Vancouver Island Destinations - Pacifica Housing Handbook
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Vancouver Island Destinations
Pacifica Housing Handbook
1. Myrtle falls, Campbell River …………………..….pg. 3 2. Strathcona Provincial Park ………………….….pg. 4 3. Neck Point, Nanaimo ……………………………....pg. 5 4. Botanical Beach, Port Renfrew ……………….pg. 6 5. Beacon Hill Park, Victoria …………………….....pg. 7 6. The Abyss, Nanaimo ………………………………...pg. 8 7. Maple Bay …………………………………………….…...pg. 9 8. Wally Creek ………………………………………….…..pg. 10 9. Ucluelet ………………………………………….…………pg. 11 10. Galloping Goose Trail, Victoria ……………...pg. 12 11. Buttertubs Marsh, Nanaimo ……………………pg. 13 12. Jordan River Regional Park …………………...pg. 14 13. Little Qualicum Falls …………………….………...pg. 15 14. Hole in the wall, Port Alberni …….……….....pg. 16 15. Mt. Ts’uwxilum, North Cowichan …………...pg. 17 16. Pipers Lagoon Park, Nanaimo ……………...pg. 18 17. Sandcut Beach Waterfall …………….……….…pg. 19
Myra Falls, Campbell River
My fave place to go on the island is Myra Falls.
The trail starts near the south end of Buttle
Lake before the Nyrstar-Westmin mine site.
This trail has one steep section. There are views
of several beautiful cascades from a viewing
platform at Myra Falls, as well as access to
several creek side areas. Myra falls is also in
the new Jason Momoa series, See (2019).
- Rebecca Martin, Supportive Housing
Strathcona Provincial Park
One of my favourite places on Vancouver Island is
Strathcona Provincial Park—the oldest provincial
park in BC. There are so many amazing hikes there.
This is a picture on the Elk River Trail which is a
beautiful multiday hike or it can be done in one long
day. You can stop at the first lake, called Landslide
Lake, or you can keep going and bushwack to the
turquoise, glacial lake called Berg Lake, pictured here.
Depending on the time of year, you can see little
icebergs floating on the surface.
- Elise Dheere, Outreach
Neck Point, Nanaimo
This is a little park on the West side of
Hammond Bay road in Nanaimo. It’s a
looping trial of about 2 kms, with lots of
wooden stairs to climb, as well as observation
decks to look out onto the ocean. There are a
few different trails that you can follow, and a
great little beach called Last Beach on one
side of the park. This is also the park where
you can find little handmade doors built into
the base of some of the trees, which are
known as “fairy houses”. Very cute when you
see them along the trail from the parking lot.
- Kayla Trace, Administration
Botanical Beach, Port Renfrew
Botanical Beach and nearby Botany Bay
can be accessed at the end of Cerantes Road
from the large roundabout parking lot in the
Juan de Fuca Provincial Marine Park which
includes a great nearby picnic table
area. Botanical Beach offers one of the best
opportunities to view intertidal marine
creatures and plants on Vancouver Island.
Photo by Laura Miles, Human Resources
Beacon Hill Park, Victoria
Lovely place to walk around, have a
picnic, feed ducks, and read! Especially
love feeding the ducks in the winter
time and walking around in the
summer! Something also to enjoy during
the summer is soft serve ice cream at
Beacon Drive In; it was voted Victoria’s
Best Ice Cream for the last 25 years in a
row!
- Erin Wiersma, Human Resources
Peacock photo from Carolina Ibarra, CEO
©Victoria-bc-vacation.com
The Abyss, Nanaimo
This was a really cool find, and it’s The Abyss
on the Extension Ridge Trail in Nanaimo, just
off of the Harewood Mines Road. It’s a great
hiking spot, about 3-4 km’s to the massive
fissure known as The Abyss. This crack is really
cool, as no one knows how far down it goes.
Researchers have figured that the Abyss was
created as a result of coal mining, and it’s
quite a unique formation. Another note is to
make sure that your dogs are kept on a leash
when visiting, as there have been cases of dogs
falling in and needing to be rescued
- Kayla Trace, Administration
Maple Bay
A pretty seaside community located in a narrow
inlet and surrounded by smooth, pebbled
beaches, Maple Bay is one of the finest natural
harbours on the West Coast of British
Columbia, and bustles with marine activity all
year round.
- Laura Miles, Human Resources
Wally Creek
This little creek is located between Port Alberni and
Tofino, and is the perfect spot to spend the day
lazing around, and then cooling off in the icy water.
Wally Creek is on the Kennedy River, at the turnoff
on Highway 4 (Pacific Rim Hwy) heading towards
Ucluelet from Port Alberni. The waters are emerald
blue, and it’s a great spot for swimming in the
summer.
Photo from Rainbow Lee, Human ResourcesUcluelet
Come discover Vancouver Island's hidden 'off
©hotpursuitcharters.ca
the beaten path' gem. Ucluelet has been
named one of BC's top ten small towns and
offers an endless range of outdoor activities.
Affectionately known as “Ukee”, the town is
friendly, and welcoming. Ucluelet is a
flourishing community that thrives on outdoor
recreation and eco-tourism. It is surrounded by
the 150,000 acres Pacific Rim National Park
Reserve, with the Broken Group Islands to the
South and Long Beach to the North.
Crashing wave photo from Sharon McDonald,
Supportive ServicesGalloping Goose Trail, Victoria
Parry Bay Sheep Farm in Metchosin is my favourite
biking destination along the Galloping Goose Trail
This cute little spot, where you can take a water/lunch
break and see all the sheep, is right off the trail!
- Stephanie Parker-Davis, Outreach
The Galloping Goose Trail is a Regional rail trail that
goes 55 kilometres from Victoria to north of Sooke. It’s
frequented by people walking, running, cycling,
rollerblading, skateboarding and (in places) riding
horses. It connects up with many other trails and parks
in the area.Buttertubs Marsh, Nanaimo
Buttertubs Marsh is a bird and wildlife
sanctuary with a 2 km loop trail around the
marsh. There are a few observation decks
where you can look out into the marsh, which
is a great place to birdwatch or take photos.
There are two entrances on either side of the
park with parking available on both sides.
Buttertubs Drive on one side, and Second
Street on the other. Buttertubs is wheelchair
accessible all around, though dogs are not
permitted
- Kayla Trace, AdministrationJordan River Regional Park
Jordan River Regional Park is a 187 hectare
mixed coastal forest park along the Juan de
Fuca Strait. This park is a favourite of locals
and offers a scenic view of the Olympic
Peninsula. It’s a popular sport among surfers,
especially in the winter months. Access to
Jordan River is by Highway 14/West Coast
Road, west of Sooke. Parking is available in
the gravel parking lot or along the road.
Photo from Laura Miles, Human ResourcesLittle Qualicum Falls
Impressive waterfalls cascade down a rocky
gorge in a beautiful forested setting bordered
by steep mountain peaks at this park, one of
the most beautiful parks on central Vancouver
Island. The falls, lake swimming, shaded
riverside trails and picnic facilities make Little
Qualicum Falls a very popular family
recreation destination. A number of walking
trails are available in and around the park,
offering picturesque views of the river and
providing access to the upper and lower falls.
Trail photo from Sharon
©novice ecologist McDonald, Supportive ServicesHole in the Wall, Port Alberni
A strange man-made hole, once used to supply water
to Port Alberni through a pipeline. The pipe has since
been removed and has left a weird hole that has
become a popular attraction. Across the highway
from the Coombs Country Candy store. The trail is 1.3
kms to the Hole in the Wall, so it’s a short hike to see
something truly unique.
Photo from Rainbow Lee, Human ResourcesMt. Ts’uwxilum,
North Cowichan
Mount Ts’uwxilim, also known as Mount
Tzouhalem, is a 4.6 mile hiking trail with an
amazing view once you get to the top.
Another feature of this hiking trail is the giant
cross structure, which is great for photos!
It’s about a 10 minute drive from the centre of
downtown Duncan, off of Tzouhalem Road.
©PauseUnpause Youtube
- Kayla Trace, AdministrationPiper’s Lagoon Park, Nanaimo
Piper’s Lagoon is located on the East end of
Hammond Bay. It’s a great little park with a
waterfront path, and access to the beach. It’s a
great swimming location when it’s hot out. It’s also
a park that’s ideal for birdwatching.
You can walk up little paths up onto the rocky
headland, and the last time I was here, orca whales
and a whale watching boat were just barely visible
on the ocean. I made a note to bring binoculars
next time
- Kayla Trace, AdministrationSandcut Beach Waterfall
©world-of-waterfalls.com
The Sandcut Beach Waterfall is a modestly-
sized 10-15ft tall set of waterfalls spilling right
onto a pebbly beach. It’s located between
French Beach Provincial Park and Jordan
River, actually connecting to the Jordan River
Regional Park Campground. Just take a
short walk through the forest, along a trail,
boardwalk, and down a set of stairs to this
interesting beach. In the spring, fall and
winter, the majestic waterfall flows the best.
Beach photo from Frank Bassett,
Property ServicesTHANK YOU to the Social Committee for putting this together, and to everyone for sending in fantastic locations
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