Loudon Park - Long Lake

Loudon Park, by Long Lake, is just off the Island Highway. There's a very short trail along the shore, starting from the parking lot. Next to the parking lot, there are a few picnic tables.

(2020-06-11)

Boat launch into Long Lake

Historic spot on the shore of Long Lake

View from the beach at Long Lake

Anyone for fishing?

Residential development across the lake

Linley Valley, Cottle Lake

So, what are we calling this park? Cottle Lake or Linley Valley? I guess it doesn't really matter so long as we enjoy our walks. A nice thing about the park is that the trail completes a circumnavigation of Cottle Lake. On this day in May, the rain had finally let up. It was nice to get out walking again. (2017-05-08)

There's a few steps down before the trail around the lake begins...

A fork in the paths...

There's a few car wrecks off to the side; ideas for lovers of rust...

Cottle Lake...

Cottle Lake...

Cottle Lake...

Cottle Lake...

How about a picnic?

A view of the lake and valley...

Colliery Dam

There's much to recommend the Colliery Dam Park. Easy access, at the south end of Nanaimo, with plenty of convenient parking (at two locations) is one plus. While none of the elevation gains are too onerous, there's enough variety to keep a walk along the trails from being boring. At all times, walkers are never far from water; mostly the lake, but occasionally the river and it's falls over the dam. (2017-03-27)

(2017-03-27) Just meters from the parking lot, this placid lake view...

Colliery dam; I've seen people swimming here in the summer...

Newly updated egress...

Colliery dam; just past the bridge, the water rushes downward...

Colliery Dam Park; a well-maintained trail around the lake(s)...

Plenty of shades of green where the Chase River enters the lake...

Regardless of the time of year, there's some great reflection photographs to be taken...

Take a load off; one of many benches along the paths...

Buttertubs Park

Buttertubs Marsh is all about blossoms, seeds, nuts, and berries. The path circumnavigates the marsh with virtually zero elevation gain. It's an easy walk. Given its flora attractions, the best time to visit is either Spring or Autumn (that's also when birds like to visit). (2016-08-06)

Neck Point Park

I'm not sure if I can call Neck Point Park my favourite of all the Nanaimo parks, but it's surely the one I've visited the most frequently. The reasons are many; easy access, plenty of parking, land and seascape variety, plus a choice of preferred elevation gain, to name but a few. Certainly I'm attracted to the fact that the park offers pleasant forest paths leading to a variety of beaches. In total, there are five different beaches to explore; Finn, Last, Indian, Sunset, and Keel.

Furthest from the parking lot is Sunset Beach (Although I've been here many times,
I can't say I've ever been here at sunset)...2017-06-16

Indian Beach; pebbles and rocks...

Indian Beach; pebbles and rocks...

Looking out over the Salish Sea with Shack Island in the distance to the right...

Looking back onto Indian Beach; pebbles and rocks...

Coming home from the fishing grounds...

Around the corner, to the left, the neck of Neck point...

Take a load off...

A path through the Neck point Park meadow...

Moorcroft Park in January Snow

In the weeks prior to this visit to Moorecroft Regional Park, I'd been reading about the impending purchase of this property by Nanaimo Regional Parks. This post doesn't give a typical view of the park, what with the ground being covered in snow, but it does show that the park is worth a visit regardless of the weather.

• Location: 49.24634,-124.143711

 Interesting ray of sunshine through the trees as we leave the parking lot.
At this stage the cabins are still standing. (2012-01-15)

I found this amusing: Snow. No lifeguard.  (2012-01-15)

Here the trail skirts the bay. (2012-01-15)

 Hearty West Coasters; sailing in the snow... (2012-01-15)

Vesper Point.  (2012-01-15)

Boathouse at Moorecroft Park. (2012-01-15)

 The bay at Moorecroft Park. (2012-01-15)

 Looking out over Vesper Point and the Salish Sea. (2012-01-15)

Jack Point and Biggs Park

In early December, as all things Christmas are starting to occupy the mind, it's often a good idea to go out for a walk. Then, if the weather cooperates - sunshine and reasonably warm - there's no excuse not to visit one of Nanaimo's many parks. Today I opted for Biggs Park, with Jack Point as the final destination.

The captions on the pictures make up the trip report .

After parking the car and walking through a pedestrian tunnel, 
the path to Jack Point parallels the Nanaimo River estuary 
for a few hundred meters. (2015-12-11)

On this day, I was blessed by the sun illuminating my destination. (2015-12-11)

Before entering a boardwalk, this curious sculpture. (2015-12-11)

A bit of a boardwalk leads to a set of stairs that 
takes us to the trail at a higher level. (2015-12-11)

A modern "petroglyph" (2015-12-11)

One of my favourite stops on the Jack Point trail: a nice view of the 
sandstone cliffs that constitute the point. (2015-12-11)

Typical Gulf island sandstone "art". (2015-12-11)

The Jack Point navigation light with 
Gabriola Island in the distance. (2015-12-11)