Comox Dam trails now reopened

by Keith and Heather Nicol

BC Hydro has just reopened some trails that they have been working on which is great news for people that like to hike and bike the trails from Nymph Falls to Comox Dam Recreation Area and back to the Comox Valley Water Treatment Plant (CVWTP) on the north side of the Puntledge River. They have been mainly replacing the bridges and boardwalk areas with heavy duty cedar and it looks great. Those bridges should last for decades! We just did a bike loop around this area on July 30 which included starting at the Water Treatment Plant and biking the trails to Comox Dam bridge and then biking the trails to Nymph Falls parking area and back along mostly the same route . The trails are very scenic since they follow the river for the most part. The trails are well marked but there are some forks that you will encounter. But at most trail junctions there are finger boards telling you the name of the trail so you should not get lost . You can always use apps like Alltrails if in doubt. To get to the CVWTP simply put the full name in google maps and it will direct you there. 

                                                   A pull out at " Palm Beach " on the Puntledge River 

                                                           Steve riding over one the new sturdy bridges 

                                               The sign post at the trail head at the Water Treatment Plant 

Tips for tubing the Puntledge River in Courtenay, BC

 

By Keith and Heather Nicol

Summer has been off and on so far in July in the Comox Valley with some hot weather thrown in with some cool windy weather. But there is more heat forecast for early August 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 August just about here 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 24) so here are some tips that we can share if you are new to tubing. Note this year that water levels are lower than normal due to water restrictions so be prepared to hit "bottom" more often than usual. 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 July24 , 2024

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.

                                                   Tubing is still a ton of fun even with lower water levels 

                       

Hiking the Lake Helen Mackenzie and Battleship Lake loop using Alltrails

 

by Keith and Heather Nicol

Alltrails is a great app for hikers to know about even if they know the trail they want to hike and have been on it several times. Alltrails has a free and paid version of its app and although the free version has lots of utility the pro version allows you to download maps and use them off line as well as off route notifications etc. But if you already know the trail and have hiked it a few times why would you go to Alltrails to get route info etc? The main reason is to find out what conditions are like at the present time. Since users provide regular updates you can find out if a trail is muddy or full of mosquitoes at the present time if people have posted updates on conditions recently. Note that not every trail you want to hike will be on Alltrails or would have had recent posts about trail conditions but it is always our first "go to" .

                         View of the ski runs at Mount Washington with Battleship Lake in the foreground 

For instance, we hiked the Helen Mackenzie and Battleship Lake trail on Saturday, July 25 with our daughter Kristie and her boyfriend Eric and used the app to find out what conditions were like.  We have done the hike previously so didn’t need the route info and trail description that Alltrails supplies. It turned out that any people had done the hike in the past week and posted info to Alltrails.  Although one perosn suggested bringing bug repellent, several people said bugs were not a problem so we opted not to bring it and we weren't bothered at all by bugs. This might also have also been due to windy cool conditions!  With temperatures in the mid teens it turned out to be perfect weather for hiking even though the clouds restricted out views. Overall the hike took us about 2 and 1/2 hours which included about 15 minutes for lunch at Lake Helen Mackenzie. Our total distance was measured at 9.4 km which is higher than the Alltrails distance of 8.2 km. But we recorded our distance from the Raven Lodge Parking lot and we did an extra small loop around a small peninsula sticking out into Lake Helen Mackenzie which might account for some of this difference.   The elevation gain is about 165 meters and be prepared for some rooty and rocky trail sections although much of it is smooth gravel or board walk making it a relatively easy hike. 

Of course the main application of Alltrails is to get trail info about hikes that you have never done and it is a great tool for this. In this case, the paid version might well be worth it. For information on Alltrails https://www.alltrails.com/   

Paddle boarding at Comox Dam

 by Keith and Heather Nicol

Paddling boarding is a popular summer activity in the Comox Valley and for good reason- there are many places to put your board in the water from the Ocean to Comox Lake to the Puntledge River. We have just started to get into this activity since we usually go sea kayaking but a paddle board is so much easier to launch that sometimes it is the preferred option. One place where we went recently is perfect for paddle boarding and that is launching from the Comox Dam Recreation site. You can type Comox Dam Recreation Area into to google maps and it will get you there. It took us about 20 minutes to get there from our location in Courtenay. There is a reasonable sized parking area with picnic tables and a small swimming area . To launch you need to get your board down some rock steps. Launching with a kayak or canoe would be much more difficult due to the steep entry to the launch point. 

We were mainly there to test out a new board and to see the area so only paddled down the river about 1.5 km. We found there was little current in the river as far as we went and this area was nicely protected from the wind on July 24 when we went there. The water is very clear and we saw people using there boards to swimming from in some of the deeper areas. It appears from the maps that you could paddle down about 3 km or so before you hit the next dam. Next time we will definitely explore further. Check this area out for paddle boarding if you haven't already. Of course wear your lift jacket and bring along appropriate safety gear like a whistle and tow line . Also note water flow can vary so use common sense when exploring this area. Let us know your favourite places to  paddle board in the Comox Valley. See you on the water. 

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/