Comox: Coastal Trails, Harbour and Culture

Comox can be discovered through different aspects of the community: trails wind through natural coastal scenery to the sea, the Filberg grounds are located by the harbour, and Marina Park brings park amenities together with recurring events. When choosing a place to stay, consider which of these experiences you’d like to shape your stay most—time in nature, a visit centred on Filberg or an event on the calendar.

Coastal Scenery and Trails in Mack Laing Nature Park

Mack Laing Nature Park encompasses 8.3 acres of natural coastal scenery. Trails run through the forest, alongside a stream and down to the sea. The park offers a variety of landscape experiences within one natural area: forest, waterway and coastline all help orient you on an outing.

The trail sections described lead through different environments; they do not promise a specific walking time or level of difficulty. So consider what kind of landscape you’d like to experience rather than treating the description as a set route. Its connection to the sea makes Mack Laing Nature Park a useful reference point for travellers who want to discover Comox through its coastal scenery as well.

Filberg Lodge and Park by the Harbour

Filberg Lodge and its nine acres of park-like grounds are located by the harbour near the end of Comox Avenue. The lodge and grounds give a stay a historic and scenic dimension; Filberg Heritage Lodge and Park later became a municipal heritage site. Visitors interested in history and landscaped grounds can make this a separate stop, without equating it with the nature trails of Mack Laing Nature Park.

Annual Events and Marina Park

The Filberg Festival takes place in Comox every year as a three-day event. Hundreds of artists and performers showcase their work and perform there. If the festival is part of your travel plans, its three-day format is a useful guide when choosing your travel dates. It offers a different way to experience Comox than an outing in the coastal landscape or a visit to Filberg Lodge and its grounds.

The annual Comox Nautical Days Festival is free and takes place over the BC Day long weekend at Comox Marina Park. If you’d like to include events in your travel plans, this recurring period can help guide your timing. The festival venue is specifically Marina Park; it should not be confused with the Filberg grounds.

Marina Park is in the heart of Comox. Its amenities include the seasonal Comox Rotary Splash Park, children’s play areas, a boat launch, washroom and change facilities, and a covered picnic area. These varied amenities can help families and groups travelling together plan their park visit around their interests. Since the splash park is seasonal, don’t plan on it being available year-round. The park thus combines a specific place for outdoor recreation with the venue for Nautical Days.

For an overview of the wider region: Comox-Strathcona.