Nanoose Bay offers everything from seaside parks and tide pools to golf, diving, horseback riding and art. Nature spots with trails sit alongside activities that require you to plan around the tides, schedules or sea conditions.

Coastal Parks and Tides

Moorecroft Regional Park covers 35 hectares, sits by the sea and is managed under a conservation covenant. The park also has hiking trails. By contrast, Beachcomber Regional Park covers one hectare and sits by the sea at the end of Nanoose’s Beachcomber Peninsula. Its short trails wind through a forest of arbutus trees, Douglas firs and Garry oaks; at low tide, you can explore tide pools. The difference in size is considerable: Moorecroft covers 35 hectares, compared with one hectare at Beachcomber.

Hiking and a Shellfish Reserve

A short hike from Powder Point Road leads up Notch Hill. At Enos Lake, more than five kilometres of natural, mossy trails circle the lake. This gives you a choice between a short climb and a longer network of trails around a lake.

The Nanoose Bay Recreational Shellfish Reserve covers about 23 hectares on the south side of the bay. You can reach it via Arlington Road and Nanoose Beach Road; public parking is available at the end of Nanoose Beach Road. From there, an approximately 1.5-kilometre walking trail along the south shore leads to the reserve. Important shellfish species include Manila clams, littleneck clams, cockles and oysters. If you are considering harvesting shellfish, check current access, closures and regulations first.

For day planning, the coastal activities differ: exploring tide pools at Beachcomber depends on low tide, while reaching the Shellfish Reserve involves an approximately 1.5-kilometre walking trail along the south shore.

Sports and Culture

Fairwinds Golf Club is a year-round 18-hole course on a scenic peninsula on the east coast of Vancouver Island. Lessons, camps and clinics are offered for all skill levels. Paradise Acres Ranch offers bookable trail rides, but availability may change. Riding lessons are also available, though schedules may vary. Check trail ride availability and riding lesson schedules before planning. Madrona Point is a coastal dive site with shore dives and several dive plans. Sea conditions vary. The different dive plans offer a range of options; at the same time, you should factor changing sea conditions into your plans.

The Marketplace at Nanoose Bay Cafe showcases Vancouver Island artists throughout the year. The time frames also differ: golf and artist showcases are described as year-round, while riding lesson schedules and trail ride availability may change.

Discover more destinations: Parksville, Nanaimo, Cassidy, Qualicum Beach, Gabriola, Bowser

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