Walk-Hike-Bike-Explore Vancouver Island

LOWER NILE CREEK TRAIL

A forest is the ultimate sustainable cooperative community.

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This is one of my favourite trails to walk, hike, bike & explore as it runs along Nile Creek for most of the way. As you walk, hike, bike along the trail you hear the sounds of the creek rippling & babbling along or roaring through at a wild swiftness depending on the time of year as it journeys down it's path to the ocean.

A taste of BC's rainforests

You are surrounded by old Douglas fir trees that are standing over you protecting you from the elements which are home to different kinds of fungi growing on them.
Everywhere you look you see different shades of green from the different trees & different kinds of moss growing on the ground & on the trees.

"It is not so much for it's beauty that the forest makes a claim upon men's hearts, as for that subtle something, that quality of air, that emanation from old trees, that so wonderfully changes & renews a weary spirit". Robert Louis Stevenson

The lower Nile Creek trail is roughly 1 1/2 - 2 hours long depending on your speed. It is a fairly easy walk, hike, bike trail & a common biking trail without too many challenges along the way. (Non of these trails in Lighthouse Country are suitable for young children to bike, they are for people with some experience of biking in forests & mountains).

Alternate route

The trail runs along Nile Creek for the most part; about half way along it branches off so there is a higher route & a lower route that make a loop. The recommendation is for bikers to use the higher route, but there is nothing written in stone about this. The lower route is a little muddier with a few areas that create a bit of a challenge, such as a trail built out of round logs that you would have to push your bike over. The higher trail gives you a bit more of a work out as you are climbing, but it is not what I would class as an advanced trail. Non of the trails in Lighthouse Country I believe are too challenging & are suitable for all ages so long as you are fairly fit & able to walk up hills. There is an area where you cross over the creek by a log that has a rope handrail, so walkers, hikers, bikers be cautious as you cross over.

To find NIle Creek trail you take the same route to Bowser as mentioned in my previous post regarding The Lighthouse Country Trail. If coming from Nanaimo turn right onto exit 75 (Horne Lake exit) & head towards the ocean & if coming from Courtenay side turn left onto exit 87 (Cook Creek exit), again heading towards the ocean. When you get to the West island Highway (19A), folk from Nanaimo will turn left & head north, folk from Courtenay side will turn right onto 19A & head south. Nanaimo folk will pass through Qualicum Bay & Courtenay folk will pass through Bowser. The road you are looking for is Charlton Dr which is approximately half way between both villages. Courtney folk will cross over Nile Creek bridge & the next road on your right is Charlton Dr. For Nanaimo folk, when you see the speed limit flashing overhand Charlton Dr will be coming up on your left side.
Follow Charlton Dr right to the very end & park. There is a gate in front of you, if it is closed just follow the path on your right. You will be on a dirt road for a while & will pass the Nile Creek Hatchery on your right. Just walk, hike, bike until you come to a trail on your left side & away you go.

Nile Creek Trail

CAUTION: Don't forget that this is bear country, the bears are out, so wear a bear bell, take a large heavy stick & it is a good idea to have bear spray. Remember, you are in a rainforest & when the winds are high there is always a danger of old rotten trees falling, so keep you ears open, take care of yourself & others in your party; you are responsible for yourselves out there. Make sure you have water & a cell phone.

To round off your adventure in Lighthouse Country, when you have finished walking, hiking, biking & exploring you can either turn left on highway 19A & head into Bowser to the Bean Counter for a coffee or tea & browse around the unique shops in the strip mall or go treasure hunting at Things & Stuff Old & New, the local 2nd hand-store (Never know what you will find in there). Otherwise you can turn right on highway 19A & head south to Qualicum Bay. Here you have a choice for food & drink. There is the local pub, Crown & Anchor where lunch & dinners are served, or across the street is the Sandbar Cafe where the food is great & there is a very interesting art gallery inside with beautiful paintings from local artists. If you are in town on Fridays, Sandbar has local musicians that congregate & jam in the evening, so if you are a musician, bring along your instrument(s) & voice and join in; meet some local folk. Otherwise just down the road is a new cafe called The Alpaca cafe & gift shop. They have an Alpaca farm behind, so many of their gifts are made from Alpaca wool, ooooh, sooo soft.
Any time soon the local ice cream shop, The Cone Zone with 32 flavours of ice cream will be opening up, & right next door to The Cone Zone is Henry's Kitchen where they serve Chinese food. You won't starve in Lighthouse Country!

HAPPY WALKING, HIKING, BIKING & EXPLORING