The West Coast Trail is on the “must-do list” of serious hikers around the globe. Stretching for over 77 km (47 miles) the trail runs from Port Renfrew to Bamfield and takes from 6 to 10 days to complete. This is not a “walk in the park” and should only be undertaken by experienced, physically fit and well-prepared outdoor enthusiasts. However, the sheer beauty and drama of this region is breath-taking and worth the time and effort it takes to make the journey for those who are up to the challenge. To protect the integrity of the area and ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all hikers, the National Parks Service has a reservation system in place that controls and monitors the access to the trail.

The Juan de Fuca Marine Trail is another spectacular wilderness hike that provides many wildlife viewing opportunities, wonderful views and the constant roar of the surf as it runs along the shore from China Beach Provincial Park (north of Sooke) to Botanical Beach near Port Renfrew. Most of the trail requires a considerable level of fitness and experience but there are some sections that provide for easy or moderate day hikes and can be reached via some of the trailheads along the way. Please note: this trail does NOT connect to the West Coast Trail.

For those of us looking for something a wee bit easier, Roche Cove Regional Park near Sooke has a two-hour Cedar Grove Hike rated moderate that takes you through the lush vegetation of a temperate rainforest past old-growth cedar trees with scenic views of the cove.

Near Duncan, a trip up the slopes of Mt. Tzouhalem will reward you with a walk past an ecological reserve that protects some unique Garry Oak woodlands and wildflower meadows, while further along the trail, rocky bluffs provide an excellent vantage point for views of the green and pastoral Cowichan Valley.

South of Nanaimo, the Cable Bay-Dodds Narrows hike is an easy five km and takes about two hours. The path leads to some interesting sandstone formations along the shore where you can sit a spell and watch the sea lions cavort and the bald eagles soar.

Also in the Nanaimo area, near Vancouver Island University, the Morrell Nature Sanctuary has 11 km of trails meandering through over 100 hectares of protected second growth forest. If you want to learn more about the native plants and animal species of Vancouver Island, consider joining one of their guided walks that run every Saturday from July though September. Contact the “Friends of Morrell” to confirm time and details.

Mount Benson, Nanaimo’s much beloved and celebrated peak, is a well traveled moderate hike and has great views of Nanaimo, the Strait of Georgia, the Coast Mountains and other peaks on the Beaufort Range such as Mt. Arrowsmith and Mt. Cokely, which also have their own spectacular hiking trails.

Take a break from the drive and enjoy a great family hike and a chance to stretch your legs if you are traveling to Port Alberni and Tofino. Pull into the roadside parking lot of MacMillan Provincial Park (better known locally as Cathedral Grove) and meander along the bark mulch loop that passes among the towering cedar and fir trees.

In the Cumberland-Courtenay area, access to the Puntledge River Recreation Area is courtesy of BC Hydro. Located near the Comox Lake Dam & Reservoir there are trails for hiking, mountain biking and multi-use to suit a range of fitness levels. From the River Trail West that includes benches for taking a breather, boardwalks and log bridges to a leisurely stroll past two small lakes on the appropriately named Twin Lakes Trail.

Well-known for its ski hills in winter, Mount Washington is also a great place to hike in the summer months and provides access into one of BC’s oldest parks: Strathcona Provincial Park. The Paradise Meadows Trailhead (and the name pretty much says it all) has a wheelchair accessible boardwalk through alpine meadows from which you can also embark on longer day or multi-day hikes. Take the chairlift ride to the 1,588m elevation, enjoy a self-guided tour along the well marked bark mulch paths, then sit back and enjoy the spectacular scenery on the ride back down.

Please note: As of June 8, 2009 there are several closures within Strathcona. The popular Della Falls Trail is closed due to the destruction of the bridge at the 11 km crossing; as are the Crest Mountain, Tennent Creek and Lower Bedwell River trails.

No matter where your hiking adventures take you, always be prepared. Bring appropriate amounts of water & food, dress in layers, wear sturdy and comfortable shoes, obey any posted signs and stick to the trail as it is marked. If your hike takes you into the backcountry, always let someone know where you are going and when you plan to return and always leave the area you travel through as natural as it was when you arrived. “Take only photos and leave only footprints” and enjoy your hike(s) on Vancouver Island.

• West Coast Trail (Pacific Rim National Park)
  
• Morrell Nature Sanctuary
  
  

Featuring a large grassy area with picnic tables, a playground, and a “tea house” food concession that is very popular on those hot summer weekends, it is no wonder that Willows Beach Park is a favourite with Victoria residents. Located 15 minutes from downtown, this wide stretch of sandy beach is home to the annual (77th this year!) Oak Bay Tea Party held in June and is perfect for a swim, a stroll or an afternoon of people watching.

Another family friendly stretch of sand can be found at the Cadboro Bay-Gyro Park. Picnic facilities, washrooms and a playground complete with “sea creatures” make this a fun afternoon for the kids and a lovely respite for parents or grandparents. Lots of shady treed areas for those too hot days of summer. Located as it is just down the hill from the University of Victoria it is also a time-honoured spot for students to pretend to study for their final exams!

Traveling out to the Saanich Peninsula will bring you to Island View Regional Park. There you will find a pebble and sand beach with lots of driftwood for climbing or just sitting on. Lovely views across the water to offshore islands and the towering snow covered dome of Mt. Baker in the distance. There is also a boat ramp for those who might like to motor or paddle in Cordova Channel or the Haro Strait. Bird watchers can catch a glimpse of Oystercatchers and other migratory shorebirds.

West of Sooke, French Beach Provincial Park has a wide sand & pebbled beach from which you may spot seals, otters, sea lions and even gray whales as they migrate north in spring and then make the return trip south to the Baja in the fall. There is a day-use area here with picnic tables, a playground, benches, pit toilets and fire rings.

In the mid-Island, Pipers Lagoon Park is a hidden jewel, perfect for an afternoon stroll or picnic while in the Nanaimo area. A walk along the dyke with its lagoon on one side and a pebbled beach on the other, brings you to a rocky outcropping covered in arbutus and Garry Oak trees.

Heading up-Island will bring you to the area known collectively as Oceanside and the beachfront communities of Parksville and Qualicum Beach and frankly, the names speak for themselves. Miles of sandy beaches and safe pleasant waters to swim in have made this region a summer destination for generations of families. Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park is one of the most visited provincial parks in the province with a large campground, picnic areas, playground, interpretive programs and hiking trails through forested areas within the park. The beach itself is perfect for frolicking and fun.

The community beach within Parksville itself has recreational facilities, a concession and an outstanding children’s playground & water park created and maintained through the efforts of the local Lion’s Club. The parking for Qualicum Beach affords you a beach front view right from your car, but do get out and enjoy a stroll along the waterfront promenade or out on the beach itself. The water is perfect for a salty dip in the ocean which can be followed by a cone from the Beach Hut or maybe rent yourself a kayak from the vendor right on the beach and go for a paddle.

In the Courtenay-Comox area, the little known Kye Bay is a delightful day’s adventure amidst the sand, wind and waves. Beautiful clean water—time your swim with the incoming tide when the water is warmed as it flows over the hot sand—and tidal pools brimming with life for the kids to explore. If you like airplanes you get an added bonus as the Air Force jets from CFB Comox come and go from their nearby base.

Miracle Beach Provincial Park, located between Courtenay and Campbell River, has a broad sandy beach with lots of sand dollars and shelled creatures of every description. A popular destination for campers and day-use visitors, its sheltered warm waters are wonderful for swimming and splashing about in. There is a large picnic area and space to spread out under the trees if you need some shade. There are public washrooms and change rooms here as well and fresh water taps for washing off the salt and sand from feet and floaty toys!

Travel to the very end of Highway 4 and you will come to the world-renowned west coast of Vancouver Island and the many beaches in and around the communities of Tofino and Ucluelet. Pacific Rim National Park sits in the middle of this UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, with beaches that range from wild stretches of hard-packed sand to sheltered coves and rocky headlands. Long Beach, Chesterman, and Schooner Cove are but a few of the options to explore. Give surfing, boogie boarding or just standing in the water up to your knees a try and you will feel the power of this magnificent coastline… the very essence of the west coast experience.

Well, that should be enough Vancouver Island beaches to keep you busy for a summer or two… but we can always find some more for you to explore when you are ready!

You can order up your basket already brimming with goodies from Cheryl’s Gourmet Pantry in Victoria. Her “For Lovers Only” basket includes smoked salmon, baguette with herb butter and raspberry glazed chicken breast.

At The Butchart Gardens, on Saturdays through July and August, you can reserve your own gourmet picnic basket to be set up on the lawn outside their dining room, complete with checkered tablecloth and white linen napkins.

Chemainus Tours offers a “Gathering a Picnic” culinary tour that takes you to a local bakery, vineyard, cheesemaker and other farm gate markets to select goodies that suit your tastes. Once your basket is full, finish off the day with a leisurely meal as you appreciate the many fine products the Island has to offer.

With such natural abundance on Vancouver Island it can be difficult to decide just what unique and flavourful foodstuffs to chose from... maybe some fresh cheese curds from Little Qualicum Cheeseworks, red-fleshed apples from Apple Luscious Organic Orchards on Salt Spring Island, an olive-studded ciabatta from True Grain Bread Bakery in Cowichan Bay, some plump, smoked Fanny Bay oysters…then just tuck in a few Clayoquot Blackberry Buttercream chocolates from Chocolate Tofino, some cider from Cobble Hill’s Merridale Estate Cidery and let the feasting on Vancouver Island begin.

• Cheryl’s Gourmet Pantry
  
• Butchart Gardens Dining Room
  
• Chemainus Tours
  
• Little Qualicum Cheeseworks
  
• Apple Luscious Organic Orchards
  
• True Grain Bread
  
• Fanny Bay Oysters
  
• Chocolate Tofino
  
• Merridale Estate Cidery
  
  

Summer Berry Gratin
2 Tbsp (25 ml) butter, softened
½ cup (125 ml) sugar
1 tsp (5 ml) cornstarch
1 egg, separated
½ cup (125 ml) light cream
1 tsp (5 ml) vanilla extract
4 cups (1L) of mixed berries
1 Tbsp (15 ml) packed brown sugar

In a heavy saucepan, blend together butter, sugar (except for 1 Tbsp/15 ml), and the cornstarch. Whisk in the egg yolk and the cream. Cook over medium heat stirring constantly until boiling and thickened—about 3 minutes. Stir in the vanilla.

Beat egg white until soft peaks form. Add remaining sugar gradually until stiff peaks form. Fold this into the cream mixture. This can be cooled and refrigerated for up to a day.

Place berries in a 9-inch (23 cm) deep-dish pie plate. Spoon custard mixture over berries and sprinkle with brown sugar. Broil (at 4”/10cm) from the heat for 1 to 1-1/2 minutes or until the topping is golden.

Serves 4 to 6.

FROM THE PUBLISHER
“Lace up your boots and sample more than fifty trails on Canada's beautiful west coast. From the rugged windswept shores of Cape Scott Provincial Park to the urban trails of Victoria's Galloping Goose and the ancient and silent forests of the Island's interior, Hiking Vancouver Island has memorable routes to please hikers of every stripe. Outdoor explorers, writers, and sisters Shannon and Lissa Cowan describe more than fifty trails that vary in length, from easy one-hour outings ideal for children and beginning hikers to more challenging backpacking treks in the backcountry.

Inside you'll find: up-to-date trail information; clear directions from major access points; difficulty ratings for each hike; detailed trail maps; tips on navigation, equipment, first aid, and hiking with children.

Whether you are a day-tripper or long-distance hiker, old hand or novice, you'll find trails suited to every ability and interest throughout Vancouver Island.”

Hiking the West Coast of Vancouver Island
by Tim Leadem
Published by D&M Publishers Incorporated, 2008

FROM THE PUBLISHER
“Vancouver Island offers some of the most spectacular coastline in the Pacific Northwest. This definitive guide covers every major coastal hike on the west coast of Vancouver Island, from the remote beaches of the Juan de Fuca Marine Trail to the surf-swept shore of Cape Scott. Included are the popular West Coast Trail, which features 50 miles of the most breathtaking and demanding hiking on the continent, easy-to-navigate trails through the stunning old-growth forest of the Carmanah-Walbran Provincial Park, the rugged, remote Nootka Trail, Wild Pacific Trail, with its white sand beaches, and many others. Complete details on planning the trip, getting to and from the trailheads, and choosing the most scenic campsites make this an indispensable guide for every Northwest hiker. For this revised edition, author Tim Leadem retraced trails altered by recent windstorms to present hikers with the most up-to-date information available.”

Curve of Time
By M. Wylie Blanchet
Published by Whitecap Books Ltd., 2002

FROM THE PUBLISHER
"This is a biography and astonishing adventure story of a woman who, left a widow in 1927, packed her five children onto a 25-foot boat and cruised the coastal waters of British Columbia, summer after summer.

Last year I was lucky enough to take a trip that I had promised to myself for more than 30 years – a ride across Canada by motorcycle from Toronto to Vancouver, visiting V.I. before ending up in Vancouver. I took what I think is probably a less obvious route (because that’s what I tend to do), crossing from Powell River to Comox, riding down the coast and then across to the Pacific Rim, staying at Tofino, and then riding back to get the ferry from Nanaimo to Vancouver. Even though someone needs to sort out Highway 4 (that was quite a challenge on the bike!), let me tell you now that the 3 days I spent on the Island were some of the best days of my entire life – if there was some way that a 52 yr old Brit could persuade his wife to up sticks this late I’d be out there again like a shot. I’ll be back for longer next time.

You probably already know this, but the residents of Vancouver Island are truly blessed.

If anyone wants to see what I really thought about Canada and what I got up to then it can all be read about on my web site. http://www.overthehills.co.uk/

Regards,

Rob Chisholm