Be sure to catch the Lavender and Garlic Harvest at Shamrock Farms-July 22-26

 by Keith and Heather Nicol

Over the next few days -from July 22 to 26 Shamrock Farms will be opening its gates to the public to experience its garlic and lavender harvest. The kids can see the goats and feed the chickens (see picture below) and you can shop at their barn market. You can also cruise the long lines of lavender to select your own bouquet.( see photo below) . Our bike group stopped in their on our Wednesday ride this week and so although you can drive you can also make it a bike destination. Shamrock Farms is located at 2276 Anderton Road and is well worth a visit over the next few days. They are open from 9 am to 3 pm each day from July 22 to 26. For more info see: https://www.shamrockfarm.ca/   

                                                   The Barn Market has lots of gift and food offerings for sale

 

Goose Spit is ideal for sea kayaking and sunsets

By Keith and Heather Nicol

When the tides are right Goose Spit makes a fun place to launch a kayak from and also see the sunset. Lately the tides have cooperated with high tides of 5 meters or so around 6 to 7 pm. With that kind of a tide the carry to the water is just a few meters from where you part your car.  At low tide the carry is much longer and also muddier...and who wants to get into your kayak with muddy feet!!.  On Wednesday , July 15 with some warm evening temperatures we decided this was a good night to paddle around Goose Spit  and also catch the sunset. The parking area at Goose Spit is quite large and there are openings between the logs to be able to get to the beach on the lagoon side. There were also lots of paddleboarders launching from the same area and we were on the water by about 700 pm. 

 

 We paddled past numerous sailboats at anchor and rounded the end of Goose Spit and had planned to paddle part way up the more open side of Goose Spit but came across many sandpipers along the shore line. They seemed to be very interested in the seaweed that was along the ocean edge and we found we could paddle right up to them so that we could even get reasonable pictures with a phone of them (see photo below) . We watched them for some time running, feeding and flitting along the shore before deciding we should head back and get ready for the sunset. The paddle to the end of the spit from where we parked our car was about 4.5 km return. The sun went down behind the Beaufort Mountains around 900 pm and we have found that this area is one of the better places for catching the sunset in this area. If readers have other good places to catch the sunset in the Comox Valley let us know in the comments section.  

 

   

Check out the Evergreen Bike Group if you like to cycle in the Comox Valley

 

by Keith and Heather Nicol

The Evergreen Bike Group has rides on Mondays and Wednesdays and is a great way to meet cyclists and explore the country roads and trails of the Comox Valley. On Monday July 6 thirteen cyclists headed from Buckley Bay to Denman Island and then to Hornby Island. This ride was one of our longer rides at about 50 km but it was broken up with short ferry rides so gave people a chance to rest and socialize.  The Evergreen group is open to cyclists over 55 years of age and the group uses mix of electric , hybrid and road bikes.  The rides on Mondays tend to be longer and it gives us a chance to explore places like Denman and Hornby Islands as well as rides in Campbell River and Parksville. On Wednesday morning the rides tend to be in the Comox Valley and run for 2 to 2.5 hours in length. If you are interested in finding out more about this cycling group contact Ernie at: ejkimball62@gmail.com  The pictures below are of the group cycling to Hornby Island and having lunch at Tribune Bay. Some keen cyclists even went for a post lunch swim at scenic Tribune Bay. Bikes are a great way to see these islands in the summer since you are first on and first off the ferries. 

 

Checking out the Oyster River Potholes

 by Keith and Heather Nicol

We had heard alot of the Oyster River Potholes so finally decided to check them out on Sunday, July 5. They are easily accessed by driving north from Courtenay on the inland highway 19 to the bridge which crosses the Oyster River. You can even put in Oyster River Potholes in google maps and it will direct you there!.  Once you park at the edge of the highway use care in walking back toward the bridge where you will pick up a trail leading through a deer/elk fence and on to the river. The trail has a few different forks which lead down to different parts of the river. The trail is rooty and rocky in places and there are a couple of fallen trees across the trail but for the most part it is easy to negotiate. If you have small kids there is a sloping bed rock area at further along the trail which would be suited to them. There were kids jumping off the cliffs in some areas and green blue water made for a very scenic setting. Everyone we chatted to said the water was cool (we didn't go in) but it was certainly a picturesque location even if you don't swim. If you do go in use common sense related to diving and jumping into water that may be shallower than you think.  Also the algae forming on the rocks made for very slippery conditions and we saw a few people slip as they walked along the water's edge. Be aware that it is popular in the summer and you may have to park some distance along the highway.A real bonus is that when you want to return to Courtenay you only have to drive north a short distance to Cranberry Lane where you can turn left to get back on the inland highway. This spot is definitely worth checking out. 

 

Cumberland Trails are for more than mountain biking

 By Keith and Heather Nicol

On a recent trip to the trails in Cumberland I was struck by the wide range of users that we saw enjoying themselves. On Thursday July 2 I headed to Cumberland to try a new trail I had heard alot about- Top of the Pops and so was doing some warmup  riding on Davis Lake Main and the easier blue trails like 4 pack and Presidents Choice. While cycling up Davis Lake Main I saw numerous families on bikes and some kids were certainly under 10 years old !! I also encountered trail runners, dog walkers and a large group walking to the China Bowls area. Although many people have the idea that Cumberland trails are just for hard core mountain bikers this is clearly not the case but what I saw .

                                              Here is a family group walking to China Bowls on the Cumberland Trails 

While biking some of the easier blue trails in the vast Cumberland trail network we saw small groups of kids biking with an older teen leader. It was quite something to see kids 7-9 years of age tackling some of the same trails we were riding. Mind you they walked some of the harder sections but it was great to see them out biking. So check out the Cumberland trails and remember that they are for more than hard core mountain bikers. Also for non mountain bikers the app Trailforks is a god send for navigating the trail options at Cumberland . For more info see:https://www.trailforks.com/   

                        Cumberland trails are for more than just the hard core bikers doing jumps and riding down cliff faces 

                                                      I saw lots of families riding the trails at Cumberland 

 

Hornby Island makes a great 1 day get away

 

By Keith and Heather Nicol

We just returned from a great day trip to one of our favourite islands -Hornby Island .  On Wednesday , June 17 we caught the 900 am ferry from Buckley Bay which put us on Denman Island 10 minutes later. We then headed directly across the Island to catch the Hornby Island ferry which left at 9:40. Ten minutes later we were on Hornby Island heading toward one of our favourite hikes on Vancouver Island- the Helliwell Park trail.

                                                                 The Helliell Trail was popular on this day 

This is a must do trail since it is right along the ocean for the most part on a dramatic cliff face that gradually gets lower as you head east. It took us about 80 minutes to do the 4 km hike, with frequent stops for pictures, and by now we were thinking about a spot for lunch.

Heather coming up from the white sand beach of Tribune Bay

        

We had  packed sandwiches so decided to be by the water at Tribune Bay Beach which has one of the nicest beaches on the east side of Vancouver Island. Heather wanted to check out the new Tribune Bay campground so while she did that I headed to the excellent mountain bike trails on Mt Geoffrey. These trails are different than those of Cumberland and I like them since they wind through a more open forest so there are less roots and rocks.  Then it was back to do a short hike along the Middle Bench trail which has the most amazing views of Denman Island and the Beaufort Mountains of Vancouver  Island behind.  We caught the 400 pm ferry off of Hornby which put us back in Courtenay by 5:15 or so. Even though we had been gone only 6 or so hours it seemed much longer since we had seen so many different landscapes. But for us a 1 day get away was just the ticket. Check it out before the summer tourism season begins in earnest. 

        Mountain biking is great on Hornby Island with some trails giving amazing views          

Hiking the Ripple Rock Trail

By Keith and Heather Nicol

        The Ripple Rock trail has been on our “to do” list for quite some time since it was almost 7 years ago when we last did the trek. So on June 16th with a couple of xc ski buddies we decided another trip was in order. The Ripple Rock trail gives hikers a great view of Seymour Narrows which was the site of one of the largest non nuclear peacetime explosions . The blast occurred in 1958 to remove the infamous Ripple Rock which was a hazard to shipping.  Due to the strong currents in this area, navigating around Ripple Rock had long been a seafaring hazard and had caused numerous shipwrecks and cost over 100 people their lives! 

                                                   Viewpoint for lunch overlooking Seymour Narrows

   The trail starts roughly 12 km north of Campbell River on Highway 19 and the trailhead is well signposted.  The parking lot is on the right (if you are  driving north) and has parking for 16-20 cars. The coordinates are 50.08.256 N 125 24.174 W. The trail starts off easy and after about 1.34 km there is a viewpoint of Menzies Bay which is worth checking out. Then you cross a metal bridge and the trail passes by a couple of huge Sitka spruce. Next the real climbing starts and the trail becomes noticeably rougher. There are a few viewpoints enroute at about 1.9 km and at 2.5 km (with a picnic table) and these are offer a chance to get an elevated view of Menzies Bay.  The trail winds along paralleling the coastline and you get frequent ocean glimpses as you trek along which is a real bonus. 

     The trail drops down to the ocean at Nymphe Cove (3.7 km) and then it is a steep climb for roughly 700 meters to the bluffs overlooking Ripple Rock.  With the addition of walking to the various viewpoints my GPS showed a total of 4.4 km and the return trip (without viewpoints) showed a distance of 4.1 km (allow 3-4 hours to do the return hike).  We had lunch overlooking Ripple Rock and the north wind was welcome to cool us off.   We recommend this hike since it is not that long but has many scenic coastal views.  Also the whirlpools and upwellings in Seymour Narrows are impressive particularly when the tides are right. Be aware that the trail can be muddy after a rain so it is a hike that is best done in dry conditions. Our group had a variety of footwear from sandels to running shoes to full on hiking boots and since the trail is rooty and rocky that hiking shoes of some sort are probably the best choice. Also since there is a fairly bit of up and down hiking poles won't go astray.  See you on the trails!

Saratoga Beach Golf Course is well worth a visit for Golfers in the Comox Valley

by Keith and Heather Nicol
 

On Friday, June 12 we decided to check out Saratoga Beach Golf Course which is located near Saratoga Beach midway between Campbell River and Courtenay, B.C.  We had arranged a tee time for 10 am and we had perfect golf weather.   Saratoga Beach Golf Course is a 9 hole course that is very walkable since the distance is around 2200 yards and the course is quite flat. But don’t let the short distance fool you, there is still alot of challenge to be had for all levels of golfers. The course consists of 4 par 3’s, 4 par 4’s and 1 pair 5 but the course is generally narrow with water hazards that come into play on just about all holes.   You need to be able to get the ball in the air and carry some distance or else you will lose a few balls to the small ponds and creeks that flows through the course like we did on this day.                                                         Heather getting ready to tee off on number 1  Last year we played this course and awarded it the most improved course in the Comox Valley and this year they are working on many more improvements. We had a great chat with manager Jordan Irwin and he seems to be very keen to create a course that will appeal to a wide range of golfers. First off he told us that they are gradually creating forward tees so that beginners or kids won't be challenged by water or trees that currently make the course quite demanding. As well they are doing a wide apron cut on the greens so that you can putt from the fringe which makes the greens abit larger. He said this may allow them to create some larger greens in the future. And they have rebuilt several tee boxes which has been a big improvement as well.   As you can see the picture above - the greens are in great shape             Jordan told us that they get most of their business from the local community but also from the Comox Valley and Campbell River. They have a Men's League which plays on Tuesday night and Sunday morning and a Ladies League that goes |Tuesday morning and Wednesday night so if you want to meet some new golfers you can contact the clubhouse for more information. The Tuesday morning Ladies league is very well subscribed with over 100 golfers on their list. Also if you want a steal of a deal book a round on Mondays when 9 holes will cost you only $22.00 plus tax. They also have several  dinner and golf specials available when booking on line, especially on Wednesday and Thursday afternoon!And on Fridays,  2 people can play a round of golf and have dinner for just $89 ! Pretty hard to beat that.   Saratoga Beach Golf Course has a small putting green and a driving range as well as a small club house, food truck and pro shop. And you can get a lesson from Jordan which is something we should do the next time we are out. If you want to try a challenging course that will reward the straight ball hitter then see:  http://www.saratogabeachgolfclub.ca/   for more information.              We loved how green the fairways were

 

 

                                                

 

 

May Full Moon rise from Air Force Beach , Comox

 

By Keith and Heather Nicol

 

One of the disadvantages of living in the Comox- Courtenay area is that you don’t get a chance to see the sun dropping off into the horizon in the evening. Sunsets in this area can be nice as the setting sun undercuts any clouds that are in the area but a classic sunset (with the sun disappearing below the horizon) can’t be seen due to the Beaufort Mountains. But we do have moon rises which come up over the Salish Sea and so we have taken to seeing the full moon rise whenever the weather cooperates. Our favourite place to see the full moon rise is the Air Force Beach Parking area and this gives us a good view of the various Gulf Islands, the Sunshine Coast and the mountains of the BC mainland that lie behind.  In the photo below the moon is rising over Kye Bay.  

 Of course like the sun, the full moon doesn’t always rise in the same place each month so the back drop to your views and pictures will always be different. As well the clouds are often different so this adds another variation to each month’s offering.  To find out the date of the full moon and where it will be in the sky check out this web site: https://www.timeanddate.com/moon/canada/comox. For newcomers to this area Air Force Beach take Kilmorley Road and be sure to drive past the turn off to Kin Beach.  Turn right on Air Force Beach Road and continue to the end.  See you for the next full moon and bring a tripod and telephoto lens for the best pictures. The next full moon is tonight and is appropriately called the Blue  Moon. And it is the second full moon this May!! The photos in this post are from the night before the actual full moon on May 30, 2025.  The views from Air Force Beach are great in many directions and the shot below shows the view north. Other good places to view the moon rise are Pt Holmes , especially in the summer months or Kin Beach Park. 

 

 

 

                                                                            

For fun, value and challenge try Mulligans Golf Course in Courtenay

 by Keith and Heather Nicol

 Golf is popular in the Comox Valley with many courses to test your skills but if you want to try a fine little course that allows you to still play 9 holes for less than $20 then check out Mulligans Golf Course. Depending on when play you could pay as little as $16 (from 7 to 8:30 am and from 3:00 pm to closing) and it rises abit to $18 from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm. We recently played at round 2:00 pm on Tuesday , May 19 and found the in and out cloudiness the perfect temperature for golf.  

                       Heather teeing off on the first hole...the Beaufort Range makes a nice backdrop

 

 They offer an executive course which means there are mostly par 3’s with some par 4’s and the longest hole is 337 yards. Total length from the blue tees is 1763 yards which is about a mile so it is also easy to walk for many people from younger children to older adults. But just because it is short doesn’t mean it is easy. There is water on 7 of the 9 holes and many strategically placed sand traps so depending on where the pin is placed,  making par can be a real challenge. The course also gives scenic views of the Beaufort Range of Mountains and has been landscaped to create undulations and mounds which add to the layout of the course. Even with the dry spring weather we have been having the course was green. Note that they have just punched the greens recently so they are abit rough and sandy but that should settle down.I actually found I liked the slower greens and it didn't hurt my game. 

                                                         I actually liked the slow greens

 

In addition to a small clubhouse with an outdoor patio , there is a driving range, a putting green and a sand trap practice area where I need to spend more time. The driving range is another bargain since a bucket of balls is just $3.75 ! One of the friendly staff, told us that it is usually busiest between 9 and 11 am through the week and it is easiest to get on between 3 and 4 pm. Mulligans is located right outside of Courtenay and it took us about 1 hour and 45 minutes to play 9 holes on our recent game. For more information see: http://mulligansgolfcourse.com/  or phone 250-338-2440. This course is ideal for families or friends wanting to meet for a couple of hours of enjoyable golf. Also a real bonus is that for the next few days-until Monday , May 25 you can get a second bucket of balls free when you buy a token. You can't beat that. See you on the course. 

 

The “Pub to Pub” trail is a scenic ocean view walk

 by Keith and Heather Nicol

We always love doing the so called “Pub to Pub” trail which is roughly half way between Campbell River and Courtenay since is a scenic trail with both river and ocean/beach views. We hadn’t done the trail for a few months since last fall and so we decided to walk on May 14, 2026  with our daughter who was visiting from Vancouver.  The trail gets its name from the fact that 2 pubs were located close to the start and end point of the trail but now these “pubs” are no longer there. Since the trail is just 3.5 km (1 way) it is suited to a variety of options. If you have young children or walkers that would find 7 km too long a hike, you could park a car at each end and just make the 1 way trip. You can see from the photo below that the trail surface is well maintained and is generally flat so is walkable for just about all ages. Just beware of some rooty sections!

The first part of the trail winds along the Oyster River 

 

To get there from Courtenay drive north on Highway 19A and keep an eye out for the Oyster River bridge since you want to turn right on the next road (Glenmore Road).  Then travel one roughly 1 block and then turn left on Regent and look for a parking lot with a sign Oyster River Nature Park. The parking lot coordinates are 49. 52.232 N and 125 07.616 W.  There is parking for several cars but this area is popular so we try to go mid week to be able to get a spot. There are a few forks in the trail but bear to the left and you should be fine.  After about 1 km you reach the ocean and from there you follow the Jack Hames Trail to Salmon Point. You can walk the trail in either direction although we tend to walk it south to north most of the time. On this day we were treated to sunny skies and light winds and we had  lunch on driftwood logs part along where we had a fabulous view of ocean and mountains of the BC mainland in the distance. Check this trail out of you haven't done it before. See you on the trail. 

                                                  Daughter Kristie and Heather walking along the trail 

"Lupin Way" is well worth a visit in Comox

 by Keith and Heather Nicol

We are not sure who planted all the purple lupins along Lazo Road but they are in their prime now and well worth a visit. A paved path winds through the lupins paralleling Lazo Road and it can be easily walked or included in a bike ride for those people planning to cycle to see it. The paved path runs for several blocks but the key area for seeing the lupins is between Barber Ave and the Balmoral Rd intersection of Lazo Road. It would be nice to see more of this sort of landscaping along pathways like this in the Comox Valley since it is most appreciated. Check it out for you next walk or bike ride. These pictures were taken on May 13, 2026. See you on the trail. 

 

 

 

 

A mid May hike to the Comox Bluffs

 

By Keith and Heather Nicol

 The Comox Bluffs are along the north side of Comox Lake and there is an ecological reserve there to protect the unusual plant life that exists in this dry rocky sun drenched area. Trees like Arbutus and shrubs like hairy Manzanita are common along this area where as they are pretty rare in the rain forest environment of the Comox Valley. We usually go to this lookout in Mid April since many wildflowers are out at that time of year but this year we did not get there until several weeks later on May 11, 2026. There were still a few wildflowers out but clearly we had missed the main flower season this year but this views are still spectacular and it is well worth the trip. This year we had several friends with us including a couple from Canmore who are interested in all sorts of plant and flower life. 

                                                          The viewpoint overlooking Comox Lake is only a 20-25 minute walk from the trailhead
 

                This trail starts at a small parking lot at 49 38.477 N 125 06.256 W on the left hand side of the road a few hundred meters past the bridge the crosses the Puntledge River where it empties out of Comox Lake.  This route is called the Tomato Creek trail and it leads to a lookout which gives fine views of Comox Lake and is surrounded by the rare plants of the Ecological Reserve. It can be reached in just over 1.2 km (20-25minute walk one way ).

                 The first part of the trail winds through second growth forest and the trail is quite easy to follow
 

 A longer trail continues from the lookout and it traverses the entire Ecological Reserve and ends up at the main logging road which you can then follow back to your car. Be aware that logging trucks may be using this road and it can be dusty so you also can return back via the same trail rather that do a loop.  This longer route is about 5.5 km and takes about 2 hours. But the shorter hike to the lookout would suit people families with smaller children or others that want a shorter hike.  Just be aware that the trail is hard to find in some places and it does have forks which makes route finding abit challenging. The full route can be found on AllTrails and is under the name “Tony’s and Tomato Creek Loop”. If you use this app route finding should be easier. For more info see: https://www.alltrails.com/ 

 

  

 

                

               

Edge Cards are the way to go ski Whistler Blackcomb

 by Keith and Heather Nicol

Whistler Blackcomb is certainly one of the top ski resorts in North America and it just around the corner for people living in the Comox Valley. But the high lift ticket costs discourage many people from skiing there except if you get an Edge Card (available if you live in BC or Washington state). According to the Whistler Blackcomb web site you can pay anywhere from an eye watering $305 to $351 for a single day ticket bought at the ticket window . But my 2 day Edge Card bought in September 2025 for this season cost me around $115 per day of skiing. But of course to be a good value you need to use it and so with time ticking on this year's ski season son Michael and I headed to Whistler on April 23 for some great spring skiing. It had been 10 years since I had last skied Whistler and so I was looking forward to skiing its above tree line slopes- something that our local mountain Mount Washington doesn't have. Although conditions were firmer than we thought we might encounter, the snow softened nicely on 7th Heaven whose runs face south. Another bonus is that the views from the top of 7th Heaven are truly spectacular skiers were lined up taking videos and selfies after they off loaded from the chairlift. Over all we made 12 runs on a variety of lifts and can't wait to return to Blackcomb before May 18th- the final day of skiing for the 2025-2026 season to use up our second day of skiing. Check out the Edge Card and buy it early for the best prices if you want to ski Whistler Blackcomb and make it affordable. For more info see: https://www.whistlerblackcomb.com/

 

 

Checking out the Cherry Trees in Bloom in the Comox Valley

 

By Keith and Heather Nicol

Vancouver and Victoria are well known for their cherry trees in bloom in the spring and although the Comox Valley does not have the number of trees of these bigger centres they do have some locations worth checking out. One of our favourite streets to view every spring is Anna Place in Courtenay which not only has many well established trees in bloom lining the entire street but it also has a superb view of the Comox Glacier as you can see in the pictures below.  We either bike or walk along this street every spring when the blossoms at their peak.  If readers have other favourite cherry trees or favourite streets in the Comox Valley let us know where they are.   

 

Spring Wildflowers along the Tsolum River in Courtenay

By Keith and Heather Nicol

 On  Saturday March 28th  we decided to take a break from skiing at Mount Washington to check the fawn lilies and other wildflowers along the Tsolum River in Courtenay. The last couple of weeks have seen some mixed weather with rain and cool temperatures some days but more seasonable temperatures on other days so we weren't sure quite what to expect.

Fawn Lilies are delicate spring wildflowers

  There were carpets of fawn lilies in bloom along the trails which really brightened up our walk. These trails are located behind the Exhibition Grounds off of Headquarters Road in Courtenay and there is lots of parking. Take the main access trail (really a road) toward the river and we found many clusters of fawn lilies on the trails to the right near the river. You don’t need to walk very far before you see the flowers in bloom along the trail and under the trees.

                                                 Heather getting a picture of some fawn lilies along the trail

 We are not sure how long they will last but if like early spring flowers check out this area and don’t forget to bring your camera. If you are into pictures you might want to bring a tripod and something to kneel on since the carpets of flowers are best photographed low to the ground and the ground can be wet. Another bonus of our walk was seeing a couple of great horned owls. They were quite a distance from the trail and we only saw them since there were several photographers with long telephoto lenses taking photos of them as we passed by. There are other song birds in the area and in the past we have seen Pileated woodpeckers at this time of year. Binoculars might not go astray...see you on the trail. 

                                                     I think these blue flowers are Siberian squills 

Hiking the trails at Piper's Lagoon in Nanaimo

 by Keith and Heather Nicol

   After checking out Neck Point Park (see blog -  https://keithnicol.blogspot.com/2026/03/exploring-neck-point-park-in-nanaimo.html) earlier in the day (Friday, March 27) we headed down the road a short distance to explore another ocean front park - Piper's Lagoon. This was also enroute to our daughter's drop off point at BC Ferries terminal at Departure Bay and it proved to be another perfect place to do a short walk. 

 Piper's Lagoon Park offers quite a different coastal experience than Neck Point Park and the first section follows a tombolo (a sort of spit) which connects the mainland to a rocky island. This part of the trail has benches and is an easy to walk gravel trail. But once you reach the rocky island the trail becomes much more rugged and anyone with mobility issues will likely want to turn around at this point. But for everyone else the walk around the island is a fun short hike with lots of ocean views to islands and back toward Nanaimo. Looking south you can see the BC Ferries coming in or doing out just a short distance away in Departure Bay and looking north you can actually see back to Neck Point Park. One of the highlights at this time of year were the abundant spring flowers - especially the Fawn Lilies (see picture below) They carpeted the edge of the trail just about the whole way around . The island has many Garry Oak and arbutus trees which are likely due to the dry rocky nature of this location. Over all the trail was about 2 km and took less than 40 minutes. It is is another hidden gem in Nanaimo that we are not sure how we missed for all these years.Check it out.

 

If you go- We used google maps to navigate to the Park- simply put in Piper's Lagoon Park and it will lead to a large parking lot. We also used AllTrails to confirm the trail and it might be useful to download but is certainly not necessary since the trail around the island is easy to follow.  

 

Exploring Neck Point Park in Nanaimo

 by Keith and Heather Nicol

On Friday, March 27 we decided to check out some new trails in Nanaimo before dropping our daughter off at the ferry to return to Vancouver . Our first stop was Neck Point Park which seemed to have lots of easy trails criss crossing the park and some very scenic shoreline with beaches and even some off shore islands. What we didn't expect was the large number of sea lions that were there as well. We started out walking counter clockwise around the coastal trail from the medium size parking lot. The gravel trail is wide and well marked with several lookouts along the way. There are stair cases in places and as we made our way along the coast we could see several people on a rocky island. 

 The rocky island is connected to the mainland by a narrow gravel spit and once there we could see what all the interest was. All around the waters edge were sea lions either in the water or hauled out on the rocks. There were dozens of barking sea lions and was fascinating watching them diving into the water and "posing" on the rocks with their necks and heads stuck up in the air. After taking many pictures we decided to cut our hike along the coast short since we were getting hungry and headed back to the car to get our lunch. There are several picnic tables near the car park in the sun and they made a perfect spot for a picnic snack. We vowed to come back to check out the other trails in this scenic park on another visit and we wondered it had taken so long to explore this Nanaimo gem.  

 If you go- We used google maps and used the Morningside Drive access to get to the Neck Point Park parking lot. We happened to get the last spot since it was obvious that this is a popular park - particularly now with the sea lions close at hand. If you find the parking lot full - the nearby school might have parking spots available. We downloaded the full walking route on AllTrails which was useful. The tide was 3.4 meters which we were there.At higher tides the island with the sea lions is not accessible.