Chase River & Extension
Grounded, outdoors-oriented, and value-driven. Space and backcountry access on Nanaimo's southern edge.
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A look around Chase River & Extension
Chase River and Extension sit on Nanaimo's southern edge, where the city opens into forest, rivers, and backcountry roads. This video walks through what it is like to live in one of the more space-driven, outdoors-oriented parts of the city.
Still exploring different parts of the city? View the full Nanaimo Neighbourhood Guide.
Living in Chase River & Extension
Chase River and Extension sit along the southern edge of Nanaimo, where the city gradually opens into forest, rivers, and backcountry roads. This part of town carries a slightly different energy than many of Nanaimo's northern neighbourhoods. There is a grounded, practical feel to the area, with trucks in the driveway, a shop in the backyard, and a quad, boat, or trailer parked beside the house ready for the weekend.
For many residents, the lifestyle revolves around what happens outside the house as much as what happens inside it. Within minutes you can be on a forestry road heading into the hills, launching a boat, or standing beside the Nanaimo River, where the water runs so clear and blue you can see straight to the bottom. Despite that sense of space and outdoor access, the neighbourhood still sits only about 10 to 15 minutes from downtown Nanaimo, making it one of the few places where a more rural-feeling lifestyle stays connected to the city.
For buyers who want room to spread out, space for projects, and easy access to the outdoors, Chase River and Extension often end up on the shortlist. If you are looking for a similar lifestyle with a more rural feel and larger properties, areas like Cedar offer a different kind of setting just further south.
Chase River & Extension at a glance
Housing
Older homes, some newer construction, and value-driven properties with usable space.
Best For
Buyers who want space and affordability without leaving the city.
Trade-Off
Less polish, fewer services close by, and a quieter, less active feel.
Why people choose Chase River & Extension
One of the biggest draws to this area is how close you are to everything that happens outside. You do not pack up for it, you just go. Head five minutes in the right direction and you are on a logging road climbing into the hills, trucks pulled over and quads unloading. It is not a planned outing, it is part of how people live here. The Nanaimo River becomes part of that routine too, and on warm days you will see vehicles parked along the access points and people walking down with towels and coolers. The water runs clear and cold, that bright blue that does not quite look real until you are standing in it. Some spots are quiet, others fill up with groups that come back to the same place year after year.
There is also a practical side. Duke Point ferry terminal is just minutes away, which makes getting on and off the island easier than most people expect, and for anyone commuting, travelling for work, or heading over for the weekend, that proximity matters more over time. And then there is the neighbourhood itself. It does not try to present a certain way. It is lived in, people know each other, kids ride bikes through the same streets, and projects are always on the go. Chase River and Extension offer space, access, and a lifestyle that feels a bit more your own once you are in it.
Chase River & Extension real estate
Homes throughout Chase River and Extension tend to offer more breathing room than many other parts of Nanaimo, and that carries through into pricing. The more accessible end is often older homes or properties that need updates, but they still provide land, usable yard space, and flexibility that is harder to find elsewhere. Most homes sit in a mid-range band, a mix of maintained ranchers, split-level homes, and rural-style properties built over several decades, with larger yards and space for workshops, garages, or storage for boats, trailers, and equipment. Toward the upper end, properties offer more land, updated homes, or better positioning within quieter pockets of the area.
Condos and townhomes are limited here, with the area made up primarily of detached homes plus a small number of townhomes and manufactured homes. Chase River and Extension attract buyers prioritizing space and function rather than uniform streets or newer subdivision design. We keep specific figures general and walk through current numbers directly with buyers, since the market moves.
Chase River & Extension housing character
Chase River and Extension do not follow a single pattern, and that is part of what makes the area feel the way it does.
The Chase River Corridor
Closer to the main corridor, homes sit on larger residential lots with more spacing between them, a mix of older ranchers and split-levels, yards that are actually used, and properties that feel lived in rather than styled.
Toward Extension
The homes spread out more, trees close in around the edges, and properties feel more tucked away, with acreage-style homes set back from the road in some pockets. Quieter and a little more removed, but still within reach of the city.
In Between
Smaller pockets where the layout changes, some more open, some more wooded, but rarely uniform.
It is the kind of place where driveways are not just for parking, they are part of how people live, with boats, trailers, work trucks, and ongoing projects part of the landscape. What defines the area is not a specific type of home, it is the space around them and how that space gets used day to day.
Schools in Chase River & Extension
Schools here are not always right around the corner, but for many families that is part of the lifestyle that comes with living here, with a bit more driving and a bit more planning. The trade-off tends to feel worth it once you are settled in.
Chase River Elementary (K to 7)
1503 Cranberry Avenue. The catchment elementary serving both the Chase River and Extension communities. Familiar and local, the kind of place where you start recognizing other parents over time. Home of the Cheetahs.
Cinnabar Valley Elementary (K to 7)
100 Ohio Way. For families in the Cinnabar Valley pocket to the south. Surrounded by trees and open space with a quieter feel and less rushed drop-offs. Home of the Valley Vipers.
John Barsby Community School (8 to 12)
550 Seventh Street. The catchment secondary, one of Nanaimo's long-established high schools, with a full range of academics, trades, athletics, and extracurriculars.
Cedar Secondary (8 to 12)
1640 MacMillan Road. Some students further south may attend Cedar Secondary, a smaller, more contained high school where students are known rather than part of a larger system.
Because the south end sits near a few catchment boundaries, confirm the exact elementary and secondary for a specific address on the School District 68 School Locator before relying on it.
Outdoors, trails & local spots
Living in Chase River and Extension means outdoor access is not something you plan around, it is just there.
Nanaimo River
Clear blue water you do not expect until you see it. Some sections are slow and easy to float, others drop into deeper pools, and the gravel bars fill up through the afternoon then empty as the day winds down. People come back year after year.
Backcountry & Trail Access
A few minutes out and you are into forestry roads that stretch for kilometres, with trucks pulled over, quads unloading, and bikes heading into the hills. Immediate access that becomes one of the biggest reasons people stay.
Colliery Dam Park
Nearby, off Wakesiah Avenue. Two freshwater dams connected by forest trails, with swimming in summer and a quieter upper dam, a short drive from the neighbourhood.
South Benson & Ridge Runner
Nearby trail networks connecting into the broader south-end riding culture, a steady draw for mountain bikers.
Local favourites & everyday needs
Southgate Shopping Centre
50 Tenth Street. Country Grocer, a pharmacy, and service shops covering the essentials, and one of the main transit hubs for the south end.
The Crow & Gate Pub
2313 Yellow Point Road. Stone paths, garden seating in the trees, and pints on the lawn in summer. Somewhere that feels a little removed from everything else.
Bold Knight Restaurant
1020 Old Victoria Road. Around long enough that most people in Nanaimo know it. Steak, seafood, generous portions, and a familiar room. A reliable place for a solid meal.
Living here means you are not surrounded by amenities, but you are close enough that it does not feel inconvenient. You live for the space and head out when you need something else.
Distances & commute
Rural feel, but well placed for the ferries. Some typical drive times:
- Duke Point ferry terminal: about 5 to 10 minutes
- Downtown Nanaimo: about 10 to 15 minutes
- Nanaimo Regional General Hospital: about 10 to 12 minutes
- Hullo passenger ferry, downtown: about 12 to 15 minutes
- Departure Bay ferry terminal: about 15 to 20 minutes
For new residents, registering for a family doctor goes through the provincial Health Connect Registry by calling 8-1-1.
Chase River & Extension is for
This area works best for buyers who:
- ✓ Want room to spread out and a place that supports an active, hands-on lifestyle
- ✓ Value function over polish, with properties that offer flexibility and usable space
- ✓ Spend time outdoors and want easy access to trails, rivers, and backcountry areas
- ✓ Are willing to trade walkability and proximity for value and lifestyle
If Chase River & Extension isn't the right fit
This area offers space, access to the outdoors, and a more flexible way of living, but that does not work for everyone. If your priorities lean a different way, these nearby areas may fit better.
South Nanaimo
A bit closer to downtown, with a more traditional neighbourhood layout and easier access to everyday amenities. Explore South Nanaimo.
Cedar
Further in that direction, with larger acreages, hobby farms, and a stronger rural setting and more separation from the city. Explore Cedar.
North Jingle Pot
More space, larger homes, and a quieter setting without going fully rural, with an elevated, private feel and acreage properties set into the hills. Explore North Jingle Pot.
If none of these feel quite right, explore the full Nanaimo Neighbourhood Guide to see how the areas compare side by side.
Still weighing up whether moving to Nanaimo makes sense for you? Start there for the wider picture.
Chase River & Extension FAQs
Is Chase River a good place to live in Nanaimo?
Yes, especially for buyers looking for a quieter, more practical area with a bit more space. Chase River offers a less congested feel than central Nanaimo while still being only about 10 to 15 minutes from downtown.
What types of homes are in Chase River and Extension?
A mix of older homes, some newer builds, and properties that offer more usable space for the price. Many homes have room for trailers, boats, or workshops, which is part of the appeal.
Which schools serve Chase River and Extension?
The catchment elementary is Chase River Elementary (1503 Cranberry Avenue), which serves both communities, with Cinnabar Valley Elementary (100 Ohio Way) for the Cinnabar Valley pocket. Secondary is John Barsby (550 Seventh Street), and some students further south attend Cedar Secondary (1640 MacMillan Road). Confirm a specific address with SD68.
Is Chase River good for outdoor lifestyles?
Yes, this is one of the biggest draws. You are close to the Nanaimo River, forestry roads, and backcountry access, which makes it ideal for buyers who spend time outdoors and want that lifestyle close to home.
How does Chase River compare to Cedar?
Both offer space and access to the outdoors, but Chase River is more connected to Nanaimo and typically closer to amenities. Cedar tends to feel more rural and spread out, while Chase River offers a more practical balance between space and convenience.
Is Chase River walkable or car-dependent?
Chase River is car-dependent. The neighbourhood is spread out and primarily residential, so most errands, shopping, and services require a short drive into other parts of Nanaimo.
Thinking about a move to the south end?
If you are comparing neighbourhoods and want a clearer breakdown of how each area fits different lifestyles and price points, the Nanaimo Relocation Guide walks through it in detail. Or book a quick call with Travis or Kiel to talk through whether Chase River and Extension fit.