The Best Swimming Holes on Vancouver Island
If you live on Vancouver Island, have visited Vancouver Island, or have maybe only seen pictures of Vancouver Island, there is no denying that it is a beautiful place! Summer is arguably the best time of year on Vancouver Island. We have put together a list of our favorite swimming holes. Read on to see what they offer and where to find them. Get started on your summer bucket list!
Nymph Falls
Nymph Falls is located in the Comox Valley. It is a 20-minute drive from Comox, an hour and 10 min from Nanaimo, and let us tell you it is worth every minute of that drive. In the summer months, the water runs calm and clear over the smooth rocks. Waterfalls run into various-sized plunge pools, and a protected forest surrounds you. Yes, it is glacier, and yes, it is cold. However, on a hot summer day, it is the perfect place to relax. Most importantly, it is dog-friendly! That’s right, you and your best bud can spend all day exploring, swimming, and soaking up that hot summer sun!
How to get there from Nanaimo? Click here for directions.
Hole in the Wall
The hole in the wall is located to your left just as you enter Port Alberni, it is an hour's drive from Nanaimo and an easy 10-minute hike in. It gets its name from a large man-made hole in the shale cliff. Originally created for a large pipe that was once a shortcut for the city’s water line in the 1960s, it is now a picturesque swimming hole with a beautiful waterfall cascading through the cliff’s opening.
Want Directions from Nanaimo? Click here
Myra Falls
Myra Falls is one of the most breathtaking waterfalls and swimming locations on Vancouver Island. It is located within the spectacular Strathcona Park, making this a must-see spot in the summer. There is an upper falls and lower falls, both swimmable during the summer months. The lower falls are gorgeous, with beautiful turquoise-green water that allows you to see to the bottom of the lake.
Myra Falls is an hour's drive from Campbell River along the Gold River Highway and a 3 hr, 20 min drive from Nanaimo. We suggest making this a weekend getaway. Elk Falls is a beautiful campsite, but we would advise making reservations in advance. Strathcona Park Lodge is also a great option with various sized cabins for rent on Buttle Lake.
Need directions from Nanaimo? Click Here
Stotan Falls – currently closed
This place is one-of-a-kind and is not known to many outside the local area. With plenty of waterfalls to duck in and out of, potholes to plunge into, and cliffs to dive off, you can easily spend your summer days in this magical place. The current is mild and the water is cold.
It is located just outside of Courtenay and is a 1 hr and 12 min drive from Nanaimo. Stotan Falls is privately owned land so please keep that in mind when visiting and be respectful. Pack out everything you packed in, including compostable items. Last we heard the owners charge $5 a person and $10 a family. There are also no washrooms and no water fountains so come prepared!
Click here for directions from Nanaimo!
Nanaimo River
Nanaimo River has plenty of diverse areas to swim in. You can always find a great spot to set up camp for the day. The water here is clear, calm, and deep enough to jump from the cliffs in most areas, but always check the depth before jumping. You can spend the day soaking up the sun on the flat rock bluffs or floating down the river in your inner tube. There are lots of shallow, calm areas that are great for families, and pets are allowed too! There’s a favorite Nanaimo River spot for everyone!
For directions from Nanaimo, click here.
What are you waiting for!? Start the Car!