Marble River Park

Highlights in this park

Marble River Park on northern Vancouver Island offers excellent opportunities for wilderness hiking, biking, wildlife viewing and fishing.

The Marble River Trail, a 4.2km hiking and biking trail, provides access to the river for visitors who come to watch the salmon spawning in the fall. Interpretive signs along this trail offer information about the forest environment. Salmon spawning viewing areas are located near the trailhead and at Bear Falls, approximately two thirds of the way down the trail. An interpretive sign and fish ladder are also located at Bear Falls.

Marble River Park is also a very popular destination for recreational angling, including fly fishing on the river and tidal water fishing in the marine portion of the park. The Marble River Trail contains a number of angler-access routes down to the river, which is considered to be one of the best steelhead fishing rivers on Vancouver Island.

Walk-in wilderness camping is allowed, and a Western Forest Products Recreation Site offers vehicle-accessible camping adjacent to the park.

Know before you go

Advisories

Safety information

Visitors should be aware that black bears frequent the park, especially during salmon spawning season. (See bear safety)

Review the detailed guides under visit responsibly for more information on staying safe and preserving our natural spaces.

Visit responsibly

Follow these guides to ensure your activities are safe, respectful, and ecologically friendly:

Maps and location

Getting there

Marble River Park is located on northern Vancouver Island, at the juncture of Rupert Inlet, Holberg Inlet, Quatsino Sound and Neroutsos Inlet. The park is located approximately 15km north of Port Alice and 35km southwest of Port Hardy. The park can also be accessed by boat from Coal Harbour. Boaters can reference marine chart #3679 (Quatsino Sound) and the more detailed chart for Quatsino Narrows, #3681 (Plans Quatsino Sound).

Camping

Wilderness camping

There are no designated campsites at this park, however random wilderness camping is allowed. No facilities are provided. Please practice “ Leave No Trace” camping ethics.

When visiting the backcountry, always follow Leave No Trace outdoor ethics. To learn more about staying safe in the backcountry, read our backcountry guide.

Things to do

Hiking

There is a hiking and biking trail that starts at the end of the upper loop of the Western Forest Products Recreation Site.

The trail is 4.2km with an average hiking time one way of one and a half hours. The trail is generally in good condition but windfall and other debris may be present, so please use extra caution. This trail has been designed to accommodate both mountain bikers and hikers. Please obey all signs related to mountain biking safety and ethics.

For your own safety and the preservation of the park, obey posted signs and keep to designated trails. Shortcutting trails destroys plant life and soil structure.

Swimming

Ocean swimming is available but there are no designated swimming area at this park.

There are no lifeguards on duty in BC Parks.

Canoeing

Opportunities for ocean kayaking and canoeing exist in the marine portion of the park, which includes Varney Bay and Quatsino Narrows.

Fishing

Marble River Park is a very popular destination for recreational angling, including fly fishing on the river and tidal water fishing in the marine portion of the park.

Chinook and Coho salmon, steelhead, cutthroat, rainbow and Dolly Varden trout can all be caught in this park. The Marble River Trail contains a number of angler-access routes down to the river. The most popular fly fishing location, known as the Emerald Pools, is located at the end of the trail. Please check the current regulations issued by Fisheries and Oceans Canada prior to fishing.

Caution: Anglers should be aware that black bears frequent the area along the river’s edge, especially during spawning season.

Anyone fishing in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence. To learn more, see the fishing and hunting guide.

Pets on leash

Pets and domestic animals must be on a leash at all times and are not allowed in beach areas or park buildings. You are responsible for their behaviour and must dispose of their excrement. Backcountry areas are not suitable for dogs or other pets due to wildlife issues and the potential for problems with bears.

Cycling

The 4.2km Marble River Trail has been designed to accommodate both mountain bikers and hikers. Please obey all signs related to mountain biking safety and ethics.

For details on e-biking within Marble River Park, see the e-biking section.

E-Biking

Please note that bicycles with electric assist motors (e-bikes) are permitted on signed or designated trails within Marble River Park, provided they meet the definitions and criteria for e-bike use as outlined in the BC Parks cycling guidelines.

Hunting

Portions of this park are open to hunting for specific species. Hunters must have valid licences and tags. Please refer to the current Hunting and Trapping Regulations and Synopsis publication for closures and regulation.

Anyone hunting in British Columbia must comply with BC hunting regulations. To learn more, see the fishing and hunting guide.

Facilities

Accessibility information

Accessibility information is available for this park.

Campfires

While fires are allowed, we encourage visitors to conserve the environment by minimizing the use of fire and using stoves instead. If you must use a campfire, please practice “ Leave No Trace” camping ethics.

Campfire bans may be in place. Before lighting a fire, check for bans or restrictions on BC Wildfire Service and on local or Indigenous government websites.

About this park

Cultural heritage

Marble River Park lies in the traditional territory of the Quatsino First Nations.

Conservation

The Marble River flows through a shallow canyon bordered by forest covered bench lands. The park helps preserve spawning and rearing habitat for a variety of fish species and contains portions of the most important Chinook salmon producing system on the west coast of Vancouver Island. The park also contains relatively rare and unique karst features and contributes 56% of the protected habitat within the under represented Coastal Western Hemlock very wet maritime biogeoclimatic variant in the Nahwitti lowlands ecosection.

Wildlife

The park protects fish and wildlife values associated with the river and estuary, including Bald eagle nesting habitat near Quatsino Narrows, steelhead fishery and salmon spawning and rearing habitat, as well as waterfowl habitat.

General Wildlife, Marine & Outdoor Ethics Information

Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples

BC Parks honours Indigenous Peoples’ connection to the land and respects the importance of their diverse teachings, traditions, and practices within these territories. This park webpage may not adequately represent the full history of this park and the connection of Indigenous Peoples to this land. We are working in partnership with Indigenous Peoples to update our websites so that they better reflect the history and cultures of these special places.

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