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Nanaimo, British Columbia

Looking for the best camping in Nanaimo? We've got you covered with the top trails, trips, hiking, backpacking, camping and more around Nanaimo. The detailed guides, photos, and reviews are all submitted by the Outbound community.

Top Camping Spots in and near Nanaimo

  • Sechelt, British Columbia

    Kayak Sechelt Inlet

    4.0
    Set off from Sechelt, a small seaside community on the Sunshine Coast - about two hours from Vancouver which is accessed by ferry or float plane.As soon as you start paddling from the harbour in Sechelt, the calm waters are so clear that starfish and other marine life are easily visible beneath t...
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  • Sechelt, British Columbia

    Kayak the Sechelt Inlet

    The Sechelt Inlet provides the perfect place for an afternoon adventure or multi-day kayak trip. Kayaks and canoes can be rented from a number of outfitters in the Sechelt area, and many allow multi-day rentals for those keen paddlers.A great place to set off is from Porpoise Bay Provincial Park...
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  • Youbou, British Columbia

    Hike Heather Mountain

    20.5 mi / 3822.2 ft gain
    Heather Mountain is a moderate well marked out and back hike through managed forest land. The hike brings a wonderful feeling of solitude as there are no towns or buildings visible even with distant views in all directions.  It is also quite lightly tracked: we saw no other hikers on the entire r...
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  • Nanaimo F, British Columbia

    Hike Little Qualicum River and Falls

    4.3
    0.6 mi
    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...
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  • Errington, British Columbia

    Hike and Camp at Mt. Arrowsmith

    5.0
    Mt. Arrowmsith's claim to fame is the tallest mountain on "southern" Vancouver Island. Standing at 1,819 m (6,000 ft), it barely squeezes into the top 50 of the Island, as it stands no chance against the peaks of Strathcona, which you can see gazing north from the summit!The advantage of Arrowsmi...
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  • West Vancouver, British Columbia

    Hiking the Howe Sound Crest Trail

    18 mi / 6000 ft gain
    Distance: 18 miles / 29 kms.Duration: 1 - 3 DaysElevation Gain: 6000 ft. / 1800 m.Magnesia Meadows: 49.483708, -123.190377The Howe Sound Crest Trail (HSCT) is one of the most epic hiking trips one can do in the Vancouver area. The trail is entirely located within the Cypress Mountain Provincial P...
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  • Cowichan Valley F, British Columbia

    Camp at Nitinat Lake

    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...
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  • Squamish-Lillooet D, British Columbia

    Camp at Porteau Cove Provincial Park

    3.0
    Porteau Cove Provincial Park is located 38 km outside of Vancouver just off the Sea-to-Sky highway between Lion’s Bay and Squamish. The park is open year-round for day visits and camping. Porteau Cove Provincial Park is located in the most southerly fjord in North America. The park overlooks Ho...
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  • Port Renfrew, British Columbia

    Backpack the West Coast Trail, Pacific Rim NP

    46.6 mi / 360.9 ft gain
    In the summer of 2016, myself and three others decided to hike the West Coast Trail (WCT) on a bit of a whim! We naively, and courageously, choose the WCT as our first major backpacking hiking trip - we thought it would be best to throw ourselves into a hike that has earned a reputation for being...
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  • Denman Island, British Columbia

    Explore Fillongley Provincial Park

    4.0
    1.6 mi / 60 ft gain
    Fillongley Park is located on Denman Island. To get there take the Denman Island Ferry from Buckley Bay, off Hwy #19A on central Vancouver Island. Take the Buckley Bay exit #101 from Hwy #19A. Once on the island, follow Denman Road to Swan Road. Turn left on Swan Road, then right on Beadnell Road...
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  • North Vancouver, British Columbia

    Kayak Camp Indian Arm

    4.5
    Setting out from Deep Cove’s pebble shoreline, it only takes a few minutes before you are away from small village and paddling the calm waters of this gorgeous arm. Seals can be frequently spotted as you follow the path of off oceanfront homes, some living off the grid, deeper into the mountains....
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  • Friday Harbor, Washington

    Kayak Camp on Stuart Island

    5.0
    The northwestern-most point of the San Juan Islands, Stuart Island, is arguably the most gorgeous island to circumnavigate. Unfortunately, as Stuart Island is 16 miles away from the closest ferry port, there is no simple way to get there in one day. A couple of options to get there include:1) Onc...
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  • North Vancouver, British Columbia

    Hike and Camp on Mt. Seymour

    From the end of the parking lot next to the BC Parks sign board, walk towards the ski run and follow it uphill to a green sign on the left. The first trail goes to Dog Mountain, another scenic and shorter hike then Mount Seymour. Instead, follow the trail that heads uphill and parallel to the ski...
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  • Port Renfrew, British Columbia

    Camp and Surf at Sombrio Beach

    5.0
    1 mi
    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 ...
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  • Port Renfrew, British Columbia

    Hiking the Juan de Fuca Marine Trail

    5.0
    29.2 mi
    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...
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  • Powell River, British Columbia

    Backcountry Hike and Hut Camp the Northern Portion of the Sunshine Coast Trail

    31.1 mi / 3937 ft gain
    This adventure is a 50km backcountry hiking and camping trip and should not be attempted without prior backcountry experience.  It is recommended you attempt this trail in a group.  Below is a detailed description of how to get to the trail and your options for huts while on the trail:The Sunshin...
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