2-3 days on the island
 

Planning on heading to the island for 2-3 days next week probably Nanaimo, Port Alberni, Tofino. wanting to do some half day hiking trips sort of thing and obviously spend some time on the beach in parksville and maybe some time on the water in Tofino.

Is there any real hiking in Macmillan Park / Cathedral Grove? I definitly want to go there again either way. How about the falls in Qualicum? any other good falls to check out? any other good hiking areas, especially near Tofino?


trying to impress a broad with my knowledge of the island :haha:

Take a dip in Kennedy lake on your way out to Tofino: http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/exp...gs/kennedy_lk/

Stop at Coombs for some ice cream and roof goats:
http://www.britishcolumbia.com/regions/towns/?townID=49

If you're in Nanaimo, head over to Newcastle Island for a day hike:
http://www.newcastleisland.ca/ There's a colony of albino raccoons over there, if you're lucky, you'll spot one.

http://pureoutside.com/2009/04/hike-...er-crash-site/


If you make it as far north as Courtenay(Mt.Washington) ,Paradise Meadows is awesome http://dev.ourbigearth.com/2008/07/2...adise-meadows/

There's actually hiking, lakes and rivers all over the damn place. Pick up the Backroad Mapbook for Vancouver Island.

there is always the goldstream trestle, the hike isn't all that hard and can be done in no time and you get quite the view. Providing you/or the girl is not scared of heights:

http://thehenge.com/Goldstream_Hike/trestle.jpg

Go to Long Beach in Tofino.

been to coombs once or twice. and long beach is absolutely on the list

http://islandhikes.com/Hikes/index.html
or
http://www.justabunchahikers.ca/

At least hike the "lookout" in Port Alberni. Park at the candy store right as you arrive, walk up the gravel road to the east, follow it over the tracks and near the top (still on the road) keep left to the summit. If you have any clearance under your vehicle you can get it this far even, but its fun to hike.
The last 150m is the roughest. Once at the top, you can see all the valley, Sproat Lake, Great Central lake and the mountains all behind.

The candy store has maps of all the bike trails IIRC.