Categories: Travel

This coastal town in B.C. has world-class hiking & one of Canada’s best public gardens

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Situated on the coast of Vancouver Island at the foot of Mount Arrowsmith, Qualicum Beach is home to the best hiking trails for the “naturally curious,” leading visitors to some of the most famed provincial parks in B.C.

This includes destinations like Little Qualicum Falls, Englishman River Falls, and the historic Arrowsmith CPR Regional Trail, which winds its way up Mount Arrowsmith. However, you don’t have to go far to immerse yourself in lush nature—the beautiful Milner Gardens and Woodland are right at the heart of Qualicum Beach!

One of Canada’s best public gardens

With no “off-season,” the historic 70-acre waterfront estate is open year-round and designated as one of the 10 best public gardens in Canada, according to Destination B.C. Now owned and operated by Vancouver Island University, the estate was originally built for General Noel Money in 1931, with features reminiscent of a Ceylonese tea plantation house. According to the garden’s website, this is evidenced by Milner House’s many screened doors leading out into the garden.

In 1937, Edmonton-born Ray Milner purchased the estate as his new summer home, later marrying English aristocrat Veronica Milner (maiden name Fitzgerald), who would transform the garden into a “wild garden” and sanctuary of rare plant species from her many travels.

Today, the estate consists of offices, an Interpretive Centre, a Tea Room, and a Library, which are open to the public.

World-class hiking

In addition to some remarkable provincial parks, visitors of Qualicum Beach can easily follow a wooded trail to Cathedral Grove, home to some of the oldest and tallest trees in the country.

Big tree lovers can also meander through the 50-acre Qualicum Beach Heritage Forest. Here, you’ll find a mix of rare and endangered plants, roaming deer, and a variety of birds, all five minutes away from downtown Qualicum Beach.

One of B.C.’s most ‘storied’ beaches

And if beach-going is more your vibe, it is part of the town’s name for a reason – and you don’t have to wait for the summer months to enjoy its kilometres of sandy beaches. In fact, winter is a great time to scour the shoreline during low tide for washed-up shells, stones, and treasures.

Visitors can stroll down a scenic paved promenade that leads to one of the most ‘storied’ beaches in the province, according to the town’s website. Along the promenade, visitors can take advantage of plenty of picnic tables, shady trees, washrooms, and parking lots for convenient access.

On the west end of the waterfront area, there’s the Seaside Nature Park with a 180-degree viewpoint from an elevated platform, often used by photographers and birdwatchers.

Want to extend your trip to explore the area? A quick eight-minute drive gets you to the famed Old Country Market in Coombs, where you can see goats on the roof starting this May!

Note that dogs are not permitted (temporarily) at any beach within the Parksville Qualicum Beach Wildlife Management Area (PQBWMA) due to the annual Brant geese migration.