North Island. 
Know before you go
Advisories
Special notes
- In your exploration, please remember to carefully place overturned rocks in their original position. Look but do not touch or remove any shells or marine organisms from the park.
- During the winter, horses are only allowed on the road between the gatehouse and group site. Horses are not permitted on any other trails within the park. Commercial trail riding operations are located in the vicinity of the park.
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
- Campground map [PDF] (May 21, 2020)
- Trail map [PDF] (May 21, 2020)
Getting there
Miracle Beach Park is located 22km north of Courtenay and 22km south of Campbell River off Hwy 19a. From Hwy 19 take exit #144 (Hamm Road) to Hwy 19a (the Oceanside Route). Head north a short distance to Miracle Beach Drive, then drive 2km straight into the park. Nearby communities include Campbell River, Comox Valley, and Merville.
Camping
Frontcountry camping
This park offers vehicle-accessible campsites, set in a second-growth forest of Douglas fir, alder, hemlock and maple. Campsite reservations are accepted and first come, first served sites may also be available.
Frontcountry campgrounds
Group camping
There is one group site located in an open grassy field. Facilities include pit toilets, fire rings, fresh water and picnic tables.
Youth group camping charges per night are $1 per person (6+), with a $50 minimum and $150 maximum. Read the youth group policy about criteria for youth groups.
Regular group camping charges per night are the base rate for the site, which is $120.00 per group site per night, plus $5 per adult (16+, minimum charge for 15 adults), plus $1 per child (6 to 15). Children under 6 are free.
Groupsites
Walk-in camping
There are three walk-in or cycle-in campsites at this park.
Winter camping
Winter camping is offered at this park during a portion of the winter. Check the campground dates of operation for the dates available. The nearest campground that has campsites available year-round is Quinsam campground in Elk Falls Park, located 5km west of Campbell River on Gold River Hwy 28.
Campers must be self-sufficient.
Things to do
There are about 2km of walking trails in the park. Trails lead from the campground and day-use parking lots through second-growth and some old-growth forest. The majority of the trails start at the north beach parking lot. Some follow the Black Creek and the Estuary at the northwest end of the park. A dog-walking trail is designated and accessible from the north beach parking lot.
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.
Wide sandy beaches make for good ocean swimming. The beach has rocky areas with barnacles and shells therefore footwear is recommended. The most popular swimming area is located at the south beach day-use area.
There are no lifeguards on duty in BC Parks.
Canoeing is welcome at this park. Please familiarize yourself with ocean currents prior to paddling in this area.
Kayaking is welcome at this park. Please familiarize yourself with ocean currents prior to paddling in this area.
There are opportunities for saltwater and freshwater fishing at this park. All anglers should check the current regulations issued by Fisheries and Oceans Canada prior to fishing.
Anyone fishing in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence. To learn more, see the fishing and hunting guide.
Beginning on the May Long Weekend, the Nature House will be open every weekend until Labour Day. The Nature House is open daily from late June through Labour Day. Interpretive Programs are regularly available during the summer months at the Nature House or amphitheatre.
A viewing platform and fish weir located near the BC Parks office at the entrance to the park provides an interesting opportunity to view the Black Creek, particularly in the spring and fall when salmon are spawning. Interpretive signage at this location offers information about the fish weir. Miracle Beach is also a good place for bird watching, and from the beach visitors have excellent views out over the Strait of Georgia.
Please refer to our trail map [PDF] for appropriate dog on leash areas. You are responsible for their behavior and must dispose of their excrement. To help protect conservation values, dogs are prohibited from the estuary and north beach areas.
Backcountry areas are not suitable for dogs or other pets due to wildlife issues and the potential for problems with bears.
Bicycles must keep to roadways and are not permitted on park trails. A bike rack is located next to the change house at the south beach day-use area and at the shower building in the campground. Bicycle helmets are mandatory in British Columbia.
Please note that bicycles with electric assist motors (e-bikes) are not allowed on the trails within Miracle Beach Park. E-bikes are restricted to park roads and areas where motorized use is permitted. The only exception to this policy will be for authorized and identified trail maintenance bikes conducting work on behalf of BC Parks.
Facilities
Accessibility information is available for this park.
A children’s bike park is available for the use and enjoyment of visitors staying in the campground.
While fires are allowed, we encourage visitors to conserve the environment by minimizing the use of fire and using stoves instead. Campfire rings are provided at each campsite, as well as communal ring for the group campsite. Be prepared to bring a portable stove for cooking.
Firewood can be purchased from the park operator. Fees for firewood are set locally and may vary.
Gathering firewood from the area around your campsite or elsewhere in the park damages vegetation and ground cover and is a ticketable offence under the Park Act. Dead wood is an important habitat element for many plants and animals and it adds organic matter to the soil. You can conserve firewood and air quality by keeping your campfire small.
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.
Miracle Beach day-use area
This park has two day-use and picnic areas. The south parking lot leads to a day-use area on the beach. This offers a covered, semi-enclosed picnic shelter, picnic tables, changing facilities, flush toilets, an information shelter, and a parking area. The north parking lot leads to nature trails, the Black Creek estuary, and beach. Pit toilets and an information shelter are available at this parking lot.
The Miracle Beach trail map [PDF] shows areas you can go with your on-leash dog. To help protect conservation values, dogs are prohibited from the estuary and north beach areas.
Miracle Beach group picnic shelter
The south parking lot leads to a day-use area on the beach. This area offers a picnic shelter that is covered, semi-enclosed, and has picnic tables, changing facilities, flush toilets, an information shelter, and a parking area.
You can make a reservation online at camping.bcparks.ca or by calling 1-800-689-9025 (1-519-858-6161 internationally). For detailed information, see the picnic shelters page.
Pit toilets are located throughout the park. A flush toilet and change house is located at the south beach day-use area. Flush toilets are also located in five areas of the campground.
A sani-station is available during the collecting season.
About this park
Miracle Beach Park was previously privately owned by Mr. Frank Pottage. In 1950, the BC government purchased 57 hectares of land from Mr. Pottage, and Miracle Beach Class “A” Park was established. In 1952, a game reserve was created over the foreshore area of the park, and in 1956 this was added to the park. Additional lands were purchased and donated over the years until 1972, when the park reached its present size of 135 hectares.
A viewing platform and fish weir located near the BC Parks office at the entrance to the park provides an interesting opportunity to view the Black Creek, particularly in the spring and fall when salmon are spawning. Interpretive signage at this location offers information about the fish weir. Miracle Beach is also a good place for bird watching, and from the beach visitors have excellent views out over the Strait of Georgia.
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.
Contact
| Reservations, changes, and cancellations | Our call centre is open from 7 am to 7 pm Pacific Time. There is a $5 fee for reservations, changes, or cancellations made by phone.
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| Park operator | This park is operated by Quality Recreation Ltd. |
| General questions and feedback for BC Parks | We answer emails weekdays from 9 am to 5 pm Pacific Time. |
