Hiking in Vancouver Island BC
With more than 150 Government-run parks and wilderness on the doorstep of every town, hiking opportunities on Vancouver Island are unlimited.
Natural wonders of Vancouver Island include alpine lakes and meadows, glaciers, skyscraper trees, temperate rain forests, white sandy beaches, rocky coves, colourful tidal pools and the Pacific Ocean.
There are also lots of opportunities for wildlife watching with black bears, cougars, wolves and elk roaming the forests and mountains of Vancouver Island. Bald eagles, osprey, cormorants and kingfishers are among the many bird species flying in Vancouver Island airspace.
Day hikes
Goldstream Provincial Park
Goldstream Provincial Parks offers wildlife watching and mountain hikes just 17km from downtown Victoria. People, and the occasional bear, turn up for the annual salmon spawning which runs from October through to December. Hundreds of bald eagles arrive in December to feed on the worn out fish.
Strathcona Provincial Park
Strathcona is the largest provincial park on Vancouver Island and it has dozens of wilderness hiking trails that take in lakes, flower-filled meadows, mountains and Della Falls - the highest waterfall in Canada. Strathcona is situated in central Vancouver Island and Courtenay and Campbell River are the closest towns.
Little Qualicum Falls Provincial Park
Trails at Little Qualicum close to the seaside town of Parksville range from easy loops to five-hour ridge hikes. Attractions include the Cathedral Grove Rainforest, waterfalls, swim holes and Cameron Lake.
From North to South: Strathcona -
Little Qualicum - Goldstream - Vancouver Island BC
Multi-day trips
West Coast Trail
The West Coast Trail is dangerous, dramatic and very hard work. The famous 77km hiking trail on the southern west coast of Vancouver Island is an adventurous six-to-eight day trip suitable only for the hardiest of hikers.
You’ll need to carry your lodgings, food and gear on your back and prepared to navigate dozens of ladders, bridges and rock-strewn trails. You also need water taxis and cable cars to navigate certain portions of the trail.
Despite the hardships, the trail is trekked by 8,000 people a year and you have to book in advance during the peak season and pay a combined overnight permit and reservation fee of $150.
West Coast Trail - Vancouver Island BC
Juan de Fuca Trail
Juan de Fuca Trail is a milder hiking alternative to the West Coast Trail. It runs along the south-west coast between China Beach and Jordan River and accessible trailheads mean day hikes are possible.
Tips: Wildlife sightings are not unusual and hikers should know how to react to a black bears or cougars before they come face-to-face with one while out hiking. Cell-phone coverage can be patchy in parts of Vancouver Island, so be prepared and leave details of your trek plans with someone before you set off.
Related sections: Hiking in Vancouver
| Hiking in Whislter