'Photo
Gallery' link on the side of the webpage, and then choose an attraction for a photo tour.
First of all, the scenery and trails within the campground are wonderful. But when you're ready to venture offsite, there are almost 200 parks in Nanaimo, a short drive away, that range from forests to lakes to beaches, and almost all have excellent walking trails. On this page we've compiled our favourite places to stroll or hike and enjoy the scenery, and we'd like to invite you to do the same. Naturally, our staff can give you more information about any of these places, including directions. This City
of Nanaimo parks map
shows you where the parks are, and there are links to the major parks'
individual park maps.
Neck Point - Offering a great view of the Winchelsea Islands, Georgia Strait, and the mainland mountain range, Neck Point is one of Nanaimo's best oceanside parks. Beachcombers will be right at home here, with several gravel and rock beaches to explore and plenty to see. The many bays make this a favourite with scuba divers and snorkelers, which Nanaimo is world famous for. In 2002, a rare 'superpod' of over 200 Orcas (killer whales) paraded past the Neck Point's viewing platform, thrilling the lucky park users there that day. Park map.
20 minute drive from Living Forest.
Waterfront Promenade- Nanaimo is blessed with one of the most beautiful harbours on the West Coast. A walkway allows you to stroll the parks, shops, fishing pier, restaurants and yacht basin. Area map.
10 minute drive from Living Forest.
Linley Valley- Linley Valley is true gem within the city, though less than half of the 400 acres has park status, at present. Miles of trails criss-cross the rocky knolls and forest valleys, and anyone looking for relaxing or challenging bike rides or hikes through the forest would do well to check it out. Lost Lake and Cottle Lake are also within the valley, as well as several creeks.
15 minute drive from Living Forest.
Lost Lake Park -This 10 minute loop trail circles north Nanaimo's water reservoir, Lost Lake. Hard packed gravel trail, located on the north edge of Linley Valley.
20 minute drive from Living Forest.
Hemer Park-has a great network of smooth, gentle trails through tall conifers, without a lot of change of elevation. The 45 minute loop is sandwiched between two quiet lakes, one of which is a bird wetland and features a sunny bird viewing platform.
10 minute drive from Living Forest.
Piper's Lagoon- Situated just south of Neck Point, Piper's Lagoon is a long spit and rocky outcropping that encloses a sandy lagoon. At low tide, the lagoon drains and sandpipers and other seabirds roam the flats looking for a meal. This beautiful city park is popular with good reason. Park map.
20 minute drive from Living Forest.
Westwood Lake-
This is one of Nanaimo's most popular places to swim, with a great sandy beach and warm water in the summer. A lakeside trail encloses Westwood, paul kurucz photo and takes approximately an hour and a half to navigate. The trail system also links to the Morrell Sanctuary.10 minute drive from Living Forest.
Departure Bay Beach- Located just north of the Departure Bay ferry terminal, is a popular place to visit for saltwater swimming, beachcombing, kayaking or maybe just grab a meal and enjoy a beautiful sunset.
15 minute drive from Living Forest.
Morrell Sanctuary- This is a lovely forested park with trails that run around several small lakes and ponds that are home to many waterfowl. Loop walks range from 10 minutes to 1-2 hours round trip, and the trails also extend to Westwood Lake, an adjoining park.
10 minute drive from Living Forest.
Beach Estates Park
Pick up a double double at Tim Hortons across the street at Brooks Landing Mall, and enjoy this hidden gem of a park. The park descends to a small sandy beach by the BC Ferry dock in Departure Bay, following the ravine cut by Beach Estates creek. Criss-crossed with wooden bridges and surrounded by giant ferns, you'd never know you were right in the city. 16 minute drive from Living Forest.
Newcastle Island is the gem of Nanaimo's harbour, a 600 acre provincial park only a 10 minute foot passenger ferry ride away from downtown. It is the perfect place to spend a sunny day in Nanaimo, with plenty of trails for walking or biking, many beaches, diverse flora and fauna, and much more. From the massive oaks overlooking the harbour to Mallard lake in the center of the island, Newcastle is a must see for any visitor to Nanaimo. There are several beaches on the island that present great opportunities for both swimmers and beachcombers, but Kanaka Bay is undoubtedly the cream of the crop. With a sandy stretch for strolling and thousands of tidepools for the more inquisitive, one could easily spend the day without leaving the bay.
However, not to be overlooked is Echo Bay, and the Pirate's Causeway, where one can walk to Protection Island when the tide is fully out. Just be careful not to get caught across the channel with a rising tide! Miles of well maintained trails criss-cross Newcastle, allowing both hikers and bikers to enjoy the themselves on the island.
On foot the island can be circumnavigated in about three and a half hours, but that's not counting breaks to enjoy the breathtaking scenery. Tucked in the middle of the island is the aptly named Mallard Lake. Don't forget to take some seeds to feed the ducks. Newcastle Island was once home to a
thriving sandstone quarry, and in several places on the west side of the island there is evidence of this past in the form of large piles of cylindrical rocks. Pictured here is a column that had been destined for the construction of the San Francisco mint (sandstone for which was quarried from Newcastle), but sank along with its cargo ship in a storm many years ago. It was salvaged and returned to this spot in the park. 
Youngsters will have a blast navigating the shallow caves and gullies formed by these long untouched stones.At the end of the day, enjoy a snack at the historic pavilion, home of black tie affairs of the rich and famous in the 1920's, along with more information and exhibits about the island, its wildlife, and its heritage. Head out of the Living Forest and turn right on the highway to head north. After passing through downtown, turn right onto Front Street, and then immediately left into the parking lot of Maffeo-Sutton Park. Head to the water, and you'll find the Newcastle Island passenger ferry. It leaves about every hour, and takes about 10 minutes to cross the channel. See the Newcastle Island webpage for scheduling and pricing.
Head out of the Living Forest and turn right on the highway to head north. After passing through downtown, turn right onto Front Street, and then immediately left into the parking lot of Maffeo-Sutton Park. Head to the water, and you'll find the Newcastle Island passenger ferry. It leaves about every hour, and takes about 10 minutes to cross the channel. See the Newcastle Island webpage for scheduling and pricing.
Haslam Creek Suspension Bridge- Part of the new Trans-Canada Trail, it's a bit tricky to get to, as the trail system is under construction, but your 30 minute hike in is rewarded with this breathtaking suspension bridge over Haslam Creek.
15 minute drive South from Living Forest to trail head.
Colliery Dam- This downtown's most popular park, as it has numerous entrances nd many separate trails.
They all revolve around the dam and various bridges over the chutes of water. Park map.
10 minute drive from Living Forest.
Buttertubs Marsh- What a great place to go in the spring time and early summer to see all kinds of baby ducks and other birds in this wetland sanctuary- take bird feed (not bread). The kids will have a great time feeding them from the beach. A scenic loop trail goes around the marsh for a 45 minute stroll.
10 minute drive from Living Forest.
Bowen Park- Situated just a few blocks from the city center, Bowen Park is home to an outdoor pool, recreation center, frisbee golf, lawn bowling, beach volleyball, skate park, tennis, a duck pond, towering rhododendron's and many enjoyable forested walking paths. For a stroll along the lovely Millstream River and it's beautiful waterfall, there's no better place.
8minute drive from Living Forest.
Dodd Narrows/Cable Bay Trail- a half hour walk through the forest rewards you with a birds eye view of a tidal narrows, where two large bodies of seawater are forced through a 30 meter wide channel with each tidal change, creating a river-like torrent of tidal rapids and whirpools. Then, every six hours, before the current reverses direction, there's a lull and the waters become serene, allowing boats to sneak through before the next tidal rip. Because of the extreme current, many species of marine life only seen on the West Coast, like huge barnacles, bull kelp and anemones are found.
Neck Point - Offering a great view of the Winchelsea Islands, Georgia Strait, and the mainland mountain range, Neck Point is one of Nanaimo's best oceanside parks. Beachcombers will be right at home here, with several gravel and rock beaches to explore and plenty to see. The many bays make this a favourite with scuba divers and snorkelers, which Nanaimo is world famous for. In 2002, a rare 'superpod' of over 200 Orcas (killer whales) paraded past the Neck Point's viewing platform, thrilling the lucky park users there that day. Park map. 
