Hiking on the Nanaimo River Trail

About 10 kilometres away from downtown Nanaimo, find yourself on an easy and well-marked hiking trail along the Nanaimo River with a smile on your face! It is a great short walk that impresses you differently at each section. Take your dog with you and get it some exercises too, as it is dog off-leash-friendly. You can find such energy there in the area with the Douglas fir plantation.

Wear your hiking boots! It is going to be a challenging hike that may take about 4 to 5 hours. The lovely amount of elevation with fantastic views is what you can get hiking on the Mount Benson Loop near Nanaimo. As it is located in a reach environment, take lots of breaks to enjoy the area and get enough energy. If you are not ready for wet terrains, try it on a dry and cool day. You would be satisfied as an experienced hiker.

Hiking on Bowen Park Loop is a lovely urban walk along a river with stunningly beautiful nature that promotes a rich forest, a waterfall, and a scenic pond. This easy hiking trail is so well maintained with lots of facilities. Spend hours hiking on this loop as part of the Trans Canada Trail and have a memorable day in the park, great for different kinds of activities.

Westwood Lake Trail is not super challenging, but it is a lovely well maintained and well-marked hiking trail around Westwood Lake with beautiful viewpoints and greenery. The forest and lake are full-on herons, eagles and deer with lots of opportunities to have a great time, so bringing your family with you is a decision you will not regret!

Don't hike alone! It is an excellent hike for the whole family and pets. Cable Bay Nature Trail is scenic, easy, clean, and wide enough as a family trail. Not only your family but your pet can accompany you. Get the most out of incredible viewpoints. Hike through the forest near the coast and find a nice rock to take a break, grab a snack, and watch the marine wildlife.

Neck Point Park is a beachfront park with some lookout spots where land meets the ocean. It is a popular choice for photography, hiking, scuba diving, and historic and scenic features. Fishing, paddling, and swimming are other options you have to entertain yourself. This waterfront park has awesome sea life; also, you can see bunnies very commonly.

Nanaimo Harbour, a vibrant waterfront gem in the heart of Nanaimo, British Columbia, on Vancouver Island’s east coast. Known as the “Harbour City,” Nanaimo Harbour blends stunning natural beauty, rich maritime history, and a lively cultural scene, making it a must-visit for tourists exploring Vancouver Island beaches, tide pools, and coastal adventures. Whether you’re strolling the scenic Harbourfront Walkway, savoring a Nanaimo Bar, or embarking on a boat tour to Saysutshun (Newcastle Island), this bustling port is your launchpad to unforgettable experiences.

Situated between ecological reserves and parks in a peaceful area, Quennell Lake is a unique destination on south Vancouver Island, particularly for fishing lovers. It is among the top ten locations in Canada for Bass fishing. As the lake is quiet and beautiful, paddling an entire day would be great, or you can have exploration as a family or do a little exercise.

Millstone River Falls is not a tall waterfall, but its beauty can rival any waterfall on Vancouver Island. Located in Bowen Park, two drops of Millstone River Falls make a soft melody by running smoothly down the river. Bowen Park Loop is a hiking trail that leads you to the waterfall, which is easy even for children. So you can enjoy this natural attraction with your family.

If you plan to be away from urban life and spend hours in the woods watching wildlife and get relaxed, take a visit to Beach Estates Park, west of Departure Bay. With a beautiful designated hiking trail, Beach Estates Park is interesting for hikers and runners. The park's nature includes a lush forest with magnificent tall trees, a small river, a rocky beach, and Beach Estates Falls.

Kanaka Bay is a gem on top of Newcastle Island Marine Provincial Park. It has the best of what summer has to offer, a beautiful place to spend hours with your family. The beach is accessible by a short walk from the dock. The extensive picnic area and playground of Kanaka Bay are the sweet spots for children. Don't forget about water sports, and watching wildlife like raccoons.

There is always an adventure in the woods. Pass the wooden bridge toward the Nanaimo Parkway and go deep in the lush forest. The flow of Chase River, get you to the Granny Falls, the cherry on top of Colliery Dam Park, which runs freely into the pool under it. The beautiful trees and smoothly running river make Granny Falls a family-friendly place.

Beaufort Park is a year-round destination in Nanaimo. Each season's nature and wildlife diversity make eye-catching scenery for visitors, so take a camera with you. A multi-purpose court suitable for sports like basketball and pickleball, and a tennis court are available. There are also a community garden and a food forest, and a dog off-leash area.

Are you looking for a nice place near Nanaimo or Parksville to have a memorable time? Are you interested in exploring a river, park, and waterfall at the same time? Choose the Englishman River, capture the beauties of nature, and enjoy hiking along the trails. Get relaxed by the falls, go fishing or swimming in the river, have meals at picnic tables, or get ready for camping in the area.

Colliery Dam Park with Chase River, huge trees, Granny Falls, and two small ponds is a tranquil and wooded park. The spectacular views with some nice bridges make the park a good choice for photographers. It is possible to walk your dog off-leash at the upper dam. You can go hiking, seasonal swimming, boating, and fishing for rainbow trout.

The Nanaimo River, with warm water and deep pools, is an excellent choice for swimming. It has lagoons for a family picnic or day trail and a rocky beach for kids to play in, and for you to lay on some large rocks. From April to June, and in September or October, test your fishing skill in the river for cutthroat and rainbow trout. Have the pleasure of hiking in trails and take some pictures.

Parksville Beaches is a public beach with endless tidal flats of sand and rock. In July, a fantastic event takes place; the Sand Castle Sculpture Competition and Exhibition. In summer, soaking in the sun and watching the splendid sky could be relaxing. As the beach has an extensive area, it suits children's taste to spend hours running freely, playing and beachcombing.

Silence is wiser than speech in nature. To get this atmosphere with a scenic view near Nanaimo and to have an excellent family time, Westwood Lake Park is a smart year-round choice. It is a perfect place with a playground for kids, an off-leash area, and a lifeguard patrolled freshwater swimming site. Hiking, mountain biking, fishing, and boating are other adventures to take.

Dolphin Beach is known for its scuba diving site. Whether you are a beginner or professional, challenge your skills and explore marine life. See one of the world's best landscapes since twilight when the beach slowly lit and the sky is getting orange. The beach is more stunning with the trees at the backside and their shadow on the water surface.

The desire for seeking facts, knowledge, and history, with the subject of battles, made Vancouver Island Military Museum one of the most visited attractions in Nanaimo. Have a tour of more than 25 exhibits and get to know Canada's Military History and Traditions until today. It features many models, uniforms, medals, decommissioned firearms, and Dam Busters.

Don't just listen to people talking about Wall Beach. Come and see how beautiful this sea lion habitat is. Incredible diving opportunities are provided for both armature and professional divers. The chance to see several diverse marine life there is Wall Beach adds up to the reasons why one should come to this spectacular beach.

Hope to have a great adventure and do not fear new experiences. One of the best diving spots near Nanaimo downtown, accessible by both beach and ferries, offers a fantastic diving opportunity not to be forgotten easily. The mighty currents with great drifting experience increase the amazement of diving.

Looking for a daring diving experience? Hop on and drive to Alcala Point in Porlier Pass diving site. There is a fantastic diving place where you may need a diving guide during winter due to enormous waves. Also, plenty of marine life is living there, so employing safety is mandatory.

Assign one page of your adventure book to the experience you would gain in the Cottam Point diving zone. Going north of Nanaimo, this fantastic diving location is famous for its mighty tides and incredible marine life. Therefore, you can enjoy both diving and exploring underwater life.

Nothing can feed your spirit like a clean, relaxing vacation. To do so, you have fantastic chances to camp in Newcastle Island Marine Provincial Park Campground and let your lungs to be flourished by the fresh air you let in. These oceanside campgrounds have a lot to offer: ample amenities, various wildlife and astonishing scenery. Camping at this campsite is something that happens once in a lifetime.

Vancouver Island is saturated with treasury campgrounds, of which one of the best is Rathtrevor Beach Campground. You are provided with different campsites and facilities there, and the beautiful beach is a fantastic place to forget all the bills and relax by the water. You would not be the same when you observe how differently the sun scatters its light on the majestic mountains around.

If you are collecting a diary of diving experiences, it would be amazing to add your diving experience to HMCS Cape Breton. Wrecks of a sunk ship which has made the area a phenomenal diving location decorated with artificial reefs. The zone offers a spectacular site and undeniable diving opportunities, and it is accessible by boat. Not to mention the diverse sea life you would face there.

If you are trying to get away from your lethal daily routine and your adventure flow has been stopped, why don't you plan a trip to the only multi-functional port city on Vancouver Island, Nanaimo? An assemblage of several distinguished bodies of water has made Nanaimo one of the best paddling locations in the world. You are provided with tons of other activities on both land and the sea.

Spend the gladdest moments of your life in Yeo Islands while diving into the waters. Also, you will have the chance to enjoy watching artificial cliffs that have embellished the area's view. Besides, the excellent adventure o diving visitors can benefit from other outdoor excitements and watching various marine life.

For those marine life lovers, Nanaimo Yacht Club Whale Watching is a great opportunity. Participants can ride boats and surf the surrounding waters with the chance to explore the area and observe whales living near Nanaimo due to the high population of orcas and whales around there.

Looking for a place you can camp within the area of a forest? You can find nowhere better than the Englishman River Falls Provincial Park Campground. The beautiful campsite is well maintained with tall trees and lovely views that you can hike while appreciating the incredible scenery. Camp lovers are provided with ample facilities and several outdoor activities.

If you are making a checklist of diving places on Vancouver Island, make sure it includes the Rivtow Lion Diving zone. Rivtow Lion was a ship that was sunk on purpose, and through the years, it has changed into an artificial cliff and a favourable destination for diving. Photography enthusiasts can find the inner sceneries of the ship charming to be a subject for their cameras.

Westwood Lake Trail is not super challenging, but it is a lovely well maintained and well-marked hiking trail around Westwood Lake with beautiful viewpoints and greenery. The forest and lake are full-on herons, eagles and deer with lots of opportunities to have a great time, so bringing your family with you is a decision you will not regret!

Nanaimo is saturated with diving zones, but to name a decent one, Dolphin Beach is a location that allows everyone to explore marine life and enjoy diving. Both armature and advanced divers can have the chance to dive in these waters along with a glorious environment enclosing the zone, which would fascinate your eyes.

Satisfy your curiosity about diving in Clark Rock waters. The reefs there are brighten by a beacon which has made the location favourable for diving. It is worth mentioning that Clark Rock is a fantastic place to take pictures for your journey's album. Also, you may have the chance to observe wildlife, whether in waters or on land.