This is a neat little park along a stream in Nanaimo. It’s accessed behind a plaza and I never would’ve guessed there was a forest here. Walk along the park and you pop out at Departure Bay – there’s a beach and access to ferry parking lot. Who knew? Lots of stairs.
The hike to “The Abyss” is about 15 minutes along Extension Ridge Trail from the trailhead at Harewood Mines Rd, but the trail continues much farther. Climb up the stairs, over exposed bedrock and through a clear-cut area. The Abyss is a large crack in the ground (about 16”) caused by an earthquake. Continue on …
Witchcraft Lake Regional Trail crosses the lake, runs along the lake for short stretch, then up a steep trail up Mt Benson through City land, the Crown woodlot to Mount Benson Regional Park. This trail was developed to provide public access to Mount Benson Regional Park as there is no public road access. If climbing is not …
This is a flat, peaceful 2.3 km loop trail around the marsh. This is a bird sanctuary with a number of viewing platforms off and a tower for birdwatching. There are turtles here too, but I didn’t see any. It felt like fall today and there were crunchy leaves on the path.
My Comeback: After a very exciting afternoon involving a school cafeteria and stairs, I found myself at the hospital waiting for an xray. I missed a stair and landed funny (hilarious) on my ankle. This was exactly what I did when I broke my other ankle many years ago. I thought I broke it. It’s …
A few hundred metres off the shore of downtown Nanaimo is an island shoreline dominated by steep sandstone cliffs and sunny beaches. Saysutshun Newcastle Island Marine Park is a short 10-minute passenger ferry ride from Nanaimo. The island has an extensive network of trails leading to various historic points around the island. Walk or ride along …
From Nanaimo, head south. Just past the airport turn right on Timberlands Rd. Drive to the end of the road and go left. Drive past the “Do Not Enter” signs and drive along the road until you get to a gravel pit area. Stay right, keep driving along the bumpy road. Where there’s a fork, …