Lighthouse Country Regional Trail, Vancouver Island

Trip report by BestHike editor Rick McCharles

#FakeNews. 😀 … There is no lighthouse on this inland trail.

Lighthouse Country is a tourist designation for a coastal region just north of Qualicum Beach consisting of smaller communities: Dashwood, Qualicum Bay, Dunsmuir, Bowser, and Deep Bay.

It’s named for the offshore lighthouses on Sisters Island and Chrome Island.


Lighthouse Country Regional Trail is an easy — family friendly — 5.6-km loop that takes an average of 1 h 23 min to complete.

The trail was dry and in great shape, even in chilly December.

Click PLAY or get a glimpse on YouTube.

I did find the Nile Creek logging road less interesting than the portion closer to the ocean. You could walk north from the parking lot, then backtrack whenever you wish to enjoy the most scenic sections twice.

If you do the entire loop, feel free to call it the Lighthouse Loop.

There are other trails to explore aside from the loop, of course.

Though you don’t really need a map, I followed AllTrails.

related – nearby, more challenging, Nile Creek Trail

Fisherman’s Trail, Portugal

Alone. Late in the year – November.

One of our BEST VIDEOS.

Fisherman’s Trail is the BEST section of the longer Rota Vicentina route in Portugal.

And the BEST section of Fisherman’s is Porto Covo ➙ Zambujeira do Mar.

In either direction.

Most who hike Fisherman’s also include Zambujeira to Odeceixe. Much of that is great too — but you have at least 5km of road walking.

NOVEMBER turned out to be my best decision. Weather was still good but the coast was nearly empty of tourists.

Trip report.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Bermuda Rail Trail

One of our BEST VIDEOS.

An 18 mile (29km) LONG day hike on tropical paradise islands. PLUS many recommended sidetrips along the way.

Forts, lighthouses, and beaches.

Our recommended itinerary starts in Dockyard and continues past the official trail end in St. George’s.

In fact, it’s BEST to do the Rail Trail over 2 or more days.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.