Linley Valley, Nanaimo BC
Nanaimo is a long city. It's a long city with a hunched-over back to the sea. Upon this back, the thickest part of the length, is a little tiny mountain range that is still largely undeveloped. This wilderness is mostly comprised of what is called Linley Valley, a 145-acre parkland that was only recently saved from being sliced up into vinyl-sided breadboxes. What saved it? A public effort bought it off. Pats on the back to anyone who did something about it!
More about Linley Valley
Linley Valley has a calm beauty. It is very lush and full of deer, and has a few bodies of water in it to punctuate the forest's density. Mushrooms and views of the ocean through the trees are two other dominant features that stick out in my memory of my one visit. It involves a small amount of hiking, suitable for most people, with well-established paths.
Directions to Linley Valley
With all the development of its borders, one can never be too sure about which directions to Linley Valley are still relevant. One of many entrances should not be difficult to find if you keep along or within Uplands Drive, Rutherford Road, Hammond Bay Road, Rock City Road, and Departure Bay Road.