The land surrounding Nanaimo and Yellow Point has an abundance of public access parks, trails and beaches.The trail around Westwood Lake west of Nanaimo is the jumping off point for a myriad of trails that wind over the rugged Westwood Ridges and climb to the 3000-foot summit of towering Mount Benson. The trails are a favourite with local mountain bikers and various hiking clubs. The wild and natural trails at Cable Bay and Dodd's Narrows are popular, as are Yellow Point Park and Hemer Provincial Park.

The 2km Cable Bay Trail is a wide, easy and well-maintained trail. Parking is available at the trailhead located at the end of Barnes Road. The 90-minute hike (round trip) is rewarded with views of sea lions and bald eagles (if you're lucky), and black bears have also been sighted in the area. The Long Lake Trail is a short loop trail near Roberts Memorial Park. The trail joins the Yellow Point Park trail system and provides an interesting loop through second-growth forest for both hikers and equestrians.

The 93 hectare Hemer Provincial Park on Holden Lake offers bass and trout fishing and a short network of forested trails that lead through the woods from the parking lot to the west side of Holden Lake.

Roberts Memorial Park is a 14-hectare park located on Yellow Point Road. An atmosphere of transcendent serenity permeates the park. This peace is broken only by the barking of sea lions offshore and the mewling of sea gulls, great blue heron, and the occasional Pacific Loon. A peaceful walk through second-growth forest leads to a sandstone beach, a reward in itself. Picnicing, swimming and fishing are pastimes enjoyed in this serene little haven, which has good beach access.

Petroglyph Provincial Park, at the south end of Nanaimo, where the Nanaimo River empties into Northumberland Channel, presents a look back in time to a prehistoric period perhaps a millennium ago. Mythological creatures - sea wolves in particular - symbolic designs have  been skillfully outlined in the sandstone surface of the rock. Examples of this art form exist elsewhere in British Columbia, but rarely as accessible as in this serene little haven.

Other good Picnic spots include Yellow Point Park and Blue Heron Park, a beach park with picnic tables, good beach access and swimming.