The area of Oceanside is defined by its beauty. Breathtaking waterfalls, magnificent rock cliffs, picturesque swimming holes, colourful gardens, old-growth forests, and vast sandy beaches. The natural wonders of Oceanside are hard to beat.
“Oceanside” is a local term for the vast area between Nanoose Bay in the south to Deep Bay in the north. It also includes the area leading up to Cathedral Grove to the west. There are 12 small communities within the Oceanside area, with the most well-known being Parksville, Coombs and Qualicum Beach.
If you are ready to explore, I present to you the natural wonders of Oceanside!
Top Ten Natural Wonders of Oceanside
Notch Hill
This well-loved trail in Nanoose Bay leads to incredible views of the surrounding land and waters. It’s also home to an impressive Gary Oak ecosystem and an Arbutus grove.
Due to it being quite a short trail, the climb of 240 meters (787 feet) to the top is quite steep. But you should be able to arrive at the top in under 30 minutes. The total hike there and back is approximately 3 km.
Getting There
Notch Hill is located off Powder Point Road, which turns into Fairwinds Drive.
Turn off at Northwest Bay Road from the Island Highway (Hwy 19). There will be a Petro-Can gas station on the corner. Turn right off of Northwest Bay Road onto Powder Point Road. Once you reach the four-way stop, Powder Point Road becomes Fairwinds Drive. Look for a well-marked sign on the right-hand side of the road indicating your arrival at the Notch Hill parking area.
Take the trail that leads you past a small water control shed and larger water reservoirs. After that, the trail forks. While both routes lead to the top, one side is less strenuous.
Notch Hill Trail Map
Click on the trail map image for a printable PDF file.
Top Bridge
The Top Bridge suspension bridge is the junction that connects three parks surrounding the Englishman River. These parks include Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park, City of Parksville Top Bridge Mountain Bike Park, and Englishman River Regional Park. The suspension bridge isn’t a natural wonder (although it is pretty fantastic!), but the surrounding area definitely is.
The area provides an excellent network of biking and walking trails, cool freshwater pools perfect for fishing and/or swimming, and magnificent rock-faced cliffs that teeter over the beautiful Englishman River.
Getting There
Top Bridge has several access points. For easy access to the suspension bridge, head to Chattell Road. Just past the truck scales on Highway 19A, you will come to a four-way stop. Continue through this four-way stop and then turn right onto Chattell Road. You will find the large parking area at the very end.
If you are up for a bit more of a walk, there are four other entry points. You can catch the trail at Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park; anywhere along Resort Way; at Industrial Way and Tuan Rd (one block inland from Hwy 19A); or from the end of Allsbrook Rd (off Bellevue Rd, off Hwy 4A).
Top Bridge Map
For a printable PDF version, please click on the map image below.
Rathtrevor Beach
This 2 km long stretch of sandy beach is a famous Parksville landmark. The shallow and ultimately warm waters make for the best swimming opportunities for young children still learning. At low tide, that same shallow water area becomes nearly a kilometre-long stretch of soft sand leading out into the Strait of Georgia, making it the absolute perfect location to build sandcastles!
History
Rathtrevor was named after the Irish family who homesteaded the land surrounding the beach. William Rath, a gold prospector from Ireland, his wife, Elizabeth, and his baby daughter arrived in the area in 1895. They cleared the land and built a log cabin and barn. In 1903 William died, leaving his wife and their five children the farm. Elizabeth proved to be an industrious person and eventually operated the farmland as a campground. The suffix “trevor” was added to give the campground a more lyrical name.
The campground became Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park in 1967.
Getting There
Rathtrevor Beach fronts many of Parksville’s resorts along Resort Drive and the Provincial Park.
The most convenient public access to this desirable beach is through the provincial park, located at the east end of Parksville off of Highway 19A. (See map above for details). Ample parking is available at the provincial park.
Englishman River Falls
Located near Errington, Englishman River Falls features not one but two beautiful waterfalls. A short 1.5 km loop trail will take you to upper and lower falls. The views are spectacular along the way, especially from the two bridges that cross the river.
If you are visiting during the summer, make use of the crystal clear pool at the base of the lower falls. It’s a popular swimming hole for locals. In the Fall, the park becomes a prime viewing area for the return of spawning salmon.
A Bit of History
According to an old legend, First Nations people in the area found the body of a white man along the river near the waterfall, giving the falls its name.
Getting There
Englishman River Falls is located in the same area as Englishman River Provincial Park. From Parksville, take Highway 4A (Alberni Hwy) towards Errington. Turn left onto Errington Road off Highway 4A (watch for directional signs posted on the highway). Follow Errington Road right to the end.
Hamilton Marsh
At 3 km long and 1/2 km wide, Hamilton Marsh is the largest wetlands on Central Vancouver Island.
The trails leading from the parking areas guide you through a beautiful privately owned forest all the way to the Marsh. The paths are narrow and full of rickety old bridges (as seen in the image above). So do be careful as you walk.
As you meander around this natural habitat, look for marsh birds, ducks and geese. Viewing platforms at the Marsh allow for closer observation of the inhabitants and great photo ops. This area is particularly active in the Spring and Fall.
Getting There
Hamilton Marsh is located approximately 4 km north of Coombs on South Hilliers Road, just off the Alberni Highway (Highway 4) on the way to Port Alberni. There are two entrances to the Marsh on South Hilliers Road. The first one is just after you turn off the Alberni Highway. The second is a bit further down South Hilliers Road. Watch for large rocks on your left-hand side indicating the parking area(s). The second entrance is the most accessible access to the Marsh and has the most available parking space.
Marsh Map
Please click on the image below if you wish to print off a PDF version of this map.
Little Qualicum Falls
There is 6 km of walking trails throughout the Qualicum Falls area. They all leave from either the Provincial Park campground or Little Qualicum Falls day-use area. The trails meander through old-growth and second-growth forests along the Little Qualicum River.
For a relatively easy 3km walk, leave from the day-use area and follow the loop trail to view the lower and upper waterfalls. Lookout points are located along the trail and offer spectacular views.
The loop trail takes approximately 1 hour to complete, depending on ability. Please note, that there are some stairs and rocks to climb, so bringing a wheelchair or stroller isn’t advised if you plan to complete the entire loop.
Getting There
Little Qualicum Falls Provincial Park (campground and day-use area) is located 19 km west of Parksville on Hwy 4 (Alberni Hwy). Watch for signage along the highway to lead you.
Milner Gardens
This seaside garden in Qualicum Beach offers 70 acres of unspoiled natural beauty. Stroll through the winding pathways lined with old Douglas Firs. Or meander through 10 acres of woodland gardens filled with rhododendrons and trilliums. End the afternoon with High Tea at the Historic Milner House while ogling the panoramic ocean views.
A Bit of History
The estate was acquired by Vancouver Island University in 1996 to maintain the garden in perpetuity for education and the community’s benefit in memory of the original owner, Ray Milner.
For a more in-depth history, head to the website of Milner Gardens.
You can also check out the book entitled: In Veronica’s Garden.
Getting There
Milner Gardens is located in Qualicum Beach off highway 19A (West Island Hwy). The official address is 2179 West Island Highway, Qualicum Beach.
Watch for signs along the way. There is ample parking near the entrance.
Qualicum Beach Heritage Forest
This little gem of forest sits in the heart of Qualicum Beach. It’s a quiet, unassuming place to take a stroll. You will be amongst ancient Douglas Fir trees and will probably hear and see a variety of birds. On your walk, you will also view Western Red Cedar, Hemlock, Grand Fir and Sitka Spruce. Use the provided benches to sit and enjoy your surroundings.
History
In 1995 the Brown Family Trust expressed an interest in selling the Brown Mansion (now called Crown Mansion) along with the immediate 5 acres and surrounding 50 acres of forested land. The Brown Property Preservation Society was then formed. Their goal was to raise funds through public donations for the purchase of the land with the intent to protect it from development.
The area was last logged in the 1870s, which is why you will find some ancient trees over 700 years old! It might be interesting to note that very little of the coastal Douglas-fir ecosystem is protected, making this forest quite significant.
The Trails
The bark-mulched trails that meander through the 50-acre property are wide, flat and easy to walk on. There is approximately 2 km of trails available for public use.
Getting There
There are a few access points and parking areas for the Heritage Forest. The main access is next to the Crown Mansion on Crescent Road (292 Crescent Road East, Qualicum Beach). There is also parking available on Chester Road, Hemsworth Road, and St. Andrews Road.
Cathedral Grove
Located in MacMillan Provincial Park, Cathedral Grove is one of the most easily accessible stands of old-growth forest on Vancouver Island. Trails on either side of the highway lead visitors through paths lined with ancient Douglas Firs. Some of which are over 800 years old. These giants are the survivors of a forest fire that ravaged the area some 350 years ago.
The south side of the highway is where you will find the largest of these Douglas Firs. One of these beauties measures more than 9 metres in circumference! On the north side of the road, you’ll find groves of ancient Western Red Cedar.
A Bit of History
Cathedra Grove has been a well-known tourist stop as early as the 1920’s. And for many years, the public encouraged the Provincial Government to acquire the land. In fact, in 1929, an organization called ‘The Associated Boards of Trade of Vancouver Island’ petitioned the government to preserve the forest forever for public benefit.
It wasn’t until 1944 when H.R. MacMillan, a well-known forester, donated the 136 hectares of land solely for the perpetual enjoyment of the public. He did so in recognition of the unique stand of trees. Three years later, the area was established as a Class A Provincial Park.
Getting There
MacMillan Park (Cathedral Grove) is located on Hwy 4, on your way to Port Alberni. When you see mass congestion of cars parked on either side of the road, you know you have arrived!
From Hwy 19 and/or Hwy 19A, take the Highway 4 exit and head west toward Port Alberni.
Horne Lake Caves
Caving offers an exploration of an amazing underground world not many people get to experience. If viewing the wonders of stalagmites, stalactites, crystal formations, underground waterfalls, and ancient fossils intrigue you, then caving might be your thing.
And I can’t think of a better place to start than Horne Lake Caves Provincial Park.
A Bit of History
The park was established in 1971 at the request of public caving groups on Vancouver Island. They were concerned about the potential damage to the caves and the fragile crystal formations contained within.
The Caves
Although you can explore a small portion of the caves at Horne Lake on your own, I highly recommend booking one of the five guided tour opportunities the park offers. You get to see more and your guide will educate you along the way!
For an in-depth look at the tours available, check out our post exclusively on Horne Lake Caves.
Getting There
The park is accessed via the Horne Lake exit off Hwy 19 or Hwy 19A. Follow the signs for 12 km to find the caves.
So, have I convinced you to explore the ten natural wonders of Oceanside? Let us know in the comment section below.
For great walks in Nanaimo, check out: Top 10 Nanaimo Walks
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8 Comments
Wrt the image with the label “Top 10 Natural Wonders of Vancouver Island”, where is that?
Both images with labels were taken at Little Qualicum Falls.
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Wondering about the accessibility for people with mobility or back issues in the Horne Lake caves? Is there lots of bending over or any crawling?
Love your newsletter!! Appreciate your posts very much!!
Thank you so much, Deborah! I will do my best to answer your question, however, if you are interested in taking a tour with the Provincial Park, it might be best to call them to ask what their opinion is.
The trails leading up to the caves have some pretty steep sections, but the path is well-maintained. As for the caves themselves, the main cave where the tours start from has a really steep ladder that one must climb down to get into the cave (and also back up at the end of your tour). After that, the cave opens up a bit, but you are still required to duck under and crawl over a few rocks. This first section of the cave is where the ‘Family Tour’ commences.
The next sections require a lot of scrambling (army crawls and shuffling under and around large rocks). So while the first ‘Family Tour’ might be doable for some people with limited mobility, I definitely would not recommend continuing on any further.
I hope that answers your question!
If you are looking for a cave experience without having to go underground, I highly recommend Little Huson Caves up near Woss. I have a full article about that one on the website too. Just do a search for it in the search bar, or look it up under the menu tab, ‘Out and About’, and then ‘Vancouver Island North’.
Oooo, never heard of Hamilton Marsh, will take a look. Thank you ????
Hamilton Marsh is a nice one!