Located just outside of Nanaimo is a big old mysterious crack in the earth known to locals as The Abyss, though just like Nanaimo’s other hikes, it remains something of a hidden gem. I’d be lying if I said the walk to get there was anything very special, but the destination itself (perhaps a perfect picnic spot?) is worth the uninteresting walk. While there is lots of confident speculation on the internet as to the origins of The Abyss, it really sounds like the crack has been there a long time and no one really knows what caused it. The Abyss starts as a hairline fracture in the rock for several minutes in either direction, but its at this small scenic clearing that it’s at its widest. Yes, you could fall in if you’re not careful, and dogs have had to be rescued in the past, so watch your step while taking your Instagram photos.
Continue reading this blog post for everything you need to know to experience The Abyss hike near Nanaimo on Vancouver Island for yourself, including distance, elevation gain, how to get there, the best time to visit, and lots of photos of my experience.
When hiking it’s important to avoid harmful practices such as disturbing plants or rock-stacking, or removing any natural object from flowers to rocks, as it’s important to leave the environment as natural as possible for the animals and for fellow hikers to enjoy in perpetuity. As many flowers as there are, there are few enough that if we all took one, then there wouldn’t be any left. Take only photos, leave only footprints.
If you haven’t heard of Leave No Trace principles, they’re also really essential to read up on before heading anywhere into the outdoors in general. Following these important principles basically means doing your best to leave beautiful places like The Abyss as good (if not better) than you found them, both for their preservation and for the enjoyment of other visitors.
The Abyss Round Trip Details
Distance: 3 KM / 1.9 MI
Elevation Gain: 80 M / 262 FT
Hiking Time: 45 Mins
Hiking & Safety Tips
- Prepare for the possibility of wildlife encounters. There are almost no grizzly bears on Vancouver Island, but black bears are still common. Bear bells are proven to be an ineffective bear deterrent, and are even actively discouraged by Parks Canada. The best way to let bears know you’re around is simply to use your voice. Make sure to keep a respectful distance from wildlife and never feed the animals. It may seem kind but it doesn’t just kill wildlife and put people in danger, it’s also in many cases illegal.
- Research current trail conditions and make sure you are well-informed about the route before you leave, and assess if it is within your capability. Be aware of what time it gets dark and check the weather forecast. Make sure to tell someone where you’re going and when you expect to return. Every year as more and more people try hiking for the first time, the number of rescues goes up. Being prepared is the best defense.
- Pack everything you need for a successful hike, including enough water and energy-rich snacks. Remember to pack out everything you pack in though – don’t expect to find a convenient garbage can halfway up the trail. Bring appropriate layers (remember you’ll warm up once you start hiking) and sun protection. Hiking poles may be helpful but are not required. In addition to not leaving any garbage on the trail yourself, I highly recommend bringing a garbage bag and collecting any trash that you do see on the trail. You’re guaranteed to make the hike to The Abyss a more enjoyable experience for the next person.
How to Get to the Abyss Trailhead
The Abyss trailhead is about ten minutes from downtown Nanaimo, so if you live in Nanaimo and are capable, there’s no excuse not to do this short and easy hike. From downtown Nanaimo, head west on Fitzwilliam Street through the Old City Quarter, turning left onto Howard Ave after a couple minutes. Follow Howard for another couple minutes before turning right onto Seventh Street. As you head out of town you’ll pass by the Colliery Dam Park, home to Granny Falls and Harewood Creek Falls. Seventh Street becomes Harewood Mines Road, and after another couple minutes you’ll reach the power lines where the trail starts.
Click here to open the exact trailhead location in Google Maps.
My Hike to the Abyss
The start of the short hike to The Abyss. The trail actually does a big U shape. At first it goes straight, passing underneath these power lines, but then eventually swoops up to the right and circles back, passing prettymuch just behind these trees visible on the right. You can see the shape of the trail in the next photo I took of the map.
This photo shows the amount of grass and moss that was growing in the clearing previously. Since then, careless footsteps have eroded away most of the loose soil and stomped out the moss, and as you can see in my pictures there’s way less growing today. At the end of the day some erosion is pretty unavoidable, but when I was at the abyss I tried to watch my step and avoid stepping on the moss that still survives, if for no other reason than that The Abyss clearly looked so much cooler when it was covered in moss. Ok, I’ll get off my soap box.
After following the trail straight under the power lines, there’s finally a sign indicating I can turn off and head back up towards The Abyss.
After you pass underneath more power lines of course.
There are a couple of intersections and they’re a little confusing, but as long as you stay on the widest most obvious trail, signed Extension Ridge Trail, you should be good.
The trail does a V shape here. I came from the path on the left, then it turns back and you continue on the path on the right.
More power lines.
This is about 1 km along the hike. The trees on the right were the trees visible at the start of the trail, and in this picture I’ve travelled about 150m from the start of the hike. Finally at this point as the trail curves slightly to the left it starts to get ore interesting than the classic combo of cutblock and power lines.
Views through the trees towards Mt Benson, probably the best Nanaimo hike, though its definitely more challenging than this one.
Strolling past some lovely arbutus trees as the path gently rolls up and down. this part of the trail is genuinely enjoyable.
Forking left off the trail. You can see the small crack here that widens and widens just above this bend, turning into The Abyss.
The Abyss. The Extension ridge trail continues past this point if you’re looking to make a longer hike, but I’m not sure there are any other points of interest.
Recommended Hiking Gear
Water is a must whenever I’m hiking, especially if the sun is going to be out. My favourite water filter I’ve used is the Katadyn BeFree 0.6L, which unlike other water filters I’ve used packs up really small and lightweight. For hikes where I know there won’t be any readily available water sources along the way, I make sure to bring my own. The Hydrapak Stow 1L bottle is my go-to, for the same reason that it’s made of a soft plastic that folds up and doesn’t take up any more extra space than necessary in my pack. Finally, Aquatabs are another great option for purifying water, with one tablet being suitable for one litre of water. I previously used the Grayl water filter while travelling internationally, and though I found its hard body more convenient for day to day use and easier to drink from, it has a little too much bulk for my fast-and-light style of hiking.
The secret to all my photos of gorgeous sunset and sunrise mountaintop views? A lot of hiking in the dark. And let me speak from personal experience when I say that the last thing that you want to happen when hiking is to be caught in the dark without a headlamp. I used the Black Diamond Spot 400 for years and it worked great – until I lost it on top of a mountain somewhere. The only downside to it was having to worry about the batteries dying, though there’s also a slightly more expensive version that has a rechargeable battery. Nowadays I’m using the Petzl Actik Core, which is a bit pricier than the more budget-friendly Black Diamond, but is also brighter, more comfortable (in my opinion), and has a hybrid power system that is rechargeable but can also take AAA batteries if needed.
You won’t see me using trekking poles on shorter hikes often – but on long hikes and backpacking trips, as well as certain scrambles, they are an absolute lifesaver. I’ve invested in a high quality ultra-lightweight pair of MSR DynaLock Ascent carbon poles which, while pricey, I don’t regret one bit. If you’re not entirely sure how much use you’re going to get out of a pair of trekking poles, the best budget-friendly option would be the Trekology Trek Z 2.0. Amazon does sell a lot of cheaper Made in China-style trekking poles for cheaper, but these usually are much much heavier and not worth buying.
All the best and most long-lasting cables and power banks I’ve ever owned have been Anker. I once had a phone cable from them that lasted me over three years of daily use! That’s why I keep an Anker PowerCore Essential 20K power bank on me. Like many people I use my phone for a lot of stuff when hiking (checking in with family, using online maps, taking photos, flying my drone) so I like to be prepared for that low battery warning by having a backup power source on me just in case.
The only socks I ever buy for myself are from Darn Tough, and I almost always make sure to wear them when hiking. After years of having no problems only wearing these comfortable and rugged socks for hikes, I accidentally wore a pair of no-name socks on a hike last year and ended up with blisters on both feet. Safe to say I’m back to sticking with the Darn Tough. And the best part? They have a lifetime guarantee, meaning that if they ever wear out you can send them back for a brand new pair. For hiking footwear I go between a pair of lightweight approach shoes for quick and dirty mountain ascents or anything involving scrambling and more heavy-duty boots for longer treks. I’ve worn a couple different versions of the lightweight but super durable Arc’teryx Konseal FL 2 approach shoes for a few years now and am very impressed with the durability. I also really like the thick toecap that keeps me protected every time I stumble into a root or large rock. For longer, tougher, or muddier treks I rely on my LOWA Camino EVO GTX, which I find insanely comfortable and made of very high quality.
I wear my Ar’teryx Gamma Lightweight Pants on every single hike I go on, and on many days when I’m not hiking. After several years of abuse they are still holding together extraordinarily well, with only a few small holes from where I’ve fallen down and some slight stains from being repeatedly coated with mud. They’re lightweight, breathable, and super comfortable. For lightweight and breathable hiking tops I’m a big fan of both the Patagonia Capilene Shirt and the MEC Core Shirt. My Arc’teryx Squamish Hoody shows up in a lot of my photos. It’s super lightweight and packable, and does a great job of cutting the wind while also being pretty breathable. I also have an Arc’teryx Atom Hoody and Arc’teryx Beta LT that I pull out for cooler or wetter conditions.
I hope you enjoyed this guide to hiking to The Abyss near Nanaimo! Feel free to leave any questions in the comment section below or to contact me directly via social media.