Checking out the black bears along the Quinsam River near Campbell River

by Keith and Heather Nicol

    Fall is a spectacular time of year in the Comox Valley and on Vancouver Island in general since the trees are changing colour and the salmon return to the rivers. We have done a previous blog this year about swimming with pink salmon in the Puntledge River in Courtenay and here is a link to that blog-  https://keithnicol.blogspot.com/2025/08/swimming-with-salmon-in-puntledge-river.html.   As the fall progresses different salmon begin to ascend the rivers and we recently had a chance to see bears scouring the river for salmon along the Quinsam River near Campbell River. On this occasion we were lucky since we saw 6 bears in the space of 90 minutes but on a previous visit this fall we saw no bears in the same length of time so this is very much a hit and miss situation. But if you want to try your luck here is how to get to the area where we saw numerous bears. 

The viewing area is virtually at the Quinsam River Fish Hatchery and you can view a salmon interpretative centre at the hatchery as well. There are several trails in the area and we opted to first take the trail (actually a road) above the hatchery for several hundred meters and then after seeing several bears in that area we headed to trails below the hatchery. The bears tend to walk along the river edge occasionally grabbing a salmon and then walking off into the woods.  Below the hatchery you may encounter many fishermen and we also saw a couple more bears in this area. The bears don't seem to be bothered by the fishermen or photographers but you will want to follow basic bear safety. Read the signs about how to be safe around bears that are posted at the hatchery and carrying bear spray is not a bad idea. These trails are well established and there are large parking lots at the main trail heads. Note that the hatchery road opens at 8:00 am and closes at 3:30 pm so plan your trip accordingly. See you on the trail. 

                                          A fisherman catching a fish while a bear cruises the other side of the river 

Fall is a good time to visit the Elk Falls suspension bridge near Campbell River

 

by Keith and Heather Nicol  

With the good fall weather holding decided to check out Elk Falls near Campbell River and the suspension bridge that has been built there in 2015.  The suspension bridge spans Campbell River in Elk Falls Provincial Park and offers stellar views of the river as it plunges 25 meters over a picturesque waterfall.  The suspension bridge opened in mid May, 2015 and  attracts lots of people during the summer but we wanted to check out it out in the autumn with the fall colours. Also according to the posted information BC Hydro is releasing more from Sept 17 to Nov 13 on Wednesdays and Thursdays   so now might be a good chance to see the falls with extra water if you can go on those days. The pictures below were taken on Thursday, October 16.                                                                         Be sure to check out the side trail to get this lookout of the falls   To get to Elks Falls Provincial Park drive through Campbell River and take the road toward Gold River. Simply follow the signs to the turnoff to the Elk Falls trails and suspension bridge. The bridge is roughly 1 km trail from the parking lot and the wide gravel trail is suited to just about all walkers. We also walked an 800 meter side trail to get down to the river and another lookout which we recommend.                                 On Oct 16 there were a steady stream of visitors to the Suspension Bridge   There are also other hiking trails in the area but we liked the 800 meter Old Growth Loop which passes by some huge trees that have never been logged. These trees also managed to avoid a devastating fire in 1938 which burned much of the timber in the surrounding area. Evidently 1938 was the driest summer in 64 years and the forest was tinder dry. The fire was evidently set off by a logger who accidently dropped a pick on a rock and a spark set off the dry grass near his feet.  For more information on the park see: http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/elk_falls/

Checking out the Fall Colours in Paradise Meadows – Strathcona Prov.Park

 

By Keith and Heather Nicol

We love seeing fall colours unfold in different areas of the Comox Valley. But recently we decided to check out the fall colours in Paradise Meadows in Strathcona Provincial Park. Here the main colours aare created by the blueberry bushes turning a bright red in the open boggy areas. The Comox Valley is blessed with being able to get up into the mountains in just 30 minutes and the Paradise Meadows area can even be accessed by wheelchairs. We walked around the 4 km Paradise Meadows loop which is mostly boardwalk but recommend that people using a wheelchair or children’s stroller stick to the 2 km loop since the longer loop has some rooty wet areas. We parked in the Nordic Centre parking lot at Raven Lodge which is part of Mt Washington Alpine Resort but there is also a parking area at the smaller Strathcona Park Wilderness Centre. We were amazed at how full the parking lot was given that it was mid week but we guess everyone had the same idea we had. Just a note of caution- we waited until around noon to travel to Paradise Meadows yet still in the shady areas the board walk was icy from the frost over night so use caution if especially if you get up there early before the temperature warms up. Check this out this fall to see bright reds and golden colours of fall. See you on the trail.  

 

 

Gabriola Island offers fine coastal walking and inland bike trails

 by Keith and Heather Nicol

Although Gabriola Island is a little over 100 km away we hadn't visited in many years so thought that with the good summer weather continuing we would check it out. We caught the 11:15 ferry from downtown Nanaimo and were setting up our tent in Descanso Regional Park by noon. We had time to spend abit over 24 hours on the island so decided to check out several coastal hikes. We really liked the short trails at Drumbeg Park with their open Garry Oak- grassland setting which gave nice views of near by islands.  

                                                   Heather walking at scenic Drumbeg Park 

Also the signature setting of the Malaspina Gallery was very impressive--we visited 3 times and liked the area at sunset best since the eroded sandstone notch really lit up with the setting sun. Note though that the trail here is about 100 meters long but is very picturesque as the photos below illustrate. We also hiked the Whalebone Trail and the Trail to Sandwell Park but both of these are more cliff walks through the trees and although you can see the ocean these trails are not as visually appealing as the first two locations just mentioned. 

 We also had a chance to mountain bike and hike in the 707 Community Forest and we really advise getting the Trail map of the Island from the Visitor's Centre.  This will help you navigate the maze of trails in this area. If you like to mountain bike and like easier green type trails then this area will appeal to you. I also used Trailforks to help navigate since all of the main bike trails are listed on it. We encountered many dog walkers and trail runners on our trip there although there are no ocean views , the varied forest ecosystems in this area make it a fun way to see the inland part of the island. Next time we go to Gabriola Island we plan to bring our kayaks since the Flat Top Island in Silva Bay look very appealing. And Gabriola Island has several other trails we hope to check out as well ... see you on the trail. 

                                                      Keith riding some of large network of trails in the 707 Community Park

Sea Kayaking to Tree Island makes for an ideal 1/2 day trip

  by Keith and Heather Nicol

Tree Island is located off the northern tip of Denman Island and makes a perfect half day paddle (or longer if you plan to explore the island or want to linger). We do the trip on an annual basis and usually launch at the Union Bay Boat launch.  This makes it easy to launch your kayak and there is a large car park for your vehicle. But this year we decided to launch from Argyle Road which is closer to Courtenay and offers a shorter, more direct paddle to Tree Island. The downside of Argyle Road launch point is that you need a high tide and wheels to help get your kayak to the water to avoid a long carry. The access is quite rough so not as easy as the Union Bay launch point. Remember that since it is an open water crossing you want to factor in the weather and wave conditions and be competent at doing a self rescue if you run into trouble. Also bring a compass so that you can navigate back to your car at the end of the trip..the shoreline looks all the same from Tree Island and so you can spend quite abit of time searching for the put in path if you don't navigate back to the right vicinity.

On Monday, Sept 15 the wind forecast was for light NE winds which made for a very pleasant trip to Tree Island since the breeze was in our face keeping us cool. Although temperatures were  around 19 C 

the following wind made it quite warm on the return trip. Be sure to bring water! We saw no seals on our paddle but did see many Western Grebes. The tide was about 4.4 meters (which was the high tide for the day) and our trip took about 1 hour going over and 45 min coming back with the light wind giving us a boost on the return paddle.  We recommend this trip because of the sandy, shell beach at Tree Island and scenery but do keep an eye to the weather.See you on the trail. 

 

A Classic Trifecta on Hornby Island - Hiking, Mountain Biking and Sea Kayaking

 By Keith and Heather Nicol

Hornby Island is one of favourite places to visit and we are fortunate to be able to get there so quickly from Courtenay - Comox. One of the things we like most about it is that it has very scenic hiking, sea kayaking and hiking and we recently had a chance to do all 3 in one day. We started with a hike around Helliwell Park and we were joined by an long time friend who now lives in Kamloops and her sister from Maple Ridge. This 4.2 km hike is spectacular since it overlooks the ocean and features a grassland - oak forest which is not common in this area. It took us just over an hour to do this hike which included many stops for photos. 

                                                                         Hiking the Helliwell Loop 

Next it was time to hop on the mountain bike and test out some of the great single track mountain biking that Hornby has to offer. It has the most extensive mountain bike trail system of any of the Gulf or Discovery Islands and they have trails for many abilities. We used Northwind and Cold Deck as a climbing trail and then reached the cliff edge via Hot Rims. Our route to descend included Mt Toadès Wild Ride , Tadpole, Chris and Brad's ending with No Horses which put us right back at our car. Perfect. This ride was just over 5 km and our moving time was about 35 minutes. All of these trails and marked as blue and flowed nicely from one to the other.  But these are just some of the trails on Hornby and the trail system has numerous possible starting points. Download Trailforks before you leave to check out all the options.

                                                                The view from Hot Rims and Cliff Trail

The last part of the trifecta was sea kayaking and so in mid afternoon we headed to Whaling Station Bay to do one of our favourite paddles. One downside of Whaling Station Bay is that it has a big sandy beach so depending on the tide you will either have to carry your kayak some distance before launching. We always bring our "wheels" so that we can wheel our boats to the water's edge. From there we turned right and headed along the shore to Flora Islets. These islands are common haulouts for seals and sea lions and we were not disappointed. We saw over a dozen seals on shore as we paddled past and as we rounded the second islet we surprised a group of sea lions who let us know they were there with a few loud roars. We quickly paddled past and returned as the late afternoon sun glistened off the water. The sea was perfectly calm and it was a great way to finish our Hornby Island Trifecta- hiking, biking and sea kayaking all in one day. Our sea kayak route covered 6.2 km in one hour and 20 minutes.  What a great way to end the day and we had just scratched the surface on the hiking, biking and sea kayaking options on Hornby. See you on the trail!

 

Lost Lake Trails at Whistler offer lots of hiking and biking variety

 By Keith and Heather Nicol

On a recent trip to Whistler we first of all checked out many trails in the Cheakamus Creek area and these are covered in this blog post-   https://keithnicol.blogspot.com/2025/09/whistlers-cheakamus-creek-trails-are.html . On our last day at Whistler we decided to hike and bike some of the trails at Lost Lake which is another extensive area of trails that double as cross country ski routes in the winter. On our outing we saw many walkers and cyclists and it looked like this might be one of Whistler's more popular destinations since it is close to the village. We parked in lot 5 and from there is was just abit over 1 km to Lost Lake along the popular Lost Lake Trail South. While some of our group walked this trail others checked out the blue and green mountain bike trails in this area. First it was a climb up Upper Panorama which was not that easy given some steep sections and loose rock. But then the fun begins and we started with Pinocchio's Furniture which has lots of wooden features like bridges and banked corners (see pic below). If you like this type of trail then this one is certainly well made. From there it was on to Dwarf Nebula and then to Zoot Allures. My fav of these 3 was the last one since it was abit flowy and fast. Since these trails were all blue trails, we wanted to try some green trails and so it was back up hill on Centennial which also features loose rock and steep sections to Donkey Puncher and then to Molly Hogan which are both fast enjoyable green runs. This brought us back down to Lost Lake and then it was back on Lost Lake South to Vimy Ridge and a nice section of Tin Pants, another green trail. Whether you are hiking or biking the app Trailforks will guide you around these trails. Check it out at: https://www.trailforks.com/   The Lost Lake trail system has lots to offer and we only touched the surface of trails in this area. And for beginner bikes looking for easy single track this area seems to have the most offerings in the Whistler area. Check it out on your next visit. 

Some of the low bridges on Pinocchio's Furniture- a blue trail at Lost Lake

Whistler's Cheakamus Creek trails are great for biking or hiking

 by Keith and Heather Nicol

We recently had a chance to check out the hiking and mountain biking trails along Cheakamus Creek near Whistler. Whistler is known as a hiking and biking mecca and part of the reason is that it has alot of variety of hiking and biking options. In the past we have hiked in the alpine using the lifts at Whistler and this blog :  https://keithnicol.blogspot.com/2024/08/try-decker-loop-on-blackcomb-for.html.  looks at one of the trips we did last summer. Whistler is also known for its world class lift served mountain biking but on this current trip we decided to check out some other nearby areas. And if you want to hike or bike past a blue green rushing river then the Cheakamus Creek trails should be given a closer look. On this trip we parked at the large parking lot at the Whistler Interpretative Forest Parking lot (which is free) in nearby Function Junction. We hiked on Farside Trail and biked on a variety of the other trails along both sides of the river. These are rated as blue mountain biking trails which means that they are suited to riders with some skill at riding over roots and rocks and the occasional wooden bridge. Over all my favourite trail was Farside for biking due to its proximity to the river but Flashback 2 through 5 were also fun trails but did not have river views. We tended to ride the access rode since it was a fairly fast way to gain elevation but it does have cars on it and it can be dusty. In our case there was little car traffic and next to no dust. Another time we might plan on biking the route to Cheakamus Lake - but since we had hiked it earlier in the summer we decided to focus on the lower trails. It is worthwhile downloading the app Trailforks since it has all of these trails on it and we saw more hikers on these trails than we did bikers. Check this area out on your next trip to Whistler. 

Swimming with salmon in the Puntledge River, Courtenay, BC

 

by Keith and Heather Nicol

On August, 22 we headed to Puntledge Park in Courtenay to check out the salmon in the river. We had seen salmon jumping the day before when we tubed the river so we thought we would see quite a few when we returned on the 17^th with masks, snorkels and a water proof camera.  The day was sunny and warm with temperatures hitting 27-28 C so it was perfect day to see what lay below the surface.  We headed for the pool just off the gravel beach in Puntledge Park and we quickly saw many salmon. We usually see pink salmon at this time in the river and they seem to have a 2 year cycle with every odd year showing a big return. So 2025 should be a good year and we weren`t disappointed.

                                              Salmon are now in the Puntledge River

 The current is strong in places and the rocks are slippery so you need to pay attention. We wear water shoes to protect our feet from the rocks and wade out several meters from shore before diving in and swimming over the salmon. The current will take you down near where Morrison Creek enters the river and then  you need to swim hard to get to shore. You can also swim to the other side of the river where the current is slower and you can more easily stay in one place. With some warm weather forecast for the next several days this is a great chance to swim with salmon. Puntledge Park in located just off of 1^st Street in Courtenay. Check it out if you want to see an amazing show of nature in our backyard. Click this video link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1gdQjx-g8M to see the huge numbers of salmon that are currently in the river (as of late August , 2025 ) . 

 

Checking out the Dale Ball Disc Golf Course in Langley, BC

 by Keith and Heather Nicol

When we travel we often throw in our discs since you never know when you might get a chance to try a new course. On a recent trip to Vancouver we were discussing disc golf courses with family members who play the sport and then said their favourite course of the 10 or so that they have played in the Greater Vancouver area was the Dale Ball course in Langley. This course is laid out in an old gravel extraction area so there are nice open areas with some trees. 

                                                         Keith putting for a rare par on this course

 The holes tend to be long because of this which doesn't work in my favour since I prefer a shorter course with trees since I can't throw that far.  I just played the front nice since time didn't permit a full 18 and holes ranged from 77 to 120 meters. The back nice looks like it would suit me better since it has holes ranging from 41 to 114 meters. Another twist with this course is that the area is an overflow area for rain water so has a different layout in the winter when this area can be pretty wet. I liked the course and now that I have played it once would have a better feel for how to play it next time. 

The course was very popular when I played it...every hole had people on it and most people had pull carts full of discs 

For driving directions simply type in Dale Ball Passive Park in google maps and it will lead you to a large parking lot and the first hole is next to a covered picnic pavilion. I am glad I created some screen shots of the hole layout from U Disc since their is no master map at the start and finding the next hole is not obvious in many cases. You can access those maps from https://udisc.com

                                                   There are nice concrete tee pads for each hole and a map 

Saturday, August 2 was another great day at the Filberg Festival

 by Keith and Heather Nicol

The Filberg Festival opened on Friday, August 1 and featured 140 artisans showing their wares as well as some varied music on both stages. See our previous blog for some tips for helping you enjoy the Filberg Festival (https://keithnicol.blogspot.com/2025/08/movin-and-groovin-at-filberg-festival.html).  On Saturday, August 2 we had planned to get down by mid afternoon to catch some of the musical acts on both stages. It was another classic Comox Valley summer day with light winds and temperatures in the low to mid 20 C's. Given the ideal setting of this festival with the tall shade trees and ocean setting this weather was just about ideal for festival going. 

                                      The Harpoonist had the standing room only crowd up and dancing 

The first act we saw on the Garden Stage were the Backyard Boulevard. They played folksy music that really suits this stage. Then it was time to check out some of the artisans and our daughter picked up a variety of items from specialty teas, to some clothing and art cards. We returned to the Garden Stage to hear one of our fav local groups - Big Little Lions. Again their mix of covers and original material made for easy listening in this perfect venue. With light breezes of the water the setting and temperature were just right. 

                                            Daughter Kristie buying some tea from Urban Earth Teas

We then shifted to the main Rotary Stage to hear The Harpoonist. We had heard him play at this event previously and really liked his hard driving harmonica backed music and he had the crowd on their feet and dancing. By this time the main Rotary Stage was full and behind the stands people had laid out blankets and low chairs so they could hear the music but really couldn't see the performers. I don't think I have ever seen so many people at this stage before.  The final act of the night were the Juno nominated Great Lake Swimmers. They played an easy listening style of folk rock music which went over well with the standing room only crowd! 

                               The Rotary Stage was very well attended on Saturday - playing here are Luna Land 

 But there is lots more music to be played at the Filberg Festival . We are especially looking forward to hearing Lucarno (which we have seen a few times) and many other groups so head on down to  Filberg Lodge Park tomorrow. Also it is a great place to get that unique or special gift. With so many varied exhibitors there is something for just about everyone. And Remember the Filberg Festival is a valuable fundraiser for the Filberg Heritage Lodge and Park in Comox, B.C. For more information on the complete festival schedule see: filbergfestival.com  See you there tomorrow. 

             The Filberg Festival must be one of the nicest venues for a Music - Artisan Festival in Canada 

Movin' and Groovin' at the Filberg Festival

 

By Keith and Heather Nicol

       The Filberg Festival is a huge fundraiser for the Filberg Lodge and Park which has a spectacular location in Comox. This year they have over 140 artisans showing their wares plus 45 musicians performing at 2 stages over the 3 days- August 1-3.  What a great combination! The idea is you check out some of the remarkable work by potters, photographers, painters, jewelry, glass, textile and wood workers and then take in some music. When you get hungry you can buy some specialty food from some artisans or head for the food trucks. So the routine is shop, listen, eat and enjoy !

                               You could not ask for a nicer setting for a festival than the grounds at Filberg Lodge 

        Although the temperatures are suppose to be less than the heat wave that has been affecting the Comox Valley for the last few days, the trick will still be to stay cool.  So we will pass along some tips based on our past experience. Get there early. Not only will parking be easier to find but it will be cooler. Secondly, bring plenty of water so you don’t get dehydrated. Thirdly, dress with light shorts and shirts and bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen.  We also brought small foam pads so we could sit on the grass or a low rock wall in the shade if the seats were all taken.  

                                            Railroad Tye and friend played an entertaining set on the Garden Stage

On Friday, August 1 we opted to listen to music at the shady waterfront Garden Stage which some musicians said must be the best stage to sing at in B.C. ! There was a little breeze off the water and with the shade - it was the perfect temperature for listening to music. We caught Railroad Tye and we loved his varied country - bluesy music. Since we were so comfortable we decided to stay and listen to Kye Coski , a young very talented performer from right here in the Comox Valley. He has a gentle voice that works perfectly with the folksy - celtic- country music that he plays. Keep your eye on this performer.  At this point we decided to get up and check out some of the over 140 exhibitors on site before heading home for the day. 

                       Don't leave the kids behind..there is a special area for kids with games, face painting etc.

          But there is lots more music to be played at the Filberg Festival . You still have Saturday, Aug 2 and and Sunday, Aug 3 to come and check it out. We are looking forward to hearing Great Lake Swimmers, Lucarno , Rockcod and many other groups so head on down to  Filberg Lodge Park this weekend. Also it is a great place to get that unique or special gift. With so many varied exhibitors there is something for just about everyone. And Remember the Filberg Festival is a valuable fundraiser for the Filberg Heritage Lodge and Park in Comox, B.C. For more information on the complete festival schedule see: filbergfestival.com  See you there tomorrow. 

     There are some very fine artists attending this year's event- Here is the beautiful pottery of Gordon Hutchens
       

             

                                   

  

Tips for tubing the Puntledge River in Courtenay, BC

 By Keith and Heather Nicol

Summer has been slow to really warm up in the Comox Valley but recently it has turned hot in a hurry and the forecast to looking good for the next couple of weeks. So if you like to swim and cool off then tubing is a great way to have fun at the same time. Tubing is an institution the Comox Valley and for good reason –the Puntledge River is ideal for this activity .With a forecast of 2 more weeks of warm weather ahead it is certainly a perfect opportunity to dig out that tube and head down the river if you haven’t already done so. So far this year we have been done the river a couple of times (most recently on July 30) so here are some tips that we can share if you are new to tubing. Tip 1 -Where to put in? Most people start at the fish hatchery on Powerhouse Road.  Park near the fish hatchery access road and walk around or past the gate. Part way down you will see a sign pointing to “Tubers Trail” and take that to the put in. This trail is steep and slippery in places so it won’t be for everyone-an easier put in with tamer water can be done by going to Puntledge Park and starting your tubing adventure from there. Either way our most common takeout is at Condensory Bridge on the right side but you can tube all the way to Lewis Park.   Tip 2-Good footwear really helps on getting down this steep trail and it will protect your feet once in the river.  We tend you use kayak booties or well fitted water shoes since they give reasonable grip and protection. Tip 3- We sometimes use a kayak paddle to help steer and manoeuvre but most people don’t use one. If you have one bring it along since tubes on their own are not very manoeuvrable. Tip 4- We also have found that putting a life jacket over the mesh on the bottom of the tube keeps your bum and lower back from hitting too many rocks. If you are using a truck inner tube keep your “bum up” when you go over rapids to avoid hitting “bottom” in the shallow sections. We hear people complain all the time about the rocks that they hit and how sore their back or bum is- a life jacket in the bottom really helps.

                                              Tubing through some of the rapids in the upper section on July 30, 2025

 Tip 5- Bring along a real water proof case for car keys or anything else you don’t want to get wet. A ziplock bag likely won’t cut it.  Tip 6-The section from Powerhouse Road to Puntledge Park is abit faster with more rapids than the lower section from Puntledge Park to either the Condensory Bridge or Lewis Park. First timers or those with younger children may want to do just the lower section starting from Puntledge Park and we suggest a pull out just below the Condensory Bridge since the last part to Lewis Park can be slow, especially if there is a high tide or the wind is against you. For newcomers to the Comox Valley,  Puntledge Park is at the intersection of 1^st and Urquhart Avenue and the Condensory Bridge is off of Anderton Avenue. Since the river is dam controlled water levels are often similar day after day which is a real bonus. Tip 7- But note that the river can change rapidly since it is dam controlled and hazards like fallen trees in the river can occur over night. Tubing shouldn’t be taken lightly and accidents do happen on the river. Look ahead and be prepared to get off of the river if you see hazards ahead. Tubing is an institution in the Comox Valley and it is the ideal way to spend a couple of hours on a warm day. Check out this video below before you head down.

 

 

The Brian and Sarah McLoughlin Park is well worth a visit in the Comox Valley

by Keith and Heather Nicol

We recently decided to revisit a scenic beach access that we had not been to in several years. our last visit was in the fall of 2018 when the park was first opened. The Brian and Sarah McLoughlin Park is actually an artist's retreat but has it has interesting gardens and a scenic beach access. The Park is accessed by driving to the end of Tasman Road (simply put in Brian and Sarah McLoughlin Park) in google maps. It is about a 15 to 20 minute drive from most places in Courtenay - Comox. There is parking for a few cars and you can see the entrance by a finger board that has info about the Park. You basically walk down the road that leads to the cottage for 500 m or so and there are several beach accesses on the grounds. Don't disturb the artist that may be there by using the deck but you can walk around the grounds. If you want a loop path you can take the Fern Bench side trail that is well marked. Although the distance is short, the road is steep in places with slippery gravel so people with mobility issues may find this challenging. Hiking sticks might be handy in this case.Our GPS showed an elevation change of close to 80 meters but the route is mostly shaded which is nice on a hot summer day. Check it out the next time you are in the area. See you on the trail. 

         

                                                             Walking down the access road to the beach accesses.

The Parksville to Coombs Rail Trail is a perfect way to visit Coombs

 by Keith and Heather Nicol 

On a recent trip to the Parksville area we decided to check out the multi use rail trail that connects these 2 communities. The trail parallels the E and N tracks and is 3 meters wide so you can easily ride 2 abreast. The trail is made of compacted small gravel and we saw many cyclists and a couple of walkers on our trip. The trail is just 7 km long so makes a nice way to visit Coombs which is often very busy in the summer. When we went on July 24 parking was at a premium with all the visitors so we were glad we had our bikes which allowed made parking a breeze. The trail starts in Parksville at Springwood Park or it can be accessed in Coombs at Station Road. There are a few road crossings but other than that you can bike free from cars. Also since it follows the old railway it is mostly level so is suited to a wide range of cyclists or walkers (see picture below.  Check it out on your next trip to this area. 

 Also nearby is Englishman River Prov Park and it has a nice hiking trail loop which is about 1.7 km long and features a nice view of the Englishman River cascading over a rock ledge. The trail is well marked and is shaded so is very pleasant on a hot day. The trail starts from the day use parking area. At the lowest bridge crossing the route has an informal side trail which leads to the river and we saw several people swimming in the river. This is a fun bonus on a hot summer day but use standard cautions when entering water of uncertain depths. See you on the trail.

  

Check out the Parksville Sand Sculpting Competetion before August 17, 2025

By Keith and Heather Nicol

We recently headed to Parksville to see the  Annual Sand Sculpting Competition and as always it is an impressive event to take in. It is located at the community beach in Parksville and there is alot going on in that area through the summer. For instance when we were there they had a youth beach volleyball event going on and there are regular free concerts as part of the Tim Hortons Summer Concert series. The theme of the Sand Sculpting Competition this year is Circus by the Sea and we really liked the winning solo entry by Thomas Koet of the US. There are entries this year from residents of a variety of countries including the Canada, the US , Netherlands, Russia, Columbia, and the Ukraine. Thomas Koet's entry was titled the Juggler and depicts a mermaid juggling balls ( see below) .  We loved the details in her hair and raised collar of her dress. There are 2 person and solo categories and all the entries are worth seeing and they are on display until August 17. For more information see: http://www.parksvillebeachfest.ca  Before seeing the Sand Sculpting event we hiked some of the trails at Top Bridge Park. On this day we saw several people swimming in the river so bring your bathing suit if the weather is hot. See you on the trail. 

 

The Quarry Rock hike rewards hikers with great views of Deep Cove near Vancouver

 by Keith and Heather Nicol
When we go to Vancouver to visit friends and family we usually like to get out for hike while we are there. On a recent trip we decided to check out the Quarry Rock hike since it is fairly short but gives expansive views at the lookout bluff at the trail's end.  To start the hike you need to drive to Deep Cove and find a parking spot. This can be a challenge on sunny weekends but we went midweek and found a free spot on Panorama Drive in front of Panorama Park. We walked down Panorama Drive and quickly found the access trail to Quarry Rock. The hike in is not long --our GPS showed about 3 km one way --but is a roller coaster of valleys so the trails winds up and down with lots of stairs and stream crossings with bridges.  We had done this hike 10 years ago and we certainly didn't recall all those stairs but this means it is more strenuous than you might think. Our GPS showed an elevation gain of over 250 meters so people with mobility issues or families with young children might have trouble on this trail. The viewpoint at the end is a large rocky bluff which is a perfect place to have a snack and get a few pictures.-see picture below. Check it out on your next trip to Vancouver. See you on the trail.