Know before you go
Advisories
Special notes
- Please stay on designated trails to protect the petroglyphs and vegetation.
- Lock all vehicles and remove valuables.
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
Petroglyph Park is located just south of Nanaimo on southern Vancouver Island. Access to the park is via a pull-off from Hwy 1. Watch for signs.
Things to do
The high concentration of prehistoric rock carvings are the main attraction at Petroglyph Park. The sandstone gallery of petroglyphs, located on a hill overlooking Nanaimo Harbour, is just a short distance from the interpretive area along the walkway.
Bicycles must keep to roadways. Bicycle helmets are mandatory in British Columbia.
Please note that bicycles with electric assist motors (e-bikes) are not allowed on the trails within Petroglyph 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.
About this park
The high concentration of prehistoric rock carvings is the main attraction at Petroglyph Park, which was established in 1948 to protect the petroglyphs for future generations. Visitors can get a glimpse back to a time more than 1,000 years ago, when First Nations peoples created these traditional carvings.
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
This park proudly operated by:
R.L.C. Enterprize Ltd.
250 474-1336
office@rlcparks.ca
www.rlcparks.ca