Distance Walked: 9.4 km
Walking Time: 2 hrs
Trail Rating: Easy
The Fern Road Woods Trail gives Qualicum Beach residents a scenic, low-traffic, multi-purpose route to travel to the downtown core or to simply use for recreational purposes (it includes a No Through Road). This trail is part of the 13 km Parksville-Qualicum Beach Link that allows walkers, runners, cyclists and rollerbladers to move between the two locations without using the highway. This Link Trail is included in the Action Plan for Parksville’s Parks and Trails, which follows the Guiding Principles below.
Throughout this series, we have found that we have been on the exact trail needed for that day. This morning’s route was no exception. The sights around us were precisely what we required to replenish our tired spirits (after all, it is Day 27)!
We also encountered a diverse array of informational signage.
At the midway point, we reached the beach. It was a perfect place to stop for a coffee and a pastry before walking the 4.5 km back to our car.
The Fern Road Woods Trail is well used by locals. Along the way, we met two women who regularly walk this path. When we explained our #30hikesin30days challenge, they respectfully asked us to publicly declare this trail to be terrible, and to recommend another trail instead. I’ll leave it to you to decide upon their motive. 😀
#30hikesin30days
Retirement Reflections 
I love the idea of trails to link communities so that people can travel on foot or bike without worrying about highways and their traffic. I will be sure to mention to anyone that asks that it is a terrible, boring trail🤞😉
Deb
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And slugs! The two ladies specifically asked that I mentioned that the trail was full of slugs. I didn’t see even one slug…perhaps they were hiding! 😀
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🤣🤣🤣
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My sister lives just off Fern Road and battles slugs in her garden all the time so there may be some truth that the slugs could be found on the trail.
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Hi, Bernie – Your sister lives in a wonderful area. Maybe she is one of the women that I ran into! 😀
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It’s day 27? Already? That went fast (said by one of the non-walkers!)
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Hi, Kate – I completely agree with you. And I am very relieved that you see it this way. (I’ve had a constant fear of regular followers screaming “OMG WHEN WILL SHE EVER FINISH”! 😀 Thank you for your kind words!
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I think you were saying, “OMG, when will I be finished!” although you have done some really nice hikes.
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We need to get you some new shoes as payment for taking us along on all of these great hikes. I love that first photograph, Donna!
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Hi, Jill – Richard and I were recently discussing that I’ve worn 8 different pairs of foot wear on our past 27 hikes. On most days, I did wear the exact same pair of my favourite smartwool socks (but I did wash them each time between wearings)! 😀
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Looks like a beautiful trail, Donna. I’ve seen slugs when I was hiking in Tofino. They don’t scare me 🙂 Three more hikes to go? Thanks for sharing your hikes with us.
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Perhaps they should have mentioned cougars! 😀
Yup, just three more hikes to go! Thanks so much for following.
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That trail looks awful, I’m not surprised the other hikers urged you not to include it. Seriously though, I love how you’ve commented that somehow you’ve managed to find the right hikes for the right days.
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Hi, Jo – It is remarkable how true that statement is. Early on, Richard nominated me a the ‘trail selector’. (I believe that his intention was to stop me from whining about any difficult terrain!) I usually selected the trails the night before. But several mornings I woke up with a new trail in mind. Each of the hike locations have been a perfect fit so far. I’ve learned a great deal from all of them. Thank you for following along!
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I’ve loved it!
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The ladies’ request at the end made me smile Donna. It looks like a lovely walk – nice and smooth and simple – and a bit of water thrown in for good measure. Almost at the end of your 30 days – what’s next on the agenda???
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Hi, Leanne- That’s so cool — I was commenting on your recent post at the exact same time that you were commenting on mine. I love that kind of synchronicity! The current plan for this Sunday (and beyond) is to catch up on everything that I’ve let slide while I’ve been hiking and blogging! Thank you for following!
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Looks like a pretty good trail to me. But those women needn’t worry about me adding to the crowds. A little far for me to come for a hike. 😉
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They’ll be pleased to hear that! 😀
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Hi Donna, I’m just browsing through your blog. Nice blog. I’m sitting here with Terri W. Schrandt. I’ll be back! 🙂
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Hi, Marsha – Thank you so much for dropping by. Terri mentioned that you were getting together for a meetup. Please have a glass of wine for me!
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Sure, I needed an excuse! We had cookies, but no wine. 🙂
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That doesn’t sound like Terri at all! 😀
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Hi Donna – don’t blame the women to not want to advertise their green and pleasant route! Sounds an ideal hike out, coffee and pastry, then returning … love the various signs … I suspect Ainsley might have got his figures wrong for the effects plastic have … must be millions of organisms affected … it is really frightening – and after/during lock-down it is even worse … Enjoy day 28!! Stay safe – Hilary
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Hi, Hilary – Ainsley’s message was part of several footprint write-ups that students had made stating what they had learned about plastic pollution. I agree that Ainsely’s numbers were (sadly) a bit off. But the concept from the students was loud and clear. I love how this walk involved teaching and learning! 😀
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I love the women you spoke with. I’m sure their motives were pure as the driven snow that they, alone, like to see on this path in the winter.
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Hi, Ally – Your comment made me smile. They did look quite innocent! 😀
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Donna,
We just caught up by binge-reading 25, 26, and 27. Loved them all and am convinced of one thing…we need to visit Victoria Island and environs. We hiked yesterday to Bear Fork Creek to fish. As we passed the Grizzly warning sign, we realized we forgot the bear spray! So much for fishing Bear Fork (Ennis, MT). Three to go! Congrats!!
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Hi, Jo and Helen – Thank you for catching up on my posts when you are on an amazing journey of your own. Ahhhh, I’m so sorry that you missed out on fishing Bear Fork Creek. But you did at least get in the hike! And I totally agree — you definitely need to visit Vancouver Island! 😀
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Yes, it looks absolutely terrible. Baby Ducklings Crossing Path? Not cute at all.
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Sadly, we didn’t catch a glimpse of those ducklings. We also missed the baby lambs. But we did see the horses, ponies, goats, bunnies, as well as a variety of birds and wildflowers. Absolutely not cute at all! 😀
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I just love the two ladies asking you to say it was a terrible hike 🙂
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Thanks, Deb – They were very quick thinkers. You’ve got to admire that!
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Hi Donna I love the guiding principles for this trail. I can see why the two ladies wanted you to give a poor review of the trail! I’m loving the variety of the hikes that you have been doing throughout the challenge. x
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Thanks, Sue – We have been with the variety of hikes as well. We are spoiled for choice on Vancouver Island. We have barely scratched the surface of available hikes…and we usually never travelled more than an hour from home!
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Donna, I didn’t know about the Fern Woods Road trail or the Parksville-Qualicum Beach Link Trail. Now (sadly for those women you met) I’ll have to go and explore it.
Jude
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😀 I’m sure that they’ll be okay with this. I highly recommend it!
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