20+ Parks in Nanaimo: 2017

Friday, July 14, 2017

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...

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...

Thursday, July 13, 2017

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.