I‘d heard a whole lot of people talk about how lovely and relaxing a stroll through Mack Laing Nature Park is on a lovely day. But, wow was it ever tough to find something that actually showed me how to get there. Like many of the wonderful slices of nature around these parts, Mack Laing Park is something you have to ask around about or, as we did, drive down the wrong road and accidentally end up at the trail head.

After our mistaken discovery, our daughter and I went back a few days later to check everything out and discovered that everything everybody had told us was right. Mack Laing Nature Park is a GREAT location for an afternoon nature walk.

There are a few ways to get into the park. First is the trail head at Brooklyn Creek on Balmoral Road. A staircase leads you down to the path, and the creek where sometimes in the late summer and Fall you can catch spawning salmon making their way through the fish ladders. The first time I saw something like that was nearly 10 years ago when we were camping outside of Nelson and it is quite a sight. We didn’t see any fish the other day. But, give it a try.

The other trail head is at the end of Comox Avenue, past the Filberg. You turn in like you are going to the Filberg and follow the road to the end, where a big Mack Laing Nature Park sign marks the way. Don’t park right there. We parked on the road about 100 yards before the trail head and you can also park in the cul de sac to the left of the park entrance.

That morning, we started there and headed down the interpretive trail to the fish ladders (there are some stairs and narrows on this path), doubling back when we were done. We then took the trail over the bridge and to the right, which lead us through a beautiful forest walk, past Mack Laing’s old house and out to the pebble beach.

I don’t recommend taking other routes up the hills (we tried, believe me) as they all seem to lead to the private property and road between Mack Laing and MacDonald Woods nature parks and they are SOOOO not stroller friendly. The flat paths are nice and wide, easily accommodating a stroller, wagon or wheelchair.

Once you get out to the beach you can seemingly walk forever – and I think that’s what we loved most about this spot. There were piles of Giant Pacific Bittium Snails (don’t be fooled by the name, they are the cool slender, long-shelled snails and are about an inch long tops) on the beach, crabs and a unique view of the Goose Spit. You can walk south and link up with the trails in MacDonald Wood Park to extend your forest experience or walk North all the way to The Filberg and wow is it ever quiet, beautiful and just plain old nice.

Mack Laing Nature Park, much like its neighbor MacDonald, has part of the last remaining portion of the Great Komox Midden preserved in it and the land there has an extensive history in terms of its place in the First Nations community and as a part of the life of early settlers. So, a trip to the Comox Museum before or after a walk out there could turn a short wander into a solid history lesson.

The walks are short – perfect for tiny legs – and there doesn’t seem to be an issue with predatory animals in the area, although I would always be cautious about keeping your children close and reminding them about forest safety as this is a huge deer habitat and, generally, where there are deer there are cougars.

So, the next time you are thinking nature walk, think Mack Laing Nature Park in Comox. I think the whole family will find something to love.