Outdoor Recreation

Land Based Programs

Conquer mountain trails, explore picturesque parks, rise above rock walls, and wind through coastal forests. Some of our hiking, biking, and climbing experiences are meant to be challenging while others are geared towards beginners.

Hiking at Rosewall Creek Falls - VIU Outdoor Recreation

Waterfall Hiking - Rosewall Creek

10am - 3:30pm, Sunday, Jan 22

The waterfall hiking trips are an awesome new addition to our existing program mix. During this trip students get to experience a moderate hike ending with a beautiful waterfall. We use three different locations to run this activity and all of these have excellent opportunities to view a large waterfall. For this particular activity we will be hiking to Rosewall Creek Falls.

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Hiking at Nile Creek - VIU Outdoor Recreation

Waterfall Hiking - Nile Creek

10am - 3:30pm, Saturday, Jan 28

The waterfall hiking trips are an awesome new addition to our existing program mix. During this trip students get to experience a moderate hike ending with a beautiful waterfall. We use three different locations to run this activity and all of these have excellent opportunities to view a large waterfall. For this particular hike we will be travelling to Nile Creek Falls.

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Bouldering

Bouldering – RavenWood

6pm to 8pm, Tuesdays, Jan 17, 24, 31, Feb 7, 14, 28

We are excited to offer this activity again for the Spring of 2023 which takes place at Nanaimo’s Ravenwood Boulders. Bouldering is a climbing sport that takes place on a short wall that does not require the use of ropes or harnesses. This means when you fall you are only a short distance from the floor and land on thick crash pads. Bouldering facilities are set up with lots of different routes to choose from so there is something for everybody. VIU provides transportation, instruction, your pass for the evening and rock-climbing shoes. So come on out and give bouldering a try.

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Jan 17, Jan 24, Jan 31, Feb 7, Feb 14, Feb 28

Mt Benson

Hiking – Cowichan River

9am - 4pm, Sunday, Feb 12

This activity is a guided hike into the beautiful area of Cowichan River Provincial Park. This trip requires students to hike for up to 3 hours on relatively easy to moderate trails, with some steep sections going both up and down. Please bring enough food and water for your entire day. Students may leave extra food, clothing, and personal items in a locked vehicle while hiking. The Cowichan River hike is a beautiful experience with interesting geology and ecology. It makes for an excellent day trip.

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Juan de Fuca Hike - VIU Outdoor Recreation

Hiking – Juan de Fuca Trail

8am - 7pm, Sunday, Feb 19

This program is a guided hike into a section of the Juan de Fuca Trail Provincial Park. This activity explores a section of trail that has big beaches, waterfalls, suspension bridge, and massive west coast old growth forests. We generally spend the day hiking and exploring the area around Sombrio Beach and cover approximately 6 to 7 kms of trail. The trail can be steep in sections and is always wet and very muddy. This hike is suitable for fit beginners and intermediate/advanced hikers as we take our time on this activity.

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