Our Favourite Fall Hikes on Vancouver Island

Fall on Vancouver Island is like Mother Nature put on her cutest oversized sweater and said, “Let’s go for a walk, babes.” The air gets crisp, the forests get extra moody, and suddenly we’re all romantically stomping through leaves like we’re in a rom-com. We may or may not be hiking to a soundtrack from a very popular movie filmed on the West Coast - hua hua hua - sound familiar?

If you’re looking for trails that give cozy vibes, flirty forest energy, and those deep-breath-in, stress-breath-out moments… we’ve got you. Each of us picked a fall hike or two that makes our island-girl hearts do a happy little wiggle.

Carly’s Picks: Mackenzie Bight & Mount Work

Okay babes, it’s Carly here, your resident “let’s get lost in the forest and accidentally become a woodland nymph” girl. If there’s one thing about me, it’s that I’m happiest when I’m wandering around West Saanich with leaves in my hair, bare feet, and zero sense of direction. So obviously, my favourite fall hikes are tucked right into the lush, dreamy Howling Tod area.

These two hikes are pure autumn magic: a little misty, a little moody, and just rugged enough to make you feel like the main character of your own forest love story.

McKenie Bight - Saanich

Mckenzie Bight is basically my emotional support trail. The moment I step into that towering forest, I’m like, “Goodbye society, I live here now.” The air smells like cedar, moss, and the kind of wisdom only a 300-year-old Douglas Fir can give you.

In fall, the whole trail turns into this soft, fluttery leaf runway, and honestly, I can’t not strut a little. The descent takes you past a sweet little waterfall (nature’s ASMR), and then suddenly you pop out onto this rocky shoreline where the forest literally kisses the ocean. The vibes? Immaculate. The photos? Elite. The seals? Sometimes they flirt back.

It’s one of those hikes where you slow down, breathe deeper, and convince yourself you could live in a cabin with no Wi-Fi (for like… a week).

Mount Work - Saanich

Ohhh Mount Work. My spicy little mountain. This one is for when I want a workout, but I still want to look cute doing it. The climb wakes you up real fast, think “natural pre-workout” but with way better views and no weird tingles.

The forest on the way up gives full enchanted-woodland energy: maples dropping golden leaves, ferns doing their ferny thing, and patches of sunlight that make you feel like the forest is flirting with you. By the time you hit the rocky summit, you’re sweaty, you’re proud, and you’re staring out at this insane panoramic view that looks even better wrapped in fall colours.

It’s the kind of hike where you sit at the top, nibble a snack, and think, “Wow… I’m basically a wilderness goddess.”

Michaelia’s Picks: Heart Lake Loop & Hemer Park

You know I love a good fall hike, especially the kind that gets us all outside for some family time. Most of the trails we do include our toddler setting her own pace, our dog happily zig-zagging ahead, and the rest of us just enjoying being out in the fresh air.

If a trail has great forest views, lots of space to explore, and somewhere to stop for a snack break, it’s usually a win for us. Here are two of my favourite autumn hikes that always feel worth it.

Heart Lake Loop - Ladysmith

Heart Lake Loop is one of those hikes that tricks you into thinking it’s going to be a breezy family stroll. Spoiler: the first section goes straight uphill and immediately tests your cardio, your spirit, your footing, and your commitment to “outdoor family time.”

Every time we start the climb, our toddler is either insisting on walking independently (one centimetre at a time) or wanting up on someone’s shoulders, and the dog is two switchbacks ahead, living his best life. It’s really calming…

But once you break past the steep section, the trail becomes gorgeous with pockets of sun hitting the fall leaves, quiet forest sections perfect for regrouping, and a few spots to enjoy the view over Ladysmith. When you reach the lake itself, you’re rewarded with a beautiful hike around calm and beautiful waters.

It’s the kind of hike where the kids and the dog get to explore, the adults get a workout, and everyone gets a snack break with a view. Honestly? Peak island family vibes.

Hemer Park - Nanaimo

If Heart Lake is my cardio hike, Hemer Park is my cozy, low-stakes family walk. It’s flat, it’s peaceful, it’s stroller-friendly in some sections, and it’s exactly the trail you want when you’re like, “Let’s get out of the house before someone melts down.” (Sometimes that someone is me.)

The dog absolutely loves it, lots of good sniffs, soft forest trails, and spots to stop and admire the water. Our toddler calls every wooden bridge a “castle,” so we cross each one like we’re entering a fantasy realm. The marsh viewpoint is always a hit too; we point out birds, pretend logs are alligators, and try to keep our daughter from launching moss into the water like it’s a sport. She also loves looking for frogs and turtles at the pond lookout. Closer to the end of fall and into the winter months, we can sometimes spot Swans nesting in the long grass next to the pond.

With fall leaves crunching, the forest glowing, and calm lake moments, Hemer is perfect for slow family adventuring: zero pressure, lots of beauty, and endless opportunities for adorable memories.

Jenn’s Picks: Jocelyn Hill & Cobble Hill Mountain

Alright, it’s my turn, and if you know me, you know I’m here for the hikes that actually make you feel like you hiked. Give me a steep climb, a trail that gets my legs burning, and my two boys and dogs racing ahead like they’re training for an event I didn’t sign up for. Fall is my favourite time to get outside: cool air, crunchy leaves, and way less sweating than summer. Perfection.

Here are the two trails that I love most this time of year:

Jocelyn Hill Trail Loop - Saanich

When I’m in the mood for something longer and more dramatic, I head straight for the Jocelyn Hill Trail Loop. This trail has everything I love: steady climbs, ridge walking, gorgeous forest, and those insane ocean viewpoints that make you stop in your tracks.

In fall, the colours hit differently: golden leaves, crisp air, and that sweeping view over the water that makes the whole hike feel cinematic. My dogs love the adventure feel, the boys get every sniff imaginable (wait, I may have mixed that up - or not), and I get my favourite kind of workout: the kind where you’re tired but so happy you did it.

It’s not the easiest trail, but the payoff is huge, and that’s exactly why it’s one of my fall must-dos.

Cobble Hill Mountain - Cobble Hill

Cobble Hill is basically my ideal fall playground. There’s a trail for every mood, from mellow loops to the infamous steep butt-buster hill, which, yes, is my personal favourite.

When I’m out here with the boys and the dogs, they charge up that hill like they’re competing for medals, and I’m behind them pretending I’m not out of breath. But honestly? I love it. The climb feels good, the forest smells amazing in the fall, and the views from the top always make the effort worth it.

It’s the perfect spot when I want a workout, the dogs need a run, and the kids need to burn off whatever energy they woke up with. And when it’s just me? I let my mind wander while I sweat out my worries.

Asheleigh’sPicks: Mount Tzouhalem & Cox Bay Lookout

I love having the freedom to wander the Island at my own pace, just me, the trail, and my dog trotting happily beside me. No schedules, no chaotic packing sessions, no toddler negotiations. Just quiet moments, fresh air, and the kind of peaceful space that fills your whole chest in the best way.

Fall is my favourite time to hike. The forests feel softer, the colours richer, and everything slows down just enough for you to notice how beautiful the little moments are: the sound of leaves falling, the mist clinging to the trees, my dog’s ears bouncing as she explores ahead. These two trails capture that feeling perfectly.

Mount Tzouhalem - Duncan

Mount Tzouhalem is my go-to when I need a grounding afternoon, the kind where the forest feels like it’s hugging you. The trail winds through peaceful woods, and in fall, the colours make everything feel warm and nostalgic.

My dog loves it here, too. Lots of scents, lots of places to explore, and enough incline that she feels like the trail leader (I let her believe it). The climb is steady but manageable, and the payoff is unreal. The views stretch over Cowichan Bay and the Gulf Islands, all wrapped in soft fall light.

It’s the kind of place where I sit on the rocky edge, with my dog curled up beside me, and just breathe for a minute. Pure Island magic.

Cox Bay Lookout - Tofino

Cox Bay Lookout is where I go when I want something a little more wild. It’s muddy, rugged, and a total adventure, exactly the kind of trail that makes both me and my dog light up.

The climb is short but spicy, weaving through rainforest roots until you pop out onto one of the most breathtaking viewpoints on the Island. The sweeping curve of Cox Bay, the rolling Pacific waves, the dramatic sky, it’s all unbelievably romantic, even when it’s just me, the wind, and a very proud dog perched beside me.

It’s the hike I choose when I need to reconnect with nature, with myself, and with that sense of awe the West Coast is famous for.

Fall on Vancouver Island has a way of slowing us down and pulling us back into the trees, the ocean air, and the little pockets of beauty we miss when life gets too busy. Whether it’s a tough climb, a quiet forest loop, a family adventure, or a soul-filling solo moment, each of us finds something different out there, and that’s what makes hiking on the Island so special.

We hope our favourite fall trails inspire you to lace up, wander a little, and soak in the magic this season brings. And if you head out on one of these hikes, tag us; we love seeing the Island through your eyes too.

Here’s to crisp air, colourful leaves, and making memories on the trails. Happy hiking, babes.