Finding the safe, accessible and fun family trails on the North Island is no small task.
With plenty of trails to choose from, it’s the details on what works and what doesn’t that are often missing. Check here for a list of family-friendly trails around the Comox Valley and Campbell River regions.
SAFETY NOTE: Bears, cougars and other large, potentially dangerous creatures live in our parks. Be aware of your surroundings at all times and encourage your family to make themselves known in the forest. A whistle, water and a first aid kit are must-haves on any trek. Preparedness makes any outdoor excursion more fun.
* HELPFUL TOOLS:
- Mt. Washington interactive mountain bike trail map complete with conditions, what’s open and other details.
* TRAIL REVIEWS:
Seal Bay Nature Park Main Beach Trail: Stroller and wheelchair accessible. Park at the Bates Road main lot and follow the well-marked trail to the beach. This route does have some elevation, with switchbacks to make the decent and rise a bit easier. You’ll have to ditch the stroller at the bottom of the trail if you want to beach comb as Seal Bay Beach is very rocky. Check the tide charts as this beach vanishes at high tide. Seal Bay Nature Park offers a number of trails on the west side of Bates Road, several of which are popular with mountain bikers and folks on horseback.
Seal Bay Nature Park Swamp Trail: Stroller and wheelchair accessible, this trail head is across Bates Road from the main parking lot. Wander through lush forests, open meadows and finally to the gorgeous swamp where frogs, dragonflies and other creatures call home.
Puntledge Greenway: This flat, maintained 2K trail has many options for families with strollers, places to rest, washrooms and a playground nearby. This is a great spot to put in some eagle watching time, check out the Puntledge River and enjoy a laid back wander. Your best bet is to access this trail through Puntledge Park.
Courtenay Estuary Loop: This stroller and wheelchair accessible paved trail loops the Courtenay Air Park, with incredible views of the sea life in the Courtenay Estuary. Accessed from the Air Park off of Cliffe Avenue or secondary parking off of Mansfield Drive, this trail is tops for a family morning walk. Stop at the Park Cafe for coffee and cocoa after.
Lazo Marsh Trail: For a short, easy, stroller and wheel chair accessible hike to check out birds and other marsh life, this trail is great for the short attention spans of tiny people. Main parking on the north side of Lazo Road takes you along this easy trail. Parking on the south side takes you on trails that lead you deeper into the Northeast Woods-Lazo Marsh Conservation Area.
MacDonald Wood Nature Park: This 9-acre park is home to the last intact section of the Great Comox Midden and some of the last remaining large cedars in the Valley. Trails are flat and groomed, with a boardwalk section near the beach. Birds, some great plants and resident deer are often seen along this quiet stretch of trail.
Mack Laing Nature Park in Comox. This pleasant nature walk through a coastal forest includes a chance to check out fish ladders and spawning salmon in late summer and Fall as well as extensive access to a pebble beach that runs from The Filberg south to an area just before the Goose Spit.
Beaver Lodge Forest Lands, in Campbell River: This 1,000+ acre scenic area is pulled together by easily accessible and lovely trails that are great for the whole family.
One-Spot Trail, in Courtenay. This 8k walk along the old Courtenay logging main railway is a lovely way to spend a family afternoon. Easily accessible and stroller friendly, it’s a history lesson and hike all in one.
Kitty Coleman Woodland Gardens, just north of Courtenay. This 24-acre woodland garden is a network of trails that lead through lovely, quiet respites to sit, have lunch and just enjoy nature. There is a fee to enter.
Paradise Meadows in Strathcona Provincial Park. This lovely boardwalk path through a wide alpine meadow is the perfect hike for the family who wants to commune with nature close to amenities as the Raven Lodge at the trail head has a cafe and large washrooms.
Lake Helen McKenzie Loop, in Strathcona Provincial Park. This roughly 8K hike takes you a bit deeper into Strathcona than Paradise Meadows to a lovely set of lakes where hikers typically lunch and the views are spectacular. The trail is well-groomed and stroller-friendly. A good, long hike for the whole family.
Sandwick Park and trail system. Click on the link for the full review of this East Courtenay Park that is also a great place to hike.
E-mail us at Our Big Earth with ideas, recommendations and questions.
