Comox Valley Recreation

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The Comox Valley a land of endless recreational opportunities

Skiing, mountain biking, hiking, kayaking, sailing, fishing, golfing, diving, walking, if you enjoy an outdoor activity, it’s here. Our mild climate allows you to enjoy many of the warm weather sport 10 months a year and when it’s too cold there is cross country and downhill skiing 30 minutes away.

Skiing

There is a cross country and downhill facility just 30 minutes to the west of downtown Courtenay. The cross country facility has a beautiful lodge, rentals and many kilometers of groomed classic and skating trails.

The downhill facility has up to 1700 feet of vertical and has four main chairs that service a variety of terrain. The Blue chair takes you to the top of the mountain, offering panoramic alpine and ocean views. The chair accesses double black to intermediate trails. There are long groomed runs, steep bowls and tree skiing.

The Sunrise chair services the best groomed runs on the mountain. The steep fall line and twisting trails will satisfy any speed demon. The Sunrise chairs also gives access to some steep black diamond trails on the skiers left side.

The Hawk chair services primarily beginner and intermediate terrain, although there are some great trees to hone your powder and steep skills.

The Boomerang chair is the gem of the mountain. The chair runs on two sides of the mountain and services only black and double black terrain. There is only one groomed trail down the front side and the back side is strictly steep bowls, trees, gullies and chutes. when there is fresh powder, and we often have one of the highest snowpacks in the world, the backside can’t be beat.

Mountain Biking

The valley offers a wide variety of trails for all abilities and in almost every part of the valley. The steep, nasty ( super fun) and challenging trails are primarily found in Cumberland, the Forbidden Plateau area and the Mt Washington Bike park. Hornby Island has a trail network of magical cross country and should be ridden by every rider.

Here are some different trails throughout the valley, it is by no means comprehensive and if you are seeking detailed information , please visit www.cvmtb.com it is a great site and the maps and information available is fantastic.

Comox Valley – From seams of coal to seams of singletrack

Hornby Island
Magical cross country trails for all ages and all abilities. A national treasure.

Union Bay
At the top of Mcleod rd is a series of logging roads that climb up a hill and offers spectacular ocean, island and mountain views.

Royston
Cherry Lane and Moe’s Misery are great cross country trails. Moe’s looks over the Trent River Basin, be careful on those corners.

Cumberland
Above the historic mining town of Cumberland is one of the nicest trail networks in the province, intermediate cross country to big hits and nasty old school downhills trails can be found. Grub, Stub and pity the fool are my personal favorites.

Forbidden Plateau
To shuttle or not to shuttle. Either way a great selection of incredible downhill and advanced cross county trails that start from the old ski hill down to Comox lake and the Puntledge river ( great swimming holes). Great slab and steep dirt.

Mt Washington
Lots of new school stunts and jumps and some nice old fashioned downhill trails. Bring your armor.

Seal Bay park- Courtenay North
Beautiful, gentle cross country trail on the west side of the park.

Lazo- Comox Penninsula
A labyrinth of cross country trails behind Highland Secondary and Pointe Holmes.

Hiking trails

There are fabulous walks on all the beaches in the valley, great river trails on the Puntledge river and Seal Bay park is one of the Islands premier Regional Parks. The valley has parks and walking trails in every part of the valley. Strathcona park is 30 minutes away and offers the novice or experienced hiker an exceptional alpine wilderness experience.

Fishing

The rivers and ocean offer many spots to fly fish and Salish sea offers a rich bounty of seafood for the sports fisherman.

Golfing

There are three eighteen hole golf course in the valley and the highly regarded Stories Beach course is only 30 minutes north. Crown Isle is considered one of the best and picturesque courses on the Island , Glacier view is a traditional Park style and Sunnydale is a popular community course. There are two executive and one nine hole course in Comox and Courtenay North.

Sailing

There are number of marinas within a 30 minute drive to the north and south as well as in Comox. The Comox Valley’s position on the Salish Sea offers it incredible boating and sailing options. To the south are the southern Gulf Islands and to the north are Desolation Sound and the Broughton archipelago , which are considered to be some of the finest boating waters in the world

Kayaking

From Hornby Island to Union Bay and north to Saratoga Beach the comox Valley offers a wide range of sea and white water kayaking options. Hornby, Denman and Tree Island protect the Baynes sound from severe weather and boating on those waters is often as calm as a lake. The Puntledge river has some of the best white water in the country and the Courtenay river estuary is a beautiful and unique paddle. To the north is Pointe Holmes and the open waters of the Salish Sea. Beautiful.

Recreation Links

The Comox Valley has such an incredible wealth of outdoor opportunities and of such excellent character that it must be considered one of the outdoor capitals of the country. If love to spend time outdoors come to the valley with your toys and make yourself at home, come live and work in paradise.

Comox the land of plenty