Not every worthwhile walk in Nanaimo requires a car and a trailhead parking lot. Bowen Park sits within the city proper, accessible from Bowen Road on foot or by a short drive from downtown, and it packs several distinct environments into a surprisingly compact area: formal garden, riverside forest, open lawn, children's facilities, and wildlife habitat, connected by a trail system that can be walked in full in under two hours or explored in sections over multiple visits.
Step 1 — Enter from Bowen Road and Start at the Rose Garden
The main entry point from Bowen Road drops you near the formal rose garden, which is Bowen Park's most immediately distinctive feature. Planted in geometric beds behind low decorative fencing, the rose collection blooms from June through to September. Dozens of named varieties are represented, labelled with small metal signs at the base of each plant. In peak summer, the garden is a popular spot for photographs and quiet sitting. A small bandshell nearby hosts free outdoor concerts during the summer months — check the City of Nanaimo's events calendar for the schedule, which typically runs from late June through August.
Step 2 — Follow the Millstone River Trail
From the rose garden, the main trail descends toward Millstone River and follows the waterway through a corridor of second-growth Douglas fir, western red cedar, and big-leaf maple. The path is unpaved but well-maintained, wide enough for two people walking abreast, and relatively level. The river runs to your left as you head upstream, audible before it becomes visible through the trees. In late October and November, salmon return to spawn in the Millstone, and the pool sections below small rapids attract congregations of chum and pink salmon that are visible from the bank. Great blue herons stand motionless in the shallows at dawn and dusk throughout the year.
Step 3 — Explore the Side Trails
Several branching paths leave the main riverside route and climb into the forested slopes on either side of the valley. These rougher tracks give access to quieter sections of the park where the tree canopy closes overhead and the city noise drops away. The trails are not formally numbered or signed beyond the main route, but the park is compact enough that disorientation is unlikely; the river serves as a reliable reference point for navigation. Dogs on leash are welcome throughout the park and the trails see steady use from Nanaimo residents on morning and evening walks.
Step 4 — The Children's Playground and Open Lawn Area
Returning toward the main park area from the river trail, a large open lawn provides space for informal recreation, frisbee, and picnicking. The children's playground is adjacent to the lawn and is well-equipped. The Nanaimo Aquatic Centre — the city's main public swimming facility — is nearby, and an outdoor pool area operates seasonally during the summer months. The combination of playground, pool, green space, and picnic facilities makes Bowen Park a reliable choice for families with younger children who need variety within a single outing.
Step 5 — Connect to the Millstone River Estuary Trail
For those who want to extend the walk beyond Bowen Park itself, the Millstone River trail system connects loosely downstream toward the Millstone River Estuary, where the river meets Nanaimo Harbour. This lower section passes through a different character of landscape — more urban in parts, more marshy near the estuary — but offers birding opportunities, particularly for shorebirds and waterfowl at low tide. The estuary section is not as well-developed as the park trail but is accessible on foot.
The Colliery Dam Parks Nearby
A short drive south from Bowen Park, the Colliery Dam Parks are a related chain of green spaces that follow the same Millstone River valley. Three small lakes formed behind old coal-mine dams provide calm, reasonably warm swimming in summer, with grassed banks and a relaxed park setting. First Lake and Second Lake are the most used for swimming. The dams themselves are part of Nanaimo's industrial history — they were built in the late nineteenth century to supply water to the coal mines — and the interpretive signs at the site give context to the landscape you are walking through. The Colliery Dam Parks are a natural pairing with a Bowen Park morning if you want a full afternoon outdoors without leaving the city.