Cowichan Valley F, British Columbia

Nitinat Lake is located about 70 km from Lake Cowichan on Vancouver Island. It's about a 2 h drive from Lake Cowichan with 1 h on logging roads. When you get close to Lake Cowichan, the highway splits into two possible routes, one on the south side of the lake, the second on the north side. Since...

This is no walk on the beach. There are many ascents and descents that range from not so steep to hold on for your life as the mud cliff crumbles steep. You might think 200m of elevation gain isn't much, but it is a constant ascend and descend trail in the moderate-difficult sections.A high level...

Heading west from Victoria, take the TransCanada Highway to Hwy 14. Continue past Sooke towards Port Renfrew. Look for the sign that reads Sombrio Beach Trailhead (approximately 45 minutes past Sooke) and take the left. Note that this dirt road can be incredibly rugged (aka full of potholes) and ...

Situated amid a quiet forest of both old and new growth Douglas firs, cedar, hemlock, and maple, the Englishman River Falls consist of two waterfalls which cascade into a deep canyon beneath a secluded bridge. Perfect for intermediate hikers, day-trippers, photographers and curious tourists, this...

The falls cascades off of a sheet of rock that is filled with Ammonite fossils, thus the name Ammonite Falls! The trailhead is very distinct and has a parking lot close to the start of the trail. From the Nanaimo Parkway (#19) head onto Jingle Pot Road. Follow that for a few kilometres and turn ...

This trail isn't much to look at but it's all about the destination here as you will stumble upon scenic waterfalls nestled in the quiet Nanoose Bay area. Turn off the highway next onto Sea Blush Drive next to the Arlington Pub in Nanoose BC. Take your first right onto Sundew Place. Start your wa...

The adventure begins during the rugged wooded hike from the gravel parking lot to the stunning beach (10 minutes). Once you reach the stone and pebble beach, plant yourself down to enjoy the 180 degree view of the Juan de Fuca Strait (and a picnic lunch if you’ve come prepared!).Head east to find...

On the island of West Bamfield, accessible only by foot and by taking a ferry from East Bamfield, itself only accessible via a 60 mile brutal dirt road from Port Alberni, is a taste of the free-wheeling, regulations-be-damned old-Vancouver-Island-made-manifest in an epic rope swing that hurls its...

Far on the west coast of Vancouver Island, accessed only by a harrowing dirt road, is a wild and rugged coast begging to be explored. Bamfield is about a 3 hour drive from Nanaimo, half of which is on the gnarliest (and most active) logging road I've ever been on - and I grew up driving on loggin...

Amazing lookout just outside of Parksville, British Columbia. From Parksville, drive towards Coombs and turn left off of Bellevue Rd. Then take the left onto Little Mountain Road and drive to the top parking lot. You can park at the bottom of the hill and run up the steep incline in case your car...

You can easily put Sugarloaf Mountain Park into your GPS when in Nanaimo, but lets, just say you have an old school map. First make your way from the Island Highway onto Departure Bay Rd. Just before you get to Hammond Bay Rd turn onto Little John Way and take your first left, then take your firs...

The Kinsol Trestle is a highlight of the Cowichan Valley Trail, which travels from Shawnigan Lake to Lake Cowichan and then onward to Duncan. The trestle is easily reached via a 1.3km, wheelchair accessible section of the CVT from the trailhead on Renfew Road. Originally built in 1911 for the r...

The Hole in The Wall is located just outside the city of Port Alberni, British Columbia. The day hike is easy enough to bring kids on the adventure, is dog friendly and offers a beautiful view of some of Port Alberni's history. Previous to the 1960's, the Hole In The Wall was the opening for a pi...

Little Qualicum Falls Provincial Park is just off the #4 highway on your way out to Port Alberni. Simply look for the signs indicating Little Qualicum Falls Provincial Park, and you will turn into the park before Cameron Lake.Easily accessible by everyone, this park can get busy in the summer mon...

Firstly, use google maps to take you to Stephenson Rd in Nanaimo. About a mile down, the road forks, follow the left road (It says no exit, but the road just ends at a property so you will need to turn around to get back out). Continue down the road another half mile or so and you will see a smal...

There is a reason the town of Cowichan Bay is a popular destination for visitors and locals alike. The town boasts stunning views across the bay, of the Cowichan River estuary, the beautiful marina, and has a variety of restaurants, a candy shop and bakery. Start off by grabbing a bite to eat at ...