Vancouver Island is the largest and most populous island in the western coasts of the Americas. Much of the island is rugged and wild, with forestland and hills in the interior and the rocky west coast with its famous surfing spots. Straits separate Vancouver Island from the BC mainland and the U.S. There’s wonderful running on Vancouver Island, from beautiful coastal paths to lush forest trails. It’s also trail running heaven, with options ranging from easy to challenging.
Great Runs has created three distinct ‘locations’: Victoria (which comprises half of the island’s 800,000 population; Nanaimo; and other routes along the east and west coasts. We’ve focused our routes primarily on the coastal areas and some of the more accessible & visited locations. On the east coast (in addition to Victoria), we have routes in Ladysmith, Nanaimo, Parksville, Campbell River, & Courtenay. On the west coast, there are scenic routes in Ucluelet and Sooke. There’s also wonderful beach running along Chersterfield Beach, Long Beach, and Florence Bay Beach.
Runner Notes: The weather is some of the warmest and mildest in Canada. But winter can bring storms and lots of rain — use caution on trails and beaches!
