Within the belly of Nanaimo is a land of magic. Piper’s Lagoon Park, also known as Piper’s Point, is tucked away in the middle of a residential area right off of Hammond Bay Road. If you think you’re going the wrong way, the speedbumps will let you know you’re on track.
I’m convinced this is one of the most beautiful places in the world.
It is sheer joy to experience the varying terrain as you make your way along the shoreline: Pebbly beaches, shorebird-filled tidal flats, pockets of garry oak and arbutus, sheer cliff faces that drop into driftwood filled coves, wild succulents in rocky crevasses, and a winding pathway through red cedar, douglas fir, salal and eagle nests. There is so much visual texture here it’s a borderline overload.
If you don’t get too distracted and make it into the forest you’ll notice the curiosity of Shack Island, a cluster of wooden buildings separated from Piper’s Point and resting on stilts that will either be submerged in the sand or in the ocean depending on where the tide is. I’ve heard you can walk across at low tide but it’s my understanding that they are privately owned and occasionally inhabited so my inclination is to respect them as they lie.
The beach is swim-worthy (though likely too cold for my tastes) and if you’re mobile it’s loads of fun to climb the rocks separating the isthmus (that’s a fun word) from the trails and forest on the peninsula. There are ample opportunities to photograph shorebirds such as Great Blue Herons and Piping Plovers, as well as the spectacular body of water that is the Georgia Strait.
A visit to Nanaimo doesn’t feel complete anymore without stopping here. It’s perfect for time out with friends, kids, family, or on a date. I recommend reserving some time to take advantage of the benches that someone has kindly installed at strategic viewpoints and spending some quality time being alive.
[googlemaps https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d2605.6198815160355!2d-123.94969014882481!3d49.22673557922384!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x5488a1ce5e2aa1eb%3A0xc4bd45ce2a2e7c54!2sPipers+Lagoon+Park!5e0!3m2!1sen!2sca!4v1473902757871&w=600&h=450]
