Vancouver Island seasonal calendar

Deciding when is the best time to visit a destination is always difficult.

When considering your Vancouver Island adventure, it’s best to think about what kind of activities you may enjoy doing first.

I created the below seasonal calendar to help you work out which month may be best to visit. The blue shaded months indicate that an activity is usually possible, while the yellow shaded months specify the best months (in my opinion!)

Some examples -

• Hiking is possible at sea level all year round (with basic safety precautions). The best time to hike, however, is from April to early October. The weather is warmer and drier, trails are less muddy and the surrounding foliage is blooming! Alpine hiking refers to high elevation trails, which are not usually snow free until the summer months

• Camping is also technically possible all year round (especially when RV camping) but I have included the months in which tent camping is most comfortable, with availability in mind since many campgrounds do not open in the winter months.

This calendar is provided for general information only.

Even with careful planning, so much still depends on the weather. Vancouver Island weather can be variable, with rain, hail, wind and sun possible all on the same day sometimes!

Conditions can also vary from year to year. Some winters are colder and snowier - in those years, there will likely be more snow in the alpine later in the summer.