The Vancouver Island Region is home to more than 150 provincial parks (including marine parks), two national parks, numerous national historic sites and dozens of regional parks. Here is just a sample of what you’ll find..
Cape Scott Provincial Park — A magnificent coastal park on the northern tip of Vancouver Island, featuring 115 kms of shoreline. Activities include hiking, canoeing, kayaking and wilderness camping. Accessible from Port Hardy and Port McNeill via Holberg. There are no roads within the park itself; parking lots are located at the Cape Scott and San Josef Bay trailheads.
Strathcona Provincial Park — British Columbia’s oldest park and one of its largest at 250,445 hectares. Activities include hiking, swimming, fishing, boating, canoeing, kayaking, mountain climbing, windsurfing and camping. Accessible from both the Comox Valley and Campbell River.
Pacific Rim National Park Reserve — Long Beach is the best known and most easily accessible segment of Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. Featuring more than 20 km of wave-thrashed beach and an interpretive centre that’s open in the summer. Activities include beachcombing, hiking the headland trails, surfing and camping.
Englishman River Falls Provincial Park — Located near Parksville in the Oceanside region. Features an excellent campground, short hiking trails, a swimming area and cycling paths.
Newcastle Island Provincial Marine Park — This historic Island park is one of Vancouver Island’s many marine parks, popular with families and accessible by passenger ferry from Nanaimo’s beautiful harbourfront. This 750-acre park includes camping, boating, swimming, hiking, canoeing, kayaking, cycling, fishing and an interpretive centre open in the summer.
Carmanah Walbran Provincial Park — Awe-inspiring 16,450-hectare park renowned for its massive trees and ancient forests, including the world’s largest spruce trees and cedars estimated to be 1,000 years old. Accessible by gravel road from the Cowichan lake area and from Port Alberni. Hiking trails are rugged and often muddy, and range from one km to seven km one way. Wilderness campsites.
Goldstream Provincial Park — Located near Victoria and renowned for its ancient forests, spectacular views and river that winds to the sea. Activities include salmon viewing, hiking, camping and park programs.
Juan de Fuca Provincial Park — Coastal park featuring dazzling beaches and stunning ocean views and includes the Juan de Fuca Marine Trail. Located in the Sooke region of South Vancouver Island. Day-use areas: China Beach, Sombrio Beach,
Parkinson Creek and Botanical Beach. Activities include hiking, wildlife viewing beachcombing and camping at China Beach.
Gulf Islands National Park Reserve — This newest national park consists of lands on 16 island5 numerous small islets and reef areas in Southern Gulf Islands. With a total of 33 square km, it is Canada’s 5th smallest park. Services facilities are very limited at this time.
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