The Harbour City of Nanaimo on Vancouver Island has plenty of hikes to choose from all throughout town, or a short ride away. From easy strolls to those more difficult, you can find trails to a beach, waterfall, or mountain. Here are some of the best hikes around Nanaimo BC.
Neck Point Park
Length: ~2km loop
Time: 30min
Difficulty: Easy, mix between paved and gravel trails with 20m elevation gain.
This beautiful coastal walk includes interpretive signs, boardwalks, lookout points on rugged cliffs, as well as sheltered pebble beaches. The trail network winds through a Garry Oak ecosystem, with many opportunities for marine wildlife viewing. The park is a great spot to enjoy a sunset, go for a snorkel, or even a dive! At low tide, a large rock becomes accessible from the main trail by a gravel bar, giving the park it’s name.
Piper’s Lagoon
Length: ~2km loop
Time: 30min
Difficulty: Easy, with slightly more rugged terrain than Neck Point and 20m elevation gain.
From Neck Point Park, Piper’s Lagoon can be seen on the other side of Shack Island. It’s a bit more adventurous and rugged than Neck Point, with some rocky bluffs to climb up. With plenty of scenic viewpoints, it’s another great place to enjoy a sunset. There are also a few secluded coves and tide pools to explore, as well as plenty of bird watching.
Cottle Lake
Length: 1.6km loop, with a huge network of other trails within the Linley Valley!
Time: 30min
Difficulty: Easy, with some uneven parts full of roots. 30m elevation gain.
A favourite of ours, this trail goes around the whole lake, with benches along the way to enjoy the view and observe the wildlife! With tons of birds frequenting this lake, it’s another great place for bird watchers. We’ve also spotted river otters here, and even beavers! See if you can spot the beaver den on your hike.
Sugarloaf Mountain
Length: 300m
Time: <5min
Difficulty: Easy, 15m elevation gain.
This walk may only take a couple minutes, but it’s worth putting on the list for the views of Departure Bay. A mix between stairs and a rocky bluff trail, it’s one of the best tranquil views and sunset spots above the city. You can access the stairs at the end of Marion Way.
Beach Estates Park
Length: 1.8km return
Time: 35min
Difficulty: Easy-Moderate, elevation gain of 50m with a few sets of stairs.
A secret little park with an even more secret waterfall in the heart of Nanaimo. The waterfall is located near the start of the trail, but definitely continue the hike to Departure Bay. The trail is well maintained with wooden boardwalks and bridges along the ravine. The only tough part about the trail is the number of stairs you have to go up on the way back, but nothing like the 200 stairs at Blueback Beach! Park at the Church of the Nazarene near Brooks Landing. The trailhead is located from the parking lot where you’ll see a sign for Beach Estates Park.
Bowen Park
Length: About a 2.3km loop, with various side trails
Time: 35min
Difficulty: Easy, 40m elevation gain
Waterfalls, gardens and duck ponds – this park in the centre of town has it all. While it has recreation centres including tennis and volleyball courts, it also has forest walks where you can easily spend 2 hours exploring. The trail follows along the Millstone River along a maintained and easy trail. Despite it’s central location, you can easily feel secluded. Our favourite spot to start the trail is accessed by turning off Bowen Rd onto Wall St, and parking near the volleyball courts. From here, follow the riverside trail upstream towards the falls. You can loop around and explore the salmon channels and duck ponds on the way back.
Buttertubs Marsh
Length: 2.3km loop
Time: 30min
Difficulty: Easy, no elevation gain.
A bird watchers paradise, this easy and flat gravel trail goes around the whole marsh. With observation decks along the way, there is even a bird watching tower to spy wildlife from above.
Ammonite Falls
Length: 4.8km return
Time: 1h 45min
Difficulty: Moderate, with 200m gradual elevation gain (Except for the very steep part at the end to reach the base of the falls).
A popular hike in the area and for good reason, it’s a stunning drop into a swimmable pool below, and it’s only 15min from the city of Nanaimo. The falls are named after the ammonite fossils that can be found in the area. The trail is maintained and very well marked. The impressive waterfall can be viewed from above, but I highly recommend heading down the steep embankment towards the river, with ropes to assist you. The city plans to add stairs eventually…until then, enjoy the adventure (and be prepared to get muddy)! The trail starts on Jameson Rd (at the yellow logging road gate), with a parking lot a minute away on Creekside Pl.
Westwood Lake
Length: 5.8km loop
Time: 1h 45min
Difficulty: Easy-Moderate, 121m elevation gain
Westwood Lake is a very popular local trail that goes around the whole lake, with only one slightly steep section at the west end of the lake. This section leads to a great look out point along the rocky bluffs. At the bottom of the bluffs is our favourite place to swim from, as the beach near the parking lot gets very crowded. Located at the base of Mt Benson, there are also trails leading into Morrell Sanctuary.
Morrell Sanctuary
Length: Whatever you want! There are quite a few trails in the area, the most common one we do is a 4km loop to the Beaver Pond and Morrell Lake.
Time: Depends on the trail you take! Ranges from 20min to over an hour!
Difficulty: Easy-Moderate, 80m elevation gain
Around the corner from the popular Colliery Dam Park, few seem to wander into this more extensive and beautiful trail system. We almost never run into people on these trails. From lookout points to duck ponds and lakes, this lush green forest has something for everyone with various trail lengths and difficulty levels. If you’re lucky, you might spot a pine marten or barred owl! There is also a trail that connects the Sanctuary to Westwood Lake.
Colliery Dam Park
Length: About 2.3km loop but can extend or shorten, taking various paths within the park.
Time: About 40min
Difficulty: Easy, 50m elevation gain.
You can either follow the main paths through Colliery, or get lost within the wide range of trails branching off. With views of the lake and even a hidden waterfall through a tunnel under the highway, this park is a great way to spend an afternoon.
The Abyss
Length: 4.5km
Time: 1h 15min
Difficulty: Easy-Moderate, 100m elevation gain
A mysterious and giant fissure in the ground is what draws people to this walk. Over a foot wide, the crack is thought to have occurred either from an earthquake, or from a collapsing mine tunnel. Part of the Trans Canada Trail, it’s only about 20min to along a well marked trail to “The Abyss” but you can continue hiking past it for a while along Extension Ridge. Another 20min past the Abyss through arbutus groves, is a great little lookout point with a couple carved stump chairs to enjoy the view from.
Jack Point and Biggs Park
Length: 5km return
Time: 1h 30min
Difficulty: Easy, 50m elevation gain
Home to Vancouver Island’s biggest estuary, this walk takes you along the coast with views from across Nanaimo’s harbour. Jack Point is a beautiful spot to watch the sunset, and the sandstone formations along the way will take your breath away.
Cable Bay Trail
Length: 6.6km return
Time: 1h 45min
Difficulty: Easy-Moderate, gradual 120m elevation gain
An easy trail through a fern filled forest leading to the secluded Cable Bay. You can continue past the bridge and on the trail to Joan Point. There is an abundance of marine life in the strong currents of Dodd Narrows, from the beautiful intertidal at your feet, to the curious seals and majestic sea lions swimming past.
Hemer Provincial Park
Length: 4.2km loop
Time: 1 hour
Difficulty: Easy, 60m elevation gain
Located in Cedar (South Nanaimo) lies a relaxing walk around a marsh and Holden Lake, with a variety of trails to take. A great place for bird watching, there is a viewing platform along the marsh.
Richard’s Marsh Park
Length: 4.2km loop
Time: 1h 15min
Difficulty: Easy, 60m elevation gain
Birders rejoice, we’ve got another trail for you! Can you tell we’re biologists? From tiny bushtits to soaring red-tailed hawks, there is a variety of birds to enjoy along the way. This long boardwalk extends across and along the marsh. The trail loops around the marsh, but is not as visible from the other side as you walk within the forest.
Roberts Memorial Provincial Park
Length: 1.6km return
Time: 25min
Difficulty: Easy, 20m elevation gain
A short walk through a beautiful forest to the ocean. The beach contains interesting sandstone formations and gorgeous views. The park is the perfect place for a picnic and some wildlife viewing.
Haslam Creek Suspension Bridge
Length: 1.8km return
Time: 30min
Difficulty: Easy, 50m elevation gain.
Another part of the Trans Canada Trail, it’s only 15min to the suspension bridge, but you can continue your hike along the trail until you wish to turn around. The views of Haslam Creek from the bridge are stunning, and a unique way to spend the afternoon – not many know there is a suspension bridge within Nanaimo!
Mt Benson
Length: 7km return (Depending on which trail you take)
Time: 3h 30min
Difficulty: Difficult, steep 700m elevation gain
Throwing this one in near the end because it’s a difficult mountain hike while the rest are easy-moderate walking trails. A good one if you want a work out with a panoramic view of the city, ocean and surrounding mountains from above. If you’re looking for more impressive views of the island, check out these epic mountain hikes: Century Sam Lake, 5040, or Triple Peak!
Saysutshun (Newcastle Island)
Length: 10.6km coastal loop
Time: 2 hours
Difficulty: Easy-Moderate, 191m elevation gain
If you’re looking for something a little different, hop on the passenger ferry from Nanaimo for $7 (return) for a 7min boat ride to the island. The ferry runs April-October, click here for the ferry schedule and more information! A beautiful place to spend the day, or camp for the night, the island should not be missed! Keep an eye out for the elusive and rare champagne racoons. You’re probably guaranteed to see regular raccoons out during the day foraging on the beaches. The island also used to be home to a sandstone quarry which you can still see the remnants of, and the island is full of interesting history. Another great way to experience the island is kayaking around it!
Looking for more places to explore nearby? Check out the best waterfalls between Courtenay and Chemainus, or hop onto the ferry from Nanaimo to Gabriola Island! Am I missing your favourite hike in the area? Leave a comment below!
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