Dog owners love watching their canine friends run free, so off-leash dog parks, trails, and beaches are becoming increasingly popular. Vancouver Island has a great many of these leash-free parks. So many, in fact, for the purpose of this article I narrowed my research to just the mid-Vancouver Island area.

Please utilize this list as a resource of places to go when your dog needs a little extra freedom and exercise.

I only ask that you show good dog park etiquette by always picking up after your pooch and disposing of the waste appropriately.

Transfer Beach in Ladysmith. Vancouver Island View
Transfer Beach

Off-Leash Dog Parks in Ladysmith

The Town of Ladysmith provides seven designated off-leash areas. Each off-leash park includes signage, a dispenser stocked with biodegradable waste bags, and a waste container.

Ladysmith Off-Leash Dog Parks

  • Davis Road Dog Park – A fully fenced off-leash park located at the old Davis Road Elementary (444 Parkhill Terrace)
  • Transfer Beach Park – The wood fencing in the upper field of Transfer Beach Park designates this off-leash area. The most accessible access is above deKoninck Way.
  • Gourlay-Janes Park – You will find this unfenced dog-friendly area off Chemainus Road.

Ladysmith Off-Leash Trails

  • Holland Creek Trail  – This 6.6 km (easy/moderate) loop trail has several access points, including Dogwood Drive, 6th Avenue & Methuen (location of the Kinsmen Shelter and washroom), Davis Road Park, or Mackie Road. Wheelchair access is available at the Methuen Street entry point.
  • Rotary Lookout TrailThis easy 1.9 km loop trail starts near the log bridge at the top of Holland Creek Trail.
  • Stocking Lake  – This 9.7 km (challenging) loop trail begins at Davis Road Park and intersects with Heart Lake Loop (below).
  • Heart Lake Loop – This 6.3 km (challenging) trail has a very steep start and is accessed at Davis Road Park or at the Holland Creek Trail.


Westwood Lake

Off-Leash Dog Parks in Nanaimo

The City of Nanaimo offers twelve off-leash dog parks and trails. Each dog park has specific areas and times for dogs to exercise off-leash. Please remember that your dog must remain under your control and that you always carry a leash with you.

Beban Park

This park off Labieux Road provides a two-acre fenced-in area. It has grassy and gravel areas, and the best part is fire hydrants, especially for dogs. Also provided are tables, benches, a waste bag dispenser, garbage cans, wheelchair access, and lots of parking. Hours are 8:00 a.m. to dusk.

Beaufort Park Dog Off-Leash Area  

This partially fenced grassy area is accessed at the end of Chelsea Crescent (near the tennis court).

Diver Lake Park

This off-leash park is seasonal and only open from October 1 – April 30 (it's used as a sports field from May until the end of September). You can access this park off of Black Franks Drive.

Invermere Beach

This off-leash beach is dependent on the tides. Before you go, please check the tide information to ensure the best use of this beach. You can access the area off Invermere Road.

May Richards Bennett Pioneer Park

Please note: only the forested land next to this park is off-leash. The park entrances are at 6700 Dover Road and 6780 Dover Road.

Northfield Rotary Lookout Park

There is a fenced-in off-leash dog park behind the visitor's centre located on the Parkway. The official address is 2450 Northfield Road.

St. George Ravine Park

Located in the Brechin Hill neighbourhood (980 Terminal Avenue N.), this off-leash park features an open grassy area.

Wardopper Park

Located at 2957 Departure Bay Road, this park offers a fully fenced off-leash area.

Off-Leash Trails in Nanaimo

Cable Bay Trail : This 6.4 km (easy to moderate) forested trail leads down to a rocky beach. Waste bags and a garbage bin are available at the trailhead. You will find the trail off of Nicola Road in the Cedar area.

Colliery Dam Park Off-Leash Area: The upper dam trail is a designated off-leash area. Use the Upper Lake parking lot off of Nanaimo Lakes Road to access. Waste bags and a garbage can are available at the trailhead.

Westwood Lake Trail: This is a 5.8-kilometre trail loop, however, only a small portion is off-leash. Walk with your dog on a leash until you reach the power lines. Once you arrive, it is safe to let them off. Waste bag dispensers and garbage cans are available at the park entrance (in the parking area, next to the map signage board).

The Heritage Forest in Qualicum Beach is one of the top ten incredible wonders of the Oceanside area.

Off-Leash Dog Parks in the Parksville Area

You will find four designated off-leash parks in the Parksville Qualicum Beach areas.

Greemax Crown Woodlot

This woodlot, located south of Moorecroft Regional Park in Nanoose Bay, is open to the public for off-leash dog walking.  You can access the off-leash area from the woodlot parking lot on Stewart Road or from the Moorecroft Meadow trail.

Springwood Park Dog Play Area

This dog park, located on Despard Avenue near Springwood Park in Parksville, offers a fenced exercise area with grass and some trees for shade. You will also find running water for thirsty dogs, waste bags, garbage cans, benches, and a shelter with picnic tables for owners.

Civic Centre

Tucked behind the Qualicum Beach Civic Centre complex, you will find a lengthy network of designated off-leash trails. A waste bag dispenser and garbage bins are available. The Civic Centre is located at 747 Jones Street.

Near the Qualicum Beach Airport

Across the street from the Qualicum Beach Airport entrance, at Rupert Road East and Bennett Road, is a designated off-leash area.


Ammonite Falls / Benson Creek Falls in Nanaimo. Vancouver Island View
Ammonite Falls

Regional District of Nanaimo Off-Leash Areas

The Nanaimo Regional District covers a wide area from Yellow Point (south of Nanaimo) to Deep Bay (north of Qualicum). While researching for this post, I learned that all RDN parks and trails are considered “off-leash.” The exceptions are Moorecroft Regional Park and the two Regional campgrounds, Horne Lake and Descanso Bay.

However, as stated in their bylaws, “dogs must remain under control at all times.” For many dogs, this means they may need to remain on a leash at all times!

While it's acceptable to let your well-behaved dog off-leash within the RDN, very few locations (if any) provide waste bags and/or garbage bins. This means you are required to pack it back out!

Acceptable RDN Off-Leash Areas

Even though the RDN accepts the following areas as off-leash, as with anything, if we abuse it, we will lose it! So please be mindful when using these trails as an off-leash area.

The following areas designated as off-leash by the RDN are listed from South to North.

Nanaimo River Regional Park

This 56-hectare property provides a network of developed trails through the woods and along the Nanaimo River. Park entrances are located on Fry Rd and Frey Rd.

Morden Colliery Regional Trail

This 3.4 km trail runs along an old rail grade and connects Morden Colliery Provincial Park to Hemer Provincial Park. Please note: only the connecting trail is off-leash. While you are at either Morden Colliery Provincial Park and/or Hemer Provincial Park, your dog is required to be on a leash at all times.

Trans Canada Trail

Key links of this approximately 30-kilometre route include *Extension Ridge, Pipeline, White Pine, and *Haslam Creek Trails.

(*More information about Extension Ridge and Haslam Creek can be found in our Hidden Gems article).

Mount Benson Regional Park

There are lots of trails to explore around Mount Benson. But if you want to reach the top, expect rough mountainous terrain ranging from 457 metres to 1,006 meters above sea level.  The only authorized public access to this area is from the Witchcraft Lake Regional Trail (off Kilpatrick Road).

Ammonite Falls

The area also known as Benson Creek Falls Regional Park leads to a beautiful waterfall. There is a new viewing platform, bridges, and easy-to-follow trails. Parking is at the Creekside Place Community Park parking lot.

Top Bridge - one of the many hidden gems found on Vancouver Island
Top Bridge

Parksville Area RDN Parks and Trails with Off-Leash Areas

Beachcomber Regional Park

This small one-hectare park, located in Nanoose (off Marina Way), leads down to a great beach perfect for exploring.

Top Bridge Regional Trail

This trail system connects Top Bridge Regional Park with the Englishman River Regional Park. The beautiful suspension bridge spans the Englishman River.  

There are several entrances to this trail. These include Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park, Industrial Way and Tuan Rd (one block inland from Hwy 19A), and Top Bridge (end of Chattell Rd near the truck scales). Alternatively, go to the end of Allsbrook Rd (off Bellevue Rd, off Hwy 4A).

Mount Arrowsmith Massif Regional Park

This regional park covers over 1300 acres of land and includes both Mount Arrowsmith and Mount Cokely. There is a vast network of long-standing alpine trails for intermediate and experienced hikers. The park is accessible by climbing Arrowsmith CPR Regional Trail, and hiking through the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District's Mount Arrowsmith Regional Park.

Little Qualicum River Regional Park

This 44-hectare park runs along both sides of the Little Qualicum River. Although this park is largely undeveloped, there is a developed trail off Meadowood Way that provides an easy link to Little Qualicum Falls Provincial Park. (Please note: Little Qualicum Falls Provincial Park is NOT an off-leash area).

Big Qualicum River Regional Trail

Starting at the Big Qualicum Hatchery, this 10 km trail follows the hatchery service road the length of the river. This is a prime spot for wildlife (bears), especially in the Fall. So please be mindful of that while walking with your dog.

Lighthouse Country Regional Trail

This trail has both a North and South loop. The North loop provides approximately 2 km of easy walking, while the South loop provides over 2.5 km of wheelchair-accessible trails. The accessible South Loop parking lot is located at the end of Lioness Blvd (off Lions Way, off Hwy 19A) in downtown Qualicum Bay. The North Loop parking lot is located on McColl Rd in Bowser, one block inland from Hwy 19A.


I hope this list helps you and your pet explore Mid-Vancouver Island's many off-leash dog areas!

Do you have a favourite area you and your dog like to go to? Let us know in the comments below!

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Designated off-leash parks and trails on Vancouver Island. Vancouver Island View

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20 Comments

  1. Hi!! Newly landed in Sooke with our fam from Ontario…. looking to get our Golden some exercise today…. any off leash beaches and trails in Sooke that you’re aware of??
    Thank you🙏🏻🙏🏻

    1. First off, welcome to the island! Unfortunately, no, I don’t know of any off-leash beaches or trails in the Sooke area. And a quick online search resulted in no finds either. I’m sorry!

    2. Susan Rivet says:

      Whiffin Spit in Sooke is an off-leash area

  2. Rick Senft says:

    I keep running into this annoying jogger that says Errington School Trail is a dogs on leash trail. I looked through the RDN Area F charter and there’s no mention of pet regulations. This is a multi use trail with horses, dogs (some on some off leash) bikes, walkers, strollers and joggers. Any chance you know about this little nugget?

    1. Hi Rick, I am unsure about that particular trail. However, if it is a designated RDN trail, and there are no signs stating otherwise within the area, then it should be an off-leash area.

  3. I know this was posted a while ago but I just need to say how incredibly useful this info is. Our dog Maggie thanks you!

    1. I’m so glad you find the post useful! That’s the nice thing about evergreen articles – they are relevant anytime!

  4. Just wondering if you know of any off leash parks in the Courtenay Comox area…I used to take my girls to Bill Moore park but animal bylaw officer has said we can’t take them off leash…our only other option we know of is Kye Beach…but we live in Royston and it’s a bit of a drive to go there every day…

    1. Unfortunately, I didn’t come across any in my research. However, I did come across people complaining about the lack of off-leash parks in your area, so I gathered there weren’t any. I will say this, though,…when we hiked up to the Cumberland Potholes (trailhead is located off of Sutton Road in Cumberland) many people had their dogs off-leash (even though the sign says to keep them leashed). So it might just be one of those areas that is generally accepted, by the general public, as being an off-leash area!?

      1. the cliff end of Goose Spit is off leash when the Brant geese are not there. If you park in the area next to the stairs, and walk to your left, you can take your dog off leash.

      2. Thank you so much for the information, Cheryl!

    2. Lynn, I just discovered that Nymph Falls (off Forbidden Plateau in Courtenay) is an off-leash park. The extensive trail system and waterfall are an added beautiful bonus!!

  5. Laura Wasyl says:

    Very helpful article. Any off-leash places in Lantzville?

    1. Thank you, Laura! Well, in doing my research I couldn’t find any current information on the District of Lantzville website regarding off-leash areas. I do know that I have walked around the Lantzville Foothills (at the end of Aulds Road) a few times, and it seems to be a common off-leash area…however, I cannot confirm whether this is legally allowed or not (which is why I didn’t showcase the area in this article. I hope that helps!

  6. Thanks so much! This was awesome info 🙂

    1. You’re so welcome! I’m glad you find it useful.

  7. Well done. Great list here

    1. Thanks, Angie! I’m sure you know of many more… 🙂

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