By Lauren Semple (she/they), inclusive destination development consultant and avid adventure seeker.

If a zipline sounds better than a sun lounger, welcome to your next favourite destination. Nanaimo, BC, is more than beaches and brunch; it’s an eclectic coastal community where the outdoors calls loud and often, and diverse thrill-seekers answer. Climb, ride, swing, roll or paddle, Nanaimo offers endless ways to explore, all in a city that keeps adventure close and community closer.

From downtown to deep forest, this collection of adventures is perfect for folks who pack gear and glitter.

On the Land

Mountain Biking with Nanaimo Mountain Bike Club (NMBC)

It’s no secret that Nanaimo is home to some of the Island’s best mountain biking trails, from forest flow to gritty downhill runs and technical gnar. The Nanaimo Mountain Bike Club (NMBC) is not only your go-to for route tips, group rides and trail days, but they’re also committed to welcoming diverse riders. During Pride Month, NMBC has hosted Pride Rides: community cycling events where queer and allied riders take to the trails together.

Whether you’re grinding up Doumont or coasting through Westwood, you’ll find challenge, community, and some seriously good dirt.

Start with the multi-use loop around Westwood Lake, shaded, scenic, and ideal for waking up those legs. For added fun, venture onto singletrack like Legalize It, Brothers 5, or Basketcase nestled under the forest canopy behind the lake. 

Just north of town, the Doumont network offers everything from smooth, flowing lines to techier wooden structures that harken back to Nanaimo’s mountain bike roots. Must-ride trails: ASOP, Fine China + Finer China, and Hayden!

Climbing, Indoor and Out

If getting vertical is your vibe, you’ve got options.

Romper Room Climbing Centre tops my list with over 7,500 square feet of climbing. The gym is fully stocked with top ropes, lead climbing, bouldering & auto belays. If you’re looking for an all-bouldering gym, though, look no further than The Bloc Bouldering. This community-centric space features incredible climbing walls on rotation, a Kilter Board, and a small gym, but off the wall, you can enjoy their lounge space, games, coffee, and local art. Both locations offer gender-inclusive equipment and washrooms, and have supportive staff teams ready to work with climbers of all experience levels.

For outdoor spirits, the Nanaimo River climbing area is a local favourite, offering sport routes on sandstone and stunning views of the river below. The aptly named Sunny Side and Dark Side offer two distinct climbing experiences at one of Nanaimo’s oldest crags.

Bungy Jumping & Primal Swing at WildPlay

If you’re going to take a leap of faith, do it over a canyon with a giant Pride flag flying behind you! WildPlay Nanaimo is home to Canada’s first legal bungy bridge, where you can drop 45 metres toward the river below, or soar out over it on the Primal Swing, hitting speeds of up to 100 km/h! Looking for a slower adventure pace?  The canyon zipline or aerial obstacle course in the trees will give you a different view while still quickening your heart rate. 

But it’s not just adrenaline that makes WildPlay a standout. Their team has completed 2SLGBTQ+ inclusion training, and the site features year-round Pride signage, including massive rainbow flags on the jump bridge every June. They’ve hosted Pride events in the park, donated free experiences to queer youth, and remain an active, visible supporter of the local community.

From high-flying stunts to everyday visibility, they’ve created a space where queer adventure feels right at home.

In the City

Axe Throwing with Island Time

Pack your plaid! Just a few blocks from the downtown waterfront, Island Time Axe Throwing is more than just a place to chuck sharp objects and blow off steam. With a welcoming crew, ‘glow throw’ nights, knife and axe options, league play, and group bookings, it’s a go-to spot for locals and visitors who like their fun with a bit of edge.

While they don’t host official LGBTQ+ nights (yet), Island Time has become a trusted space for queer social groups, birthday bashes, and casual hangs. The staff are phenomenal, supportive, safety-minded, and happy to walk you through your first throws, hype you up when you stick that bullseye, or offer tips if they see you struggling.

Come for the chaos, stay for the lumberjack vibes. Whether you’re serious about the zombie apocalypse or just here for the group photo on the crazy wood throne, this is an easy-access urban adventure right in the heart of downtown.

Escape Rooms & Ghost Lantern Tours

Not every thrill needs a helmet. For those who love tension, teamwork, and a ticking clock, EXIT Nanaimo Escape Rooms delivers a different kind of chaos.

With rotating themed rooms like Ogre’s Swamp, Curse on Wizard Alley, and Mannequin, this highly interactive and inclusive space is all about solving puzzles under pressure. Bring your crew, crack the code, and try not to panic as the time counts down.

Prefer your thrills to be spooky, spine-chilling, and a bit out there? The Nanaimo Museum’s Ghost Lantern Tour is a seasonal standout. Offered only in October, this night-time walking tour explores eerie true tales from the city’s past: think unsolved crimes, haunted buildings, and ghost stories rooted in real history. Tickets sell out every year, so book early if you want in.

The museum itself is one of the city’s strongest 2SLGBTQ+ allies, with leadership, staff and volunteers trained in inclusive practices, pronouns on nametags, gender-inclusive washrooms, and affirming signage throughout. They show up visibly and consistently for the queer community, so you can count on the vibe being as welcoming as it is spine-tingling.

Whether you’re solving your way out of a locked room or following lantern light through Nanaimo’s darker corners, this is thrill-seeking at its most unexpected and unforgettable.

On the Water

Paddle with Pride: Nanaimo Canoe & Kayak Club

Nanaimo has no shortage of incredible waterways to canoe, kayak, or paddleboard on.

For a scenic adventure on the water, the Nanaimo Canoe & Kayak Club (NCKC) is a great option. Based at Loudon Park on Long Lake, the club offers recreational and competitive paddling programs, but what really makes them shine is their commitment to making safer spaces for 2SLGBTQ+ paddlers.

NCKC has hosted 2SLGBTQ+ inclusive water recreation training for their coaches and volunteers, and shows up visibly and vocally for Pride. At this year’s  Nanaimo Pride festival, they were on-site getting people paddling in Swy-a-lana Lagoon.

Their new annual Paddle with Pride event in June is a free, all-ages celebration of belonging, hope, and resilience. Open to everyone, with equipment and instruction provided, it’s the kind of low-barrier, high-joy experience that turns first-timers into lifers.

Whether you’re dipping a paddle for the first time or reconnecting with the rhythm, Long Lake is just one of the many paddling locations to explore in Nanaimo. Check out this blog about paddling through Nanaimo to discover more.

Queer Kayak Journeys with Wild Root

For a deeper, saltier dive into queer adventure, Wild Root Journeys offers multi-day 2SLGBTQ+ kayak expeditions in the Broken Group islands. These journeys go beyond outdoor recreation, with roots in connection, land-based learning, and community care.

Expect coastal paddling, camping, and meals with fellow queer adventurers, all led by guides trained to create safe, welcoming space. If your idea of a getaway involves breathtaking views, tidal rhythms, paddle strokes, and campfire conversations, this one’s for you. It’s been on my bucket list for a few years now!

Out Here, You Belong

In Nanaimo, adventure doesn’t ask you to shrink yourself. Whether you’re racing down a trail, swinging over a canyon, cracking codes in the dark, or paddling down Long Lake, you get to bring your full self to the experience.

Come for the ride, the jump, the climb, or the paddle, but stay for the community that knows how to show up, cheer loudly, and make space for everyone to play.