Hiking

Or join a guided expedition offered by a handful of local outdoor adventure specialists. Biologist Patrick Walshe leads marine, rainforest, alpine, wildlife and birdwatching tours tailored to all fitness levels through his company Coastal Revelations. Sign up for a scheduled tour or request a customized private itinerary.

Local hiking opportunities no further than a half-hour's drive from town include:

Riverside Hiking

The Big Qualicum River Trail is a level, 10km/6.2mi route that  follows a gravel service road. Watch salmon battle upstream in the fall. And check out the Fisheries and Oceans Canada hatchery, which releases 100,000 steelhead and 25,000 cutthroat trout annually into the river.  (Horne Lake Rd. off the West Island Highway near Qualicum Bay).

Oceanfront Hikes

Soak up Pacific breezes and stretch car-cramped legs on Qualicum Beach's namesake crescent of sand and surf.  At high tide, join local residents and their dogs on the 3km/1.85mi round-trip boardwalk as the restless ocean thumps against the seawall. As the shallow waters recede, a rocky beach let's one ramble (with dry feet) as far as 1,000m/3,000ft to the low tide line.

Forest Exploration

Cathedral Grove (25 minutes inland on Highway 4 towards Port Alberni) is internationally known for its towering Douglas Firs. Summertime parking can be a headache at this hugely popular attraction. The boardwalk through the old-growth trees in Qualicum Beach's in-town Heritage Forest is a quieter alternative for an easy forest walk.

Mount Arrowsmith Hikes

Serious hikers can select a variety of routes into Mount Arrowsmith Park. The historic 1912 Canadian Pacific Railways trail begins across Highway 4 from the Cameron Lake day-use area. The eight-hour roundtrip climb is hard slogging but delivers lovely views of the Beaufort Range. The Judge's Route is best for those striking out for Arrowsmith's summit. Alpine meadows, blazing with wildflowers in the summer, can also be reached via the Saddle Route, which climbs 450m/1476ft to see-forever views of the Gulf Islands.  Ask at the Visitor Centre for directions to the rough, poorly marked forest roads off Highway 4 that lead to these and other Arrowsmith trails.

Read Less