The interior town of Port Alberni lies within the Alberni Valley at the head of the Alberni Inlet, Vancouver Island’s longest inlet. There are numerous trail running options in Port Alberni, along its various creeks and canals, and in some interior forest trails. Below are a few favorites. This site lists all the trails, including a helpful interactive map.
Kitsuksis Dyke Trail. The easiest and most popular trail for running in Port Alberni. The mostly paved trail runs along both sides of Kitsuksis Creek. It’s wooded, with some views of the narrow creek. The south end starts near Victorika Quay. At the north end of the trail, a dirt path continues upstream to a small waterfall below the trestle over Kitsuksis Creek. It’s a ~4.5 km loop, incorporating both sides of the creek.
Hydro Row and Scott Kenny Trails. These are two gentler, adjacent trails. The Hydro Row is a gentle 1.9 km trail that connects the Scott Kenny Trail to the nearby Log Train Trail entrance adjacent to West Coast General Hospital. It’s mainly wooded. The Scott Kenny Trail a new multi-use trail that crosses the Roger Creek ravine between Cherry Creek Road/Tebo Avenue and near 10th Avenue behind Glenwood Center. The trail provides a 2.1 km crosstown connection between the north and south sides of Port Alberni.
Other Trails. The interior trails are more rugged and hilly. At the Alberni Inlet Trailhead off Ship Creek Rd. south of town, there are numerous trail options, including the 6.2 km Carriere to Ship Creek Trail and the adjacent, gentler Fir Baby Trail.
Off Burde St., access the Dry Creek Trails, including the Log Train Trail and numerous other trail options.
The interior town of Port Alberni lies within the Alberni Valley at the head of the Alberni Inlet, Vancouver Island’s longest inlet. There are numerous trail running options in Port Alberni, along its various creeks and canals, and in some interior forest trails. Below are a few favorites. This site lists all the trails, including a helpful interactive map.
Kitsuksis Dyke Trail. The easiest and most popular trail for running in Port Alberni. The mostly paved trail runs along both sides of Kitsuksis Creek. It’s wooded, with some views of the narrow creek. The south end starts near Victorika Quay. At the north end of the trail, a dirt path continues upstream to a small waterfall below the trestle over Kitsuksis Creek. It’s a ~4.5 km loop, incorporating both sides of the creek.
Hydro Row and Scott Kenny Trails. These are two gentler, adjacent trails. The Hydro Row is a gentle 1.9 km trail that connects the Scott Kenny Trail to the nearby Log Train Trail entrance adjacent to West Coast General Hospital. It’s mainly wooded. The Scott Kenny Trail a new multi-use trail that crosses the Roger Creek ravine between Cherry Creek Road/Tebo Avenue and near 10th Avenue behind Glenwood Center. The trail provides a 2.1 km crosstown connection between the north and south sides of Port Alberni.
Other Trails. The interior trails are more rugged and hilly. At the Alberni Inlet Trailhead off Ship Creek Rd. south of town, there are numerous trail options, including the 6.2 km Carriere to Ship Creek Trail and the adjacent, gentler Fir Baby Trail.
Off Burde St., access the Dry Creek Trails, including the Log Train Trail and numerous other trail options.
In this coastal town on the east side of Vancouver Island, there's some nice coastal running and numerous interior forest trails, including the popular Holland Creek Trail loop.
Second-largest city on Vancouver Island and reachable by ferry from Vancouver. We've mapped several scenic running routes: coastal paths, beautiful parks, and extensive trail running options.
Some spectacular running options in Parksville: a 2 km path along Rathtrevor Beach; the Top Bridge Trail, including a new pedestrian suspension bridge; and the 6.5 km RDN Recreational Path along the Englishman River. Can be combined!
A scenic and runnable section of the secondary Island Highway that runs along the coast. It's 10k between Union Bay and Buckley Bay. The road is busy but has a wide shoulder and good water views. Fave section is 6 km from Buckley Bay to Union Bay.
A great way to experience some of Vancouver Island's vast forest lands. This 550-acre protected forest features 200 km of trails and logging roads through lush forest, including cedar groves and riparian areas.
In Courtenay on Vancouver Island's east coast, there's 8 km of scenic waterfront running on paved multi-use paths along Comox Harbour and the Courtenay River. Can vary with the Rotary Trail.
A scenic waterfront run in the "Salmon Capital of the World". The Campbell River Seawalk is a 6.7 km paved waterfront path along Discovery Passage. Great water views! You'll cross the 50th parallel! Also nice forest trails in the Beaver Lodge Lands.
Fantastic beach running at three longer beaches along Vancouver Island's rugged west coast between Tofino and Ucluelet: Chesterman Beach, Long Beach, & Florencia Bay Beach. Crashing surf, gorgeous sunsets!
This 8 km coastal trail is located in Ucluelet, along the island's rugged west coast. Scenic, fairly easy trail running showcasing coastal forests, bogs, and mudlats. There are two main sections, which can be combined.
Terrific running options in this coastal community on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, 38 km west of Victoria. Run the Whiffin Spit Trail, a section of the Galloping Goose multi-use trail, or more rugged trail running in East Sooke Regional Park.
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