The thing about trails in Nanaimo is that you do not drive to them. The network runs through the city rather than around it, so most neighbourhoods have a trailhead within walking distance and the serious hikes start at the edge of town.
That changes how often people actually use them. A forest walk that takes ten minutes to reach becomes a habit in a way that an hour's drive never does.
Here is how the network fits together, from the flat loops to the summit that watches over the city.
How extensive is the trail network in Nanaimo?
Extensive enough that most people who live here have not walked all of it. The city holds a series of park systems that each carry their own trails, and several of them connect, so a short loop can be extended into a long day without leaving the network.
The rough shape of it: flat urban loops through the parks in the middle of the city, a set of lake and forest circuits a few minutes out, the coastal walks along the shoreline, and the climbs on the western edge where the land rises toward Mount Benson.
The easy walks close to town
- Bowen Park. Forest, creek, and open lawn right in the middle of the city, with paths that suit a stroller as easily as a run.
- Buttertubs Marsh. A level loop around a bird sanctuary with a viewing tower. Dogs are not permitted, which is precisely why the birdlife is worth seeing.
- Colliery Dam Park. An easy loop linking two small lakes through mature forest, with wooden bridges and a waterfall at the far end. Partly paved and wide enough for casual walking.
- The Parkway Trail. A paved multi-use path that runs a considerable distance and links several parks together. This is the spine of the network for anyone on a bike or wanting a long flat walk.
The forest and lake circuits
These are the ones that feel like proper countryside without being far from the house.
- Westwood Lake. A dirt loop around the shoreline, mostly flat with one knoll that people build into their workouts. It connects into the larger Mount Benson and Westwood Ridge networks, which is what makes it a starting point rather than an endpoint.
- Morrell Nature Sanctuary. A teaching forest with a substantial network of trails through Douglas fir and western red cedar, a lake in the middle, and interpretive signage. A steep trail climbs to a lookout toward Mount Benson.
- Linley Valley and Cottle Lake. A genuine pocket of wilderness inside the city, with a network of paths through mature forest to a quiet lake. Large enough that navigation is worth thinking about.
The bigger climbs and the waterfalls
Mount Benson is the hike everyone eventually does. It is the mountain sitting behind the city, and the climb is steep and steady through forest to a summit with views over the whole coastline, the Strait of Georgia, and across to the mainland mountains. It is a proper hike rather than a walk, so boots and water rather than runners and optimism.
Ammonite Falls is the other one people are sent to, in Benson Creek Falls Park. The falls are the destination, reached on a trail with a steep final descent that uses fixed ropes and a set of stairs. It is best in winter and early spring when the water is running hard, and it is worth knowing about the stairs before you set out with anyone who would struggle on them.
Beyond those, Sugarloaf Mountain, Extension Ridge, and the Harewood Plains all carry trails, and the ridges above Westwood Lake open into a network that keeps going as far as you want to take it.
The coastal walks
The shoreline trails are a different experience again, and they are the ones to take a visitor on. Several of them double as beach access.
- Neck Point Park. Trails through Garry oak groves out to rocky headlands and small pebble beaches, with boardwalk sections and lookouts.
- Pipers Lagoon. A short walk out along the spit between the ocean and the tidal lagoon toward the bluffs.
- Jack Point and Biggs Park. A boardwalk and rock route out along the harbour entrance, looking back at the city from an angle most people never see.
- The waterfront walkway. The paved harbour route through the middle of town, which is the easiest introduction to the whole thing.
What the trails are like through the wet season
Usable, and used. Nothing closes for winter, the ground does not freeze solid, and the forest stays green, so walking carries on year round with the addition of mud and proper footwear.
The gravel and paved routes stay comfortable in any weather. The dirt trails in the forest get soft, and the steeper sections above Westwood and on Mount Benson turn slick, so the climbs are better left for a dry stretch. Waterfalls are the exception worth chasing: Ammonite Falls is at its best in the wettest months, when the volume is genuinely impressive.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best hike in Nanaimo?
Mount Benson, if you want the big one. It is a steep and steady climb through forest to a summit with views over the coastline, the Strait of Georgia, and across to the mainland mountains. For something easier, the Westwood Lake loop and the Colliery Dam loop are the two most used walks in the city.
How hard is the hike to Ammonite Falls?
Moderate, with a steep final descent that uses fixed ropes and a set of stairs to reach the base of the falls. The stairs are the part worth knowing about in advance if anyone in the group would struggle on them. The falls run hardest in winter and early spring.
Are there flat, easy trails in Nanaimo?
Yes, several. Bowen Park, Buttertubs Marsh, and the Colliery Dam loop are all level or gently graded, and the Parkway Trail is a paved multi-use path linking several parks. The waterfront walkway through downtown is the easiest of the lot.
Can you walk the trails in Nanaimo in winter?
Yes. Nothing closes for the season, the ground does not freeze solid, and the forest stays green, so walking carries on year round. Gravel and paved routes stay comfortable in any weather, while dirt trails get soft and the steeper climbs turn slick, so those are better left for a dry stretch.
Do the trails in Nanaimo connect to each other?
Many of them do. The Westwood Lake loop connects into the larger Mount Benson and Westwood Ridge networks, and the Parkway Trail links several parks together, so a short loop can be extended into a long day without leaving the network.
Getting to know the area
Which trails you use most comes down to which trailhead is closest to your door, which is worth thinking about before you choose a neighbourhood. The Moving to Nanaimo hub covers what living here is like across the board, the Nanaimo Neighbourhood Guide walks through the areas in detail, and you can book a quick call with Travis or Kiel to talk it through.