Vancouver Island - Central

Operator:

R.L.C. Enterprize Ltd.

Operator website:

www.vislandcamping.com

BC Parks - Vancouver Island Camping

Central Vancouver Island is home to the world famous towering old growth giants of MacMillan Park's Cathedral Grove, the sandy ocean shores at Rathtrevor Beach, spectacular Englishman River and Little Qualicum River falls. Over to the west coast of Vancouver Island is Sproat Lake, home of the famous Martin Mars water bomber planes. On the Central Island, you will also find the gateway to Pacific Rim National Park, Barkley Sound and remote Hot Springs Cove.

Englishman River Falls

Size: 97 Ha
Facilities: 105 campsites and a day-use area on the Englishman River.
Location: 13 km southwest of Parksville. Take Errington Road off Highway 4A, toward Port Alberni. Directional signs are posted on main highways.
Englishman River Falls is encompassed by an old growth Douglas Fir forest, which surrounds captivating cascading falls. There are some pools at the bottom of the falls for wading or soaking. 3 km of trails cross the river twice with viewpoints overlooking the falls. Just minutes from Coombs with the Goats on the Roof.

Gabriola Island

Size: 38 Ha
Facilities: 3 day-use parks on the island; Gabriola Sands (6 ha.), Sandwell (12 ha.) and Drumbeg (20 ha.).
Location: Take the BC Ferry from Nanaimo. All day-use areas are accessible by road.
All 3 parks allow for spectacular vistas of the Strait of Georgia, making them a great day trip adventure from Rathtrevor Beach or Englishman River Falls.

Hemer

Size: 93 Ha
Facilities: Day-use area.
Location: On Holden Lake, 12 km south of Nanaimo. Take the Cedar Road turnoff from Highway 1 and follow directional signs to the park.
This day-use park has 11 km of hiking trails encompassing protected wetlands and a Douglas Fir forest around Holden Lake.

Horne Lake Caves

Size: 158 Ha
Facilities: Day-use park with caves open to the public. Park Visitor Centre (summer), 2 pit toilets, 2 km. of hiking trails, picnic tables and a suspension bridge.
Location: Central Vancouver Island Hwy. 19, take Horne Lake Exit #75 and follow gravel road along lake 12 km to parking lot.
In-cave temperatures around 8 degrees C (47 degrees F) year round; explorers should wear sturdy footwear and warm clothing; Helmets, lights and maps available for self-guided explorers. Guided tours run every hour during summer.

Jedediah Island Marine

Size: 243 Ha
Facilities: Random camping is allowed. There are no developed sites and no facilities other than pit toilets.
Location: Location: Situated between Lasqueti and Texada islands in the Sabine Channel of Georgia Strait. Access is by boat only from Lasqueti Island.
3.5 km of trails cross the island to connect the secluded bays. Hike to the homestead to view the remaining barn and other structures and the vast orchard. Please practice "Leave No Trace" camping ethics and bring your own water. *Park no longer managed by RLC Enterprize Ltd.

Little Qualicum Falls

Size: 440 Ha
Facilities: 94 campsites and a day-use area with 7 km of trails around the Qualicum River Falls. There are also 2 day-use areas on Cameron Lake (Cameron Lake and Beaufort picnic sites), which feeds the falls.
Location: On the Port Alberni Highway just minutes from MacMillan Park (Cathedral Grove). Cameron Lake and Beaufort are both accessed off Highway 4 en-route to MacMillan Park.
Little Qualicum Falls is the perfect base camp to explore the awe-inspiring Cathedral Grove of MacMillan Park. Afterwards, return to Little Qualicum Falls to camp, hike, and relax.

MacMillan (Cathedral Grove)

Size: 157 Ha
Facilities: Information building (summer season).
Location: West on Highway 4 just minutes from Little Qualicum Falls Provincial Park.
MacMillan Park contains the World Famous Cathedral Grove stand of old growth Douglas Fir, some of which are more than 800 years old.

Maquinna Marine (Hot Springs Cove)

Size: 2.667 Ha
Facilities: Composting toilets at entrance and change house near the Hot Springs.
Location: Accessible by boat or float plane from Tofino on the west coast of Vancouver Island.
There is an extensive boardwalk leading up to the Hot Springs. This Park boasts naturally occurring hot springs and pools that interface with the tidal flux. There is a strictly enforced "leave no trace" policy - pack out everything you pack in. The Hot Springs are a highly fragile ecosystem and detergents or soaps are prohibited.

Morden Colliery Historic

Size: 4 Ha
Facilities: Day-use area.
Location: 7 km south of Nanaimo. Access to the park is off Highway 1 on Morden Road.
This day-use park contains the only remaining coal tipple on Vancouver Island. The parking lot for Morden Colliery is also used as the trailhead for the regional district.

Newcastle Island Marine

Size: 336 Ha
Facilities: 18 walk-in campsites, 5 large group campsites, flush and pit toilets, hot showers, fresh water, food concession and food lockers. Large day-use area with playground, swimming beach, picnic tables, horseshoe pits and a large grassy area.
Location: Accessible by boat only. From Nanaimo, take foot passenger ferry from Maffeo-Sutton Park behind the Civic Arena, just north of downtown on Hwy 1.

Petroglyph

Size: 2 Ha
Facilities: Day-use area.
Location: 3 km south of Nanaimo. Access to the park is via a pull off from Highway 1. Watch for signs.
This park protects First Nations traditional rock carvings dating back over 1000 years.

Rathtrevor Beach

Size: 348 Ha
Facilities: 175 campsites, 6 group sites, 2 picnic shelters, tent only sites, 17 walk-in tent only sites, a Nature House, gift shop and concession. Other amenities include 4 shower buildings, 2 flush bathrooms in the day-use area and a sani-station.
Location: 3 km south of Parksville on Highway 19a. Take Exit 51 off Highway 19 and follow signs to the park.
Rathtrevor Beach is one of the most popular destinations on Vancouver Island, reservations are recommended. Rathtrevor has over 2 km of sandy beach and 5.5 km of hiking trails within the park. There are many day trips accessible from Rathtrevor, and it is only 30 minutes from the Nanaimo Ferry Terminal. Camping year round.

Roberts Memorial

Size: 14 Ha
Facilities: Day-use area.
Location: 15 km south of Nanaimo on central Vancouver Island. Take the Cedar Road Exit off Highway 1. Turn on Yellowpoint Road and follow signs to the park.
This day-use area protects sandstone ledges and a shell midden on the beach, an example of how First Nations people harvested inter-tidal food.

Rosewall Creek

Size: 54 Ha
Facilities: Day-use and picnic area on Rosewall Creek.
Location: 3 km south of Fanny Bay in the Comox Valley on central Vancouver Island. The park can be accessed by the Cook Creek Interchange off Highway 19 or 19A.
Serene picnic site that offers hiking trails along side and crossing the creek.

Spider Lake

Size: 65 Ha
Facilities: Day-use area.
Location: 60 km north of Nanaimo and 16 km west of Qualicum Beach on central Vancouver Island. The park can be accessed via the Horne Lake Exit off Highway 19 or 19A. Follow signs for 5 km to Spider Lake.
A very popular day-use destination; Spider Lake provides great swimming and fishing opportunities and is only 20 minutes from Rathtrevor Beach or Little Qualicum Falls Provincial Parks.

Sproat Lake

Size: 43 Ha
Facilities: 58 campsites and a group site (Taylor Arm). Other amenities include a boat launch, swimming floats and 3 picnic sites for day-use.
Location: 3 km northwest of Port Alberni. The park sits on the north shore of Sproat Lake, and can be reached via Highway 4.
Sproat Lake is a popular destination for swimming, fishing, waterskiing and, when the wind is up, windsurfing. During forest fire season visitors will see the gigantic Martin Mars water bombers. The largest water bombers in the world, these aircraft are capable of scooping up to 27 tons of water off the lake surface at one time. Short hiking trails lead visitors around the park, including a trail to the east end of Sproat Lake which leads to one of the finest panels of prehistoric petroglyphs in BC.

Squitty Bay

Size: 12 Ha
Facilities: Marine accessible day-use area.
Location: Squitty Bay is located on the east side of Lasqueti Island between the MainIsland and Jedediah Island in the Strait of Georgia.
This small park is a pleasant place to enjoy a picnic or spend a day exploring rocky headlands and arid terrain. *Park no longer managed by RLC Enterprize Ltd.

Stamp River

Size: 327 Ha
Facilities: 23 campsites and day-use picnic area.
Location: Stamp River is located off Beaver Creek road just north of Port Alberni.
Stamp River is well known for its great fishing. Stamp River is a year-round destination and well known for the annual run of Pacific salmon, which wait in the pool below Stamp Falls before moving up the fish ladders on their way to spawning beds. View points along the river offer excellent opportunities to observe the natural phenomenon of the salmon fighting their way up the falls to spawn. Spawning seasons begins in late August with sockeye and continues right through to December with Coho and Chinook.

Taylor Arm

Size: 71 Ha
Facilities: 3 group campsites, day-use area, pit toilets, water hand pump.
Location: 23 km northwest of Port Alberni on Hwy 4, approximately 20 km past Sproat Lake Provincial Park.
The park offers group camping, two day-use areas for picnicking and undeveloped beach areas for visitors to enjoy many water activities on Sproat Lake. A short trail from the campground area leads to the lake. For reservations at the group campsites, please call 250-474-1336.