This is one of the longest established trails in the country where, thanks to a temperate climate shared by nowhere else in Canada, many of its 11 member courses remain open year-round. Stretching for 250 km along the island’s eastern perimeter, it is bookended by British Columbia’s capital Victoria in the south, and the town of Campbell River in the north. With courses designed by some of the top names in the business, tracks such as Bear Mountain, Olympic View, Crown Isle and Arbutus Ridge have high-profile reputations, yet the trail overall is well rounded in terms of diversity, challenge and quality. The island’s dramatic natural landscape of magnificent mountain settings, old-growth forest, fertile valleys and stunning ocean vistas is the wonderful palette from which the courses emerged. Like all of Canada’s trails, the Vancouver Island Golf Trail is enriched with valueadded regional attractions and amenities. “I think the fact that we have a large variety of courses in four distinctly different regions of the island sets us apart,” said a spokesperson for the Arbutus Ridge course. A thriving culinary scene has produced oodles of excellent restaurants in Victoria and beyond, together with a host of winery and brewery tours and gourmet dinner cruises. The island’s ocean waters are renowned for salmon and halibut fishing, while freshwater streams offer excellent fly-fishing. One not-to-be-missed attraction is the “City of Totems” 60 km north of Victoria. Here, the town of Duncan has at least 80 totem poles masterfully carved by the island’s First Nations Cowichan tribe. www.golfvancouverisland.ca COLUMBIA VALLEY GOLF TRAIL Lying in the southeast corner of British Columbia, this trail has eight courses within a convenient 35-minute drive from end to end. Framed by the Rocky Mountains and anchored by the Radium Hot Springs in the north and Fairmont Hot Springs in the south, the scenic Columbia Valley provides the varied terrain from which the trail’s diverse designs were crafted. The courses range from rugged mountain tracks that put a golfer’s skills to the test, to parkland-type designs on the valley floor where layouts offer different levels of difficulty. Two of its courses – Eagle Ranch and The Springs – have been ranked among the top 59 courses in the country. The area has been a golfer’s playground for 40 years, with its endurance significantly affected by a laid-back atmosphere and the region’s overall appeal. While golf is a big area attraction, many complementary activities enhance the destination. Among them are whitewater rafting, canoeing, fishing, kayaking, ATV tours and hot springs baths. It’s a rare golf destination where visitors can both hit the links and ski in the same day. www.columbiavalleygolftrail.com VANCOUVER ISLAND GOLF TRAIL CSANews | SPRING 2026 | 23 Travel
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