Benson Creek Falls Park

In four years of living in Nanaimo, I thought I'd visited most of the local parks. However, looking over the City of Nanaimo's parks and recreation website, I noticed reference to Benson Creek Falls Regional Park. I hadn't been there. What was I waiting for? Although it was cold in March, I headed out. So cold, I might add, that the puddles I encountered on the trails through the park had thin ice layers on them. This is a excellent park to stroll through with one proviso. If walkers stay on the wider paths they'll generally be fine. The problem with this park is that it is criss-crossed by dozens of mountain biking/BMX trails with an odd collection of names. The only trail lacking adequate signage was the one you'd want to stay on to take advantage of the wilderness in the park.

Notice only one railing on this bridge. I suspect due to use by bikers. (2012-03-30) 

Pristine nature marred by seemingly inexplicable junk (2012-03-30) 

Benson Creek (2012-03-30) 

Small stream flowing through the rainforest (2012-03-30) 

Nanaimo River by the Cedar Bridge (2013-01-31)

Many times each year, for many years now, I've driven over the Cedar bridge that crosses the Nanaimo River.

Bridge over the Nanaimo River (2013-01-31)

In the summer, the little gravel bar just visible to cars whizzing by, is full of families enjoying wading or swimming in the warm waters of the river. As an aside, I know this river to be warm in the summer from first hand experience. Some years ago, Barb and I used a rather flimsy flotation device to "float " from the bridge by the highway, with this Cedar location as our destination. We never made it. It's a journey Barb prefers not to discuss. So, for now, we'll leave it at that. Perhaps another time.Now back to this location and it's apparent charm in the summer. Often I've thought it'd be nice to stop, have a seat, or perhaps even pop into the water. That'll have to wait.

Crooked WC marks the location of the 

trail down to the 

Nanaimo River spawning channel (2013-01-31)

In late January, I decided to give the gravel bar another look. I was surprised to see hundreds (thousands) of salmon skeletons strewn all over the gravel bar. Exploring around the area, it became clear that the depression to the side of the gravel bar was a spawning channel.

The banks of the Nanaimo River, littered with the 
remains of the autumn spawn (2013-01-31)

As I explored this now-dried channel further, I noticed that, further along, in times of higher water, it would join up with the Nanaimo River.

Spawning channel; off the Nanaimo River (2013-01-31)

So, it really was a channel; a part of the river itself, not some dead-end. This channel had even more evidence of autumn spawning. It was quite an amazing sight. And to think, some months earlier, this gravel bed and these waters would have been teeming with life.

Look at the size of these salmon! (2013-01-31)

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Look at the size of these salmon! (2013-01-31)

Look like somebody is ready to cook salmon (2013-01-31)

Salmon spawning channel off the Nanaimo River (2013-01-31)

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Nanaimo River in a January fog

A foggy January day along the Nanaimo River.

Nanaimo River at the estuary; remnants of historical industry

Nanaimo River current; sometimes with the tide and sometimes against

Nanaimo River landscape shrouded in fog