Strathcona Provincial Park

Strathcona Provincial Park, a vast wilderness in Vancouver Island’s Central Island, spans 250,000 hectares of rugged mountains and pristine lakes. As the island’s oldest provincial park, it features dramatic peaks like Golden Hinde, the highest at 2,197 meters, and serene waters like Buttle Lake, ideal for a scenic escape. The park’s old-growth forests, alpine meadows, and cascading waterfalls, such as Della Falls—Canada’s highest at 440 meters—offer breathtaking views. A haven for adventurers, Strathcona provides a true backcountry experience with its untouched landscapes. Whether you’re gazing at starry skies or exploring the park’s remote trails, Strathcona Provincial Park promises an unforgettable journey into the heart of Vancouver Island’s wild interior, perfect for those seeking nature’s grandeur.

Strathcona Provincial Park, established in 1911, is British Columbia’s first provincial park, created to protect the island’s central wilderness in the traditional territories of the Mowachaht/Muchalaht, K’ómoks, and Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations, who have lived here for millennia. The park is a biodiversity hotspot, home to rare Roosevelt elk, Vancouver Island marmots, and black bears. The Forbidden Plateau, a subalpine area, offers day hikes with views of Comox Glacier, while the Elk River Trail leads to Landslide Lake, a challenging 12-km trek. Buttle Lake, a 35-km-long fjord-like lake, is a hub for kayaking, fishing for trout, and camping at its 85 reservable sites. The park’s backcountry, including the Bedwell Lake Trail, provides wilderness camping and mountaineering opportunities, with no facilities in remote areas, requiring visitors to be self-sufficient and practice Leave No Trace principles.

Strathcona Provincial Park

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Nearby Locations

Clayoquot Plateau Provincial Park

Comox

Campbell River

Tofino

Port Alberni