When it comes to travelling in Canada, most people usually talk about the big cities, museums, art galleries, and vibrant markets. But, there is one such destination that will blow your mind with its natural beauty and many beautiful surroundings. I am talking about the famous Strathcona Park, which was named after Donald Alexander Smith, who was a Mount Royal and the 1st Baron Strathcona, a railway pioneer, and a wealthy philanthropist. This park was founded in the year 1911.
Strathcona Park is the largest park on Vancouver Island and the oldest provincial park of British Columbia, Canada. When explored, the park is divided into two parts. The first part is the Forbidden Plateau, which is located adjacent to the Mount Washington Alpine Resort. The other part is the Buttle Lake campground, which is reached via the Campbell River.
This park is known to have some of the highest mountain slopes on Vancouver Island. The beautiful mountains surrounding the park are a must-see. The location of the park is 9 km from the eastern side of the Gold River and 25 km from the western side of the Campbell River.
A Perfect Destination for Nature Lovers
There are some great places and activities that the Strathcona Provincial Park offers to its visitors.ย
1. Forbidden Plateau Area
You can reach the forbidden plateau area of Strathcona Park by the trailhead of the paradise meadows. This part of the area goes straight up to the Alpine resort. There is a well-developed parking area leading to the place and a wilderness centre that provides the facility for wheelchair visits. This centre provides a lot of information about Strathcona Park as well as other BC parks. This plateau area has a lot of hiking trails.
- Paradise Meadows trailhead: This loop trail is 2.2km and has a gravelled pathway and boardwalk as well. The whole trail has the accessibility of a wheelchair.
- Helen MacKenzie-Battleship Lake Trail: This loop trail is 8km and is almost 3 hours. This trail is an easy hiking place with quite a well-developed pathway. The area is surrounded by views of beautiful mountains. The loop trail is a mixture of forest areas and alpine meadows.
- Helen MacKenzie to Circlet Lake: This trail is 9.5 km long and will be covered in around 5 hours. Lake Helen MacKenzie is the start of the trail. The pathway is covered with forest slopes over rugged terrain. The trail then rises to an area of sub-alpines. There is a Circlet Lake campsites facility which has a camping fee.
- Helen MacKenzie-Kwai Lake-Croteau Lake Trail: This loop trail is around 14 km long. This hiking trail is covered with spectacular mountain peaks and alpine lakes. There are campsites available at Kwai Lake and camping fees are charged.
There are many backcountry camping sites which are located at different sites along these hike trails to be enjoyed by the people. Some of them are Kwai Lake, Helen Mackenzie Lake, Cream Lake trail/Bedwell Lake, Elk River Trail, etc.
2. Buttle Lake
Buttle Lake is the other part of the beautiful Strathcona Park. The major attraction of the lake is camping. You will also enjoy hiking and short walks in the park. It has two camping grounds easily accessible by vehicle namely, Buttle Lake Campground and the Ralph River Campground. Both these camping sites are remote and private as per the location.
- The Buttle Lake campground is closer to the Campbell River and occupies the larger part of the lake.
- The Ralph River campgrounds are located at the end of Buttle Lake on the southern side.
They have rugged wilderness areas and serene views to spend your day. The amenities offered at these campgrounds are water pumps and pit toilets.
The side of Buttle Lake at Strathcona Park is a great place to take some short walks and spend some quality time together.
- Shepard Creek: This is a 1.5 km stretch to be covered in around 45 minutes. This loop blends forest areas and swampy pathways to walk the trail.
- Wild Ginger: As the name suggests this trail walk is like visiting an old-growth forest with wild ginger patches all around. It takes around 15 minutes.
- Auger Point: This trail is a 5-minute short walk pathway that is also witnessed like old growth forest that was once destroyed by the forest fire.
- Elk River Viewpoint: This is a 10-minute walking trail with views of the Elk River valley all around and the habitat of Roosevelt elk habitat.
There are some great hiking areas for long walks at Strathcona Park.
- Flower Ridge is a 6 km hike with a steep and rugged pathway. The area is surrounded by beautiful alpine flowers that grow almost every season. The trail goes along the alpine ridge, and water can be scarce in this area.
- Crest Mountain: The Crest Mountain is a long uphill trek of 5 km. This trail has some amazing views of the beautiful birds of the region.
- Philips Ridge: It is a 6 km long hike leading to Arnica Lake. It has an elevation change of around 800 meters. A backcountry camping area is present at the northern end of Arnica Lake. From this camping site, one can head directly to Philips Mountain.
- Bedwell Lake: This trail is also a 6 km long hike with a very well-constructed pathway with bridges, creeks, and stairs. A backcountry camping site is available around this lake area. The trail of the Cream Lake and Bedwell Lake also goes from here.
3. Della Falls
I must tell you about one of the tallest falls in Canada, which is around 444 meters/1456 feet. The falls are located closer to Port Alberni. It takes around 15 km to reach the base area of the falls. And there is another 3 km further for some amazing views. The top of the falls can only be reached through transportation by water boating, canoeing, and kayaking). It is a 33 km long trek from one part of the Grand Central Lake to the other.
I would say you need a total of three days are needed to explore Della Falls. It almost takes around 7 hours each way for hikers to cover 15 km. There is also an Ark resort 20 minutes away from where you can rest and relax. A boat ride is available to reach the Della Falls trail. It takes 6 days if going by canoe and half the days if using a powerboat. It is counted among the top 10 highest falls in the world and it is 8 times higher than Niagara Falls. I am sure itโs going to be your most memorable experience.
4. Myra Falls Mine
Myra Falls is the only mine which is located in a provincial park in British Columbia. Let me tell you, this is an active mine that visitors can drive and see within the boundaries of the park. A person has to drive through the mine to reach the trail of Upper Myra Falls. All the mining activities carried out in the park fall under a permit because of being in the park. All the safety concerns for the public and environment are taken for carrying out the mining activities within the park.
5. Comox Valley
The trail of Comox Valley is a rough and steep slope. This valley follows the alpine route. This hiking trail is for well-trained mountaineers. It is a total of 3 days of a 9 km of hiking trail. A day is needed for a 1.5 km trail along the ridge to see the frog pond, which is a camping site. Another day is spent seeing the glacier and going back to the camp. The trail is quite rocking, and it needs essentials like maps, a compass, ropes, a backpack, and a stove. The area doesnโt have well-maintained roads and a four-wheeler vehicle is a must. The weather conditions should be checked before visiting the place.
6. Other Attraction at Strathcona Park
There are a few other areas of the park that you can explore.
Campbell River is a very well-known fishing spot in Canada. It is the first-ever saltwater fishing spot which is located on the waterfront of downtown near the government wharf. Campbell River is also named the Salmon capital of the world. It is a great place for people who love adventures and are up for some sport fishing.
The Elk Falls over the Campbell River is a great place to enjoy the scenic beauty of the waterfall. A suspension bridge was also formed over the Elk River built in 2015. This bridge when newly built had become a tourist attraction at this site. The distance of the elk falls is only 3 km from the main park. The place is considered the best camping accommodation on Vancouver Island.
Mount Alpine Resort is another great place on Vancouver Island for fun activities. The operation of this resort is dependent on the seasons. In the summer times, the Alpine Resort offers a lot of activities to do. You will enjoy hiking on the alpine, bike rides on the mountains, chair lifting zip lining, golf activities like disc golf and mini golf, and bungee jumping on the trampoline. The resort has some great options in food, like the Fresh Market cafe and Tedโs Bar and Grill, which are only open during the summer months. During the spring season in June or the fall months, the availability of the resort needs to be checked. Due to the season and the weather conditions the operational hours may differ.
The Strathcona Park Lodge is a part of the provincial park and was founded in 1959. The lodge has an outdoor education centre where various apprenticeship programs are carried out. There are two restaurants and an accommodation facility with plenty of activities to enjoy. Some regular activities are also offered at the lodge according to the days of the week. The other facilities that are available at the Strathcona Park Lodge are the Basketball courts, Volleyball courts, and foosball table. There is a swimming area, a floating pier, and a delightful waterfall.
The lodge also offers Sauna facilities to its guests. There is a wood-fired sauna scintillating with cedar wood giving an ultimate experience to its guests. There is also a water bath in the cold lake water between the sessions to feel the fresh water. The Sauna is a wonderful way to treat yourself and to have a great experience of the West Coast.
I must say that Strathcona Parkย is a great place to enjoy nature and beauty at the same time. The remote wilderness surroundings and adventures make a perfect combination for any visitor. The provincial park is a great place to have fun with activities like hiking or skiing, and glacier or mine visits. It is one of the great places to be explored and cherished on Vancouver Island in BC.
The park is a blend of many spectacular views, including snow-covered mountain ranges, river valleys, waterfalls, lakes, alpine tarns, streams, creeks, and a variety of hiking trails. So, if you are visiting British Columbia, Strathcona Park is a must-visit destination with family or friends. Spending time in the beauty of nature is an enjoyment of its own.
Last Updated on April 20, 2024 by Pragya Chakrapani
