The Qualicum River Hatchery Trail is a beautiful trail on a small river that runs from Horne Lake down to its mouth at Qualicum Beach on the east coast of Vancouver Island. The trail is along a 10 km portion of the river above the hatchery.
You can access the trail from the big Qualicum hatchery parking area. Fishing is usually heavy in areas near the hatchery, but lightens up in the upstream stretches. Fishing the river downstream from the hatchery is restricted. In addition to the steelhead fishery, the Qualicum River provides some good fly-fishing for coho salmon, with good fall runs of chinook, coho, and chum salmon; cutthroat trout are also present.
I have always enjoyed walking along the Qualicum River Hatchery Trail in the fall, seeing black bears, blacktail deer, and Roosevelt elk, along with plenty of smaller animals like raccoons, pine martens, and squirrels. The river is beautiful in the fall when the trees turn colour. In this colour, you will see so many birds going about their business of being birds. The old rail trestles that cross the river high above your head are quite the sight as well. All in all, this is such a great place to take a walk.