8 minute read
Great Outdoors
Explore Parks, Trails & Special Places
For outdoor fun, you’ve come to the right area. With close proximity to four golf courses, you’re minutes away from swinging your personal best. Opened in 1948, the par 71/73 Mount Brenton Golf Course has shaded fairways flanked by towering firs, with willow, hemlock, maple, scotch and ponderosa pine, sequoia, cedar, dogwood, and giant cottonwood. A challenge for every level of golfer, there are plenty of creeks to hurdle and ponds to circumvent. An extensive drainage system also makes Mount Brenton one of the most playable golf courses year-round on Vancouver Island.
Ladysmith Golf Club was opened in June 1980. It is owned by the Town of Ladysmith and is operated and managed by the Ladysmith Golf Club Society, a nonprofit society.
Everyone from the age of six and up is welcome to enjoy this ninehole par 3 course. It takes approximately one hour to play but is challenging, with two ravines to drive over and large, tricky greens. The course will test your short iron game and your putting skills.
Looking for an adrenaline rush? WildPlay Elements Park at the Bungy Zone, north of Ladysmith, offers zip lines, bungy jumping and an obstacle course in the tree canopy.
There are many parks and walking trails here from a leisurely seashore stroll to a heart-pounding hike to Heart Lake. The steep climb has been known locally as “Heart-Attack Lake,” but offers a switch back for a more civilized route.
Enjoy some of the best walking, hiking and biking trails the Island has to offer.
Here’s a sample of some of our favourite parks and trails.
In Ladysmith:
Holland Creek Trail, with entrances off Dogwood Drive, Sixth Avenue at Methuen and Mackie Roads, offers an attractive walking route on both sides of the creek. The trail is unique for its views of Crystal Falls. Approximately 5.8 km long, the trail has connectors on either end if you wish to make the walk more challenging. The trail is suitable for different fitness levels from the well-groomed path with some sections wheelchair accessible on the north side of the creek, while the south side is rugged with plenty of elevation changes. The creek exits into flat grassy lowlands by the ocean, creating an estuary that provides habitat for birds in a small delta.
Branching out from the Holland Creek Trail are several other trails. Rotary Lookout Trail is a short 1.2-km walk, which is accessed close to the log bridge on the Holland Creek Trail.
Heart Lake Loop Trail is a challenging 6.4-km hike but rewards you with a panoramic view of the ocean and islands. Stocking Lake Loop is a 9.3-km trail that begins at Davis Road Park and takes about 2.5 to three hours to complete.
Marine Walk can be accessed from the Ladysmith Fishermen’s Wharf, Oyster Bay Marina or by the parking lot at the amphitheatre. It crosses Slack Point, which gets its distinctive black colour from the remnants of loading coal at the turn of the century. The section between Fisherman’s Wharf and the Oyster Bay Marina follows an old railway track used to bring in coal from Extension Mines.
Gourlay-Janes Park, off Chemainus Road, is an off-leash park where you can walk through the woods to the ocean.
In Saltair:
Diana, Princess of Wales Park, between Olsen Road and Rocky Beach Road, has a pleasant and very easy level walking trail that leads you through beautiful natural landscapes.
Stocking Creek Park, with the south entrance off Thicke Road (from Chemainus Road) and the north entrance off Finch Place, has nature trails, picnicking and a waterfall. The Cowichan Valley Trail, a multi-use trail that is an integral part of the Trans Canada Trail route on Southern Vancouver Island, also runs through the park, offering a connection south to Chemainus and north to the Town of Ladysmith. Finch Place offers access to the Cowichan Valley Trail.
Saltair Centennial Park is located on South Oyster School Road.
Saltair Rail with Trail starts at North Watts Road and goes to Chemainus. The 4.3 km Saltair Rail with Trail opened in 2019, connecting the communities of Ladysmith, Saltair and Chemainus with a three-metre wide compacted gravel surface that is gently graded and suitable for walking and cycling and is a popular spot for dog walking. The trail includes a single-span bridge crossing Stocking Creek and scenic views of Mount Brenton and the Gulf Islands. Side trips into Stocking Creek Park and its waterfall are readily accessible from here.
In Chemainus:
Askew Creek Wilderness Trail, accessible from Oak Street, is an easy-to-follow trail system that the whole family can enjoy. It features numerous old-growth trees and a creek.
Bannon Creek Falls. Hike in off Grace Road for a short but steep trail that takes you to a gorgeous waterfall.
Caswell Park is a residential green space and playground.
Chemainus Lake Park offers a 2.5 kilometer loop walk. It has trails and is a popular spot for fishing. This is also a good place to birdwatch or let your dog off leash on the trails.
Chemainus River Provincial Park is a 128-hectare park that offers swimming and recreation opportunities. It also is a popular spot for anglers.
Chemainus Skate Park is located next to Chemainus Secondary School and offers 2500 sq. ft. of fun for BMX Bikes, scooters, in-line skaters, and skateboarders, of course!
Cook Beach Park with access through Island View Close is a peaceful spot to watch the ocean and picnic.
Daniel Street Park offers a small green space with access to the waterfront but come at low tide to enjoy the beach.
Doc Lewis Park has a large ballfield with 4 pitches.
Fuller Lake is very popular for fishing, canoeing and swimming with a lifeguard during summer. It also has a boat ramp and a sandy beach that is perfect for families. There are also tennis, pickle ball, and sand volleyball courts, and a fishing pier. Cutthroat and Rainbow trout are stocked regularly.
Fuller Lake Arena is surrounded by parklands and trails. The arena provides a 200’ x 85’ ice surface and is widely used for recreation.
Gerry Smith Park has landscaped gardens, with a steam train on display.
Kinsmen Beach Park has a sandy beach with warm, shallow waters for swimming, benches to picnic and take in the views while the children enjoy the playground. There is a small boat launch.
Waterwheel Park is centrally located downtown. This small park offers a playground, washroom and a widely-used outdoor stage that is a venue for many performers.
Wul’aam (Echo) Park is a rugged trail network at the end of Channel Boulevard. It loops through firs, cedars and maple trees.
In Cedar, Yellow Point, and south Nanaimo:
Blue Heron Park is on Westby Road, off Yellow Point Road. It has a beautiful sandstone beach, restrooms, and a picnic area.
Cable Bay Nature Trail is at the end of Nicola Road. After the bridge, the trail will take you past Dodd Narrows, a favourite spot to watch marine traffic navigate the narrows. This is an off-leash trail.
Elliots Beach Park on Elliot Way, off Shell Beach Road, offers picnicking, swimming, snorkeling, and kayaking.
Extension Ridge Trail is part of the Trans-Canada Trail system. It offers stunning views of the Strait of Georgia. The 8.9 km loop trail features a great forest setting. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, and mountain biking.
The Abyss Trail, Extension Ridge attraction, is a fissure in the earth. Known to locals as The Abyss, Extension Ridge – a 4.5km section- is a playground for mountain bikers, hikers, and dog walkers.
Haslam Creek Trail and Suspension Bridge is part of the TransCanada Trail system. The trail is accessed at the end of Timberlands Road in Cassidy.
Hemer Provincial Park, off Holden-Corso Road, has easy walking trails. Mainly forested, this trail is a peaceful setting for walkers, paddlers, boaters and anglers. A bird-watching platform is available.
Morden Colliery Regional Trail offers walkers a chance to walk parts of the coal railway route that once linked the mines of South Wellington to the coal ships docked at Boat Harbour. The trail connects Morden Colliery Historic Provincial Park with Hemer Provincial Park and runs along an old rail grade that was used to move coal during the early 20th Century. See the historic Morden Tipple and headframe, take a short walk to the Nanaimo River, or head to Hemer Park from the Cedar Plaza kiosk.
Raven Park on Shell Beach Road is a small but pretty beach park.
Roberts Memorial Park, off Yellow Point Road, has bathroom facilities, a day-use area, and areas for picnicking, fishing, biking, and hiking. The trail leads to the waterfront.
Yellow Point Park on Yellow Point Road features numerous nature trails dotted with wildflowers in springtime. The 5.3 km loop is good for all skill levels and is primarily used for hiking, nature trips, and bird watching.
Enjoy the outdoors
Outdoor opportunities lie north of Ladysmith. Follow Christie Road until it turns into a logging road and winds deep into the backcountry. Visit the Bush Creek Hatchery, operated by Ladysmith Sportsmen Club members. Members are usually there on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon. The gravel road leads to Holland Lake, 2.5 km, a part of Ladysmith’s water supply and a protected area.
Timberland and Cassidy offer back roads that access several lakes for outdoor wilderness adventure.
Our community is truly blessed with an abundance of outdoor activities. So, grab your hiking boots, and explore nature’s playground.
