Hello! I'm heading to Vancouver Island - Courtenay area this weekend and would love to head into the outdoors. Does anybody have any recommendations on best moderate-level hike in the area? We are considering doing an overnight hike, so can be 1 or 2 days. Thanks!!

drive up by mt washington to nordic ski centre...lots of options...sub-alpine, not difficult...lake helen mackenzie (~4 km), kwai lake (~8 km), circlet lake (~12 km)

might be a dusting of snow up there...kwai lake the prettiest setting...you can do loops for all of these and come back different ways...at kwai you can do a side trip to cruikshank canyon lookout

all sites have tent pads, outhouse, bear cahce

Yah, what knip said...

All of those suggestions are in Strathcona Provincial Park - Forbidden Plateau area.
Links here...
http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/exp...arkpgs/strath/
http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/exp...th/forbid.html
http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/exp...idden_area.pdf

I don't think there is any snow on the plateau; higher up yes. I looked during the daytime at the ski hill's webcams that are right next to the plateau last week and there was no snow showing... not to say that a few pockets from an earlier snowfall could not be there. It will be cool there though. You can find the webcams and temperatures at the ski hill here... http://www.mountwashington.ca/

Awesome, thank you for the suggestions! Forbidden Plateau looks like a great option for us!