North Island. 
Know before you go
Advisories
Safety information
Camping
Camping is not permitted in day-use areas
Please be advised that there is no camping permitted in any day-use area within Strathcona Park, including the Crest Creek Crags and Crest Lake day-use areas. Anyone contravening this regulation is committing an offence and is subject to eviction and charges under the park, conservancy, and recreation area regulation.
Vehicle break-ins
Due to an increase in vehicle break-ins at trailhead locations, visitors are reminded to not leave any valuables in their vehicles.
Current trail conditions
Please be advised that most trails are snow covered from late October or November until at least June, and for higher elevation trails, often until mid July. For those exploring the park during the snow cover season, you should be well equipped for changing conditions and check avalanche reports prior to heading out.
- Trail report [PDF] (available seasonally from May through October)
- Paradise Meadows parking restrictions for the winter season [PDF]
The rugged wilderness areas, glaciers, snowfields, and mountains of Strathcona Park require that visitors who wish to venture off maintained trails and away from developed areas be entirely self-sufficient, properly equipped, and experienced. Anyone contemplating an extended or overnight hike should inform a responsible person or agency of their intention. This information should include estimated departure and return times and precise location of intended hike.
Campfire regulations
Visitors are reminded that fires are not permitted anywhere or at anytime within Strathcona Park except in an authorized BC Parks steel fire ring. This regulation is in effect at all times of the year. No open fires are allowed in any backcountry areas.
Snowmobiles and internal combustion engines
The use of snowmobiles in all of Strathcona Park is prohibited. For detailed information please read the snowmobile information guide. Internal combustion engines are prohibited in the backcountry areas of Strathcona Park.
Special notes
Strathcona Park Public Advisory Committee (SPPAC)
This committee was established in 1993 to ensure public participation in the ongoing operation and management of Strathcona Park and Strathcona-Westmin 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:
Reservation policies
Get information on:
Maps and location
- Paradise Meadows centennial trail [PDF]
- Park map [PDF] (Updated March 2019)
- Strathcona Park brochure [PDF]
- Croteau Lake backcountry group campsite brochure [PDF]
- Snowmobile information guide [PDF]
- Buttle Lake and Ralph River campground brochure [PDF]
- Buttle Lake and Ralph River campground map [PDF]
- Clayoquot Sound brochure and map (showing Megin-Talbot addition) [PDF]
- Backcountry fee collecting area maps (shows areas where fees will be collected):
- National topographic series maps (Scale 1:50,000), sheets 92F/5, F/6, F/11, F/12, F/13 and K/4 cover the park area. These maps should be available at most map retailers in B.C.
Getting there
Strathcona Park is located on central Vancouver Island near the communities of Campbell River and the Comox Valley, which are the primary access points to the park. Day users of Strathcona will be interested in two areas: Buttle Lake, and the hiking opportunities afforded by Forbidden Plateau.
Buttle Lake: The main access to Strathcona Park is via Highway 28, which connects with Gold River on the west coast of Vancouver Island. Follow Hwy 19 north past Courtenay to Campbell River, then follow Hwy 28 west for 48km. Hwy 28 passes through the northern section of the park and provides access to Buttle Lake. Gas and services are not available between Campbell River and Gold River.
Paradise Meadows (Forbidden Plateau): The main access route to Forbidden Plateau from Courtenay and Campbell River is via the Paradise Meadows trailhead at Mount Washington. From Highway 19 follow signs to Mount Washington ski resort via exit #130 (the Strathcona Parkway) for 20km. Turn left onto the Nordic Lodge road for 1.5km to the Paradise Meadows parking lot.
Camping
Backcountry camping
There is no camping permitted in any day-use area within Strathcona Park, including the Crest Creek Crags and Crest Lake day-use areas. Camping is not permitted at trailheads or on Buttle Lake outside of designated marine sites. Anyone camping in these areas is subject to eviction and/or charges under the Park, Conservancy, and Recreation Area Regulation.
There are designated backcountry sites along the Bedwell Lake trail (Bedwell and Baby Bedwell Lakes), Elk River trail, Della Falls trail, and the Paradise Meadows (Forbidden Plateau) core area trails. Lake Helen Mackenzie, Kwai Lake, and Circlet Lake campgrounds are accessed from the Paradise Meadows trailhead. Most sites offer pit toilets and food caches.
For campground maps, see maps and location.
Fees
You must register for a backcountry camping permit to camp along the Bedwell Lakes/Cream Lake trail, Elk River trail, and in the Paradise Meadows (Forbidden Plateau) core area. There are no fees for these areas in the winter season.
There are no fees for backcountry camping on the Della Falls trail, at Douglas or McKenzie Lakes, Margaret Creek, Sawblade Camp, or Falls Camp.
For fee collection area maps, see maps and location.
Register for your backcountry permit online before you arrive at camping.bcparks.ca.
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Backcountry camping rules
- Fires are not permitted in the backcountry
- Campers must use designated camping sites in these areas
- Free-standing tents are recommended as many locations have tent pads and pegging your tent may not be an option
- If all designated campsites full and you are unable to hike to the next campground, check with the park operator. If no operator is available, you are allowed to camp in a non-designated site for one night only while practicing Leave No Trace ethics.
Wilderness camping and marine-accessible camping are available in other areas of the park.
Backcountry areas
Cabins and huts
Strathcona Park lodge and outdoor education centre, located 5km east of the park entrance at Buttle Lake, offers outdoor education and wilderness skills training and accommodation.
Croteau Lake backcountry group site includes a yurt facility for day-use. It is available only to camping groups with a reservation for use of the group site. See group camping for details.
Frontcountry camping
Please be advised that there is no camping permitted in any day-use area within Strathcona Park, including the Crest Creek Crags and Crest Lake day-use areas. Anyone contravening this regulation is committing an offence and is subject to eviction and charges under the park, conservancy, and recreation area regulation.
Buttle Lake campground offers 85 vehicle accessible campsites set in a second-growth Douglas fir forest. Buttle Lake has a developed sandy beach. Some sites are located right on the lakeshore. Campsite reservations are accepted. The campsites at Buttle Lake are by reservation only. If campsites are not reserved they may be used as first come, first served on a nightly basis. There is no overflow camping available.
Ralph River campground, located 35km south of Buttle Lake along the Buttle Lake (Western Mines road) offers 75 vehicle accessible campsites set amongst towering old-growth Douglas fir. The campsites at Ralph River are by reservation only. If campsites are not reserved they may be used as first come, first served on a nightly basis. There is no overflow camping available.
Frontcountry campgrounds
Group camping
There are three group campsites in the park:
- Driftwood Bay group site, located on Buttle Lake, offers exclusive group camping with wheelchair-accessible pit toilets and a covered picnic shelter with wood stove. This site is available by reservation only.
- Croteau Lake backcountry group site (hike in only, no vehicle access) offers 12 tent pads and a day-use yurt facility. This site is available by reservation only.
- Karst Creek group site, located near the south end of Buttle Lake (near Ralph River campground), offers exclusive group camping with picnic tables, fire pits, wheelchair-accessible pit toilets, and direct access to the lake shore. The site is also immediately adjacent to a public boat launch. This site is available by reservation only. Note: campers should be self-sustaining. There is no drinking water (well) on site at this time. Well water can be obtained from Ralph River campground, located approximately 3km south.
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 $80.00 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
Marine-accessible camping
There are four boat-in backcountry campgrounds on Buttle Lake (Titus, Wolf River, Phillips Creek, and Rainbow Island), and one on Upper Campbell Lake. All sites have tent pads and tables. Fires are permitted in the fire rings only. Fires are not permitted anywhere else in the backcountry.
Launch boats at Buttle Lake or Karst Creek boat launches. Kayaks and canoes can also launch at Lupin Falls and Auger Point day-use areas.
Fees
You must register for a backcountry camping permit to use marine sites. Self-registration fee stations (cash only) are located at boat launches and day-use areas. You can also register online before you arrive at camping.bcparks.ca.
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Marine-accessible campgrounds
Wilderness camping
Wilderness camping is allowed in some areas of the park. There are no fees for these areas and few or no facilities are provided.
Wilderness camping is not permitted within 1km of main roads or in designated fee collection areas.
Winter camping
Winter camping opportunities exist throughout the park. Backcountry camping is permitted year-round; no fee is charged during the winter. Please camp near toilet facilities where possible and follow Leave No Trace camping ethics. Fires are not allowed in the backcountry areas of this park so bring a portable stove for cooking.
Things to do
In-depth visual planning resources to help hikers make informed decisions and stay safe along Mount Albert Edward trail. This short video by BC AdventureSmart provides useful information on how to plan and prepare for this challenging route.
Visitors to Strathcona have numerous hiking trails to enjoy, ranging from 20-minute ambles to arduous, multi-day hikes, and mountaineering adventures. School groups planning to hike in Strathcona Park are asked to register with the Vancouver Island Region. 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.
- Buttle Lake area trails
- Forbidden Plateau area trails
- Mt. Albert Edward route
- Nature walks and short trails
- Other hiking trails
Current trail conditions
Please be advised that most trails are snow covered from late October or November until at least June, and for higher elevation trails, often until mid July. For those exploring the park during the snow cover season, you should be well equipped for changing conditions and check avalanche reports prior to heading out.
- Strathcona area trail report [PDF] (available seasonally from May through October)
- Paradise Meadows parking restrictions for the winter season [PDF]
- Paradise Meadows barrier free centennial trail [PDF] an easily accessible sub-alpine trail which is suitable for everyone.
Good swimming is available in Buttle Lake, near the Buttle Lake and Driftwood Bay campgrounds. Buoys mark the designated swimming areas. Although the water is cold, swimming is permitted in all the lakes in the backcountry except for Kwai Lake.
There are no lifeguards on duty in BC Parks.
Canoeing and stand-up paddle boarding are popular on Buttle and Upper Campbell Lakes. Buttle Lake is subject to strong afternoon winds that may be very hazardous to small craft. Canoeists, and paddle boarders should exercise caution at all times. There are paddle sport services available during the summer months, view the park operator’s website for information and rates.
Kayaking is popular on Buttle and Upper Campbell Lakes. Buttle Lake is subject to strong afternoon winds that may be very hazardous to small craft. Kayakers should exercise caution at all times. There are paddle sport services available during the summer months, view the park operator’s website for information and rates.
Angling can be rewarding on Buttle Lake and on the other lakes and waterways in and near the park. Cutthroat and rainbow trout are the primary catch.
- Fly fishing is allowed in all tributaries, but fishing of all kinds is closed in Thelwood Creek.
- The Elk River is open to catch and release fly fishing, only.
All anglers should check the current regulations issued by Fisheries and Oceans Canada prior to fishing for other restrictions.
Anyone fishing in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence. To learn more, see the fishing and hunting guide.
The Strathcona wilderness institute, the non-profit society who manages the Strathcona Park wilderness centre, has a great program lined up for the summer including; nature walks, talks, and hikes, including several new themes. The wilderness centre building is located at the Paradise Meadows trailhead in Strathcona Park, adjacent to Mt. Washington’s raven lodge, the nordic ski lodge. The centre provides visitor information, maps, books, refreshments, and more.
Check the calendar on the Strathcona wilderness institute website for the most up-to-date schedule. The centre is staffed entirely by volunteers for the Strathcona wilderness institute.
The Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC has a fun, hands on, learn to fish program that teaches basic angling skills to youth under 16 years old. Check back to this page or ask the park operator for information.
Strathcona Park offers unlimited opportunities for nature appreciation and wildlife viewing. These range from developed facilities to pristine backcountry experiences. Observation platforms to view various waterfalls can be found at Lupin Falls, Lady Falls, Karst Creek, and both lower and upper Myra Falls.
In the backcountry, adventurous visitors can see beautiful Della Falls, whose drop of 440 metres over three cascades makes it one of the highest waterfalls in Canada. Opportunities to see wildlife exist throughout the park. Visitors may see black bears, Roosevelt elk, black-tailed deer, cougars, Trumpeter swans, Bald eagles, whiskeyjacks, squirrels, tree frogs, and white tailed Ptarmigan, to name just a few of the species inhabiting this wilderness park.
Pets and domestic animals must be on a leash and under control at all times and are not allowed in the beach areas at Buttle Lake and Driftwood Bay. Dogs must be on a leash at all times in the Forbidden Plateau core area (Paradise Meadows). During the winter season, dogs must be on a leash and are not allowed on the groomed Nordic Ski Trails. 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.
Some mountain bike opportunities exist on the west side of the park through Gold River in the vicinity of Kunlin Lake. 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 Strathcona 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.
Crest Creek Crags offers more than 150 climbing routes for various skill levels. Please ensure you and your climbing partner have the skills, equipment, and experience to climb safely. Crest Creek Crags is accessed via Hwy 28 from Campbell River, approximately 11km east of Gold River.
Hunting is only permitted in the McBride Creek and Megin-Talbot areas of Strathcona Park for specific species in season. Hunters must have valid licences and tags. Please refer to the current hunting guide for regulations.
Anyone hunting in British Columbia must comply with BC hunting regulations. To learn more, see the fishing and hunting guide.
Backcountry skiing and boarding exist in the park. Developed ski facilities can be found at Mount Washington Alpine Resort, adjacent to the park. Mount Washington often boasts one of the highest snowfalls of any ski resort in North America. Ski rentals are available from Mount Washington or from various commercial outlets in the Comox Valley and Campbell River.
Cross-country skiing is a popular activity in Paradise Meadows during the winter. More than half of the Nordic trails set by Mount Washington are within Strathcona Park. Ski rentals are available from Mount Washington or from various commercial outlets in the Comox Valley and Campbell River.
Snowshoeing is popular in Paradise Meadows during the winter. Mount Washington sets some snowshoes trails for beginners and more adventurous visitors can snowshoe at any point in the park. Rentals are available from Mount Washington or from various commercial outlets in the Comox Valley and Campbell River.
Snowmobiles are not permitted in Strathcona Park [PDF] . Opportunities for snowmobiling are available at Mount Washington alpine resort.
Facilities
Paradise Meadows Barrier-Free Centennial Trail [PDF] is an easily accessible sub-alpine trail which is suitable for everyone.
Strathcona Park TrailRider wheelchair program
BC Parks, in partnership with The Strathcona Wilderness Institute, now offers a Strathcona Park TrailRider program [PDF], based out of the Strathcona Park wilderness centre at Paradise Meadows trailhead (adjacent to Mount Washington’s nordic lodge). The one wheel unit, best described as a cross between a rickshaw and wheelchair, now makes it possible for everyone (seniors, disabled, or others with mobility restrictions) to access the spectacular backcountry of Strathcona Park’s Forbidden Plateau area.
Additional accessibility information
Wheelchair-accessible facilities are available at the Driftwood Bay group site, Buttle Lake campground (pit toilets only), Elk Portal entrance (pit toilets only). The Crest Creek day-use area offers wheelchair-accessible picnic tables and a pit toilet. The new Paradise Meadows trailhead at Mt Washington now offers a wheelchair-accessible trail that is suitable for most types of wheelchairs and battery powered scooters.
More accessibility information is available for these areas of the park:
Due to new regulations, fires are now only permitted in Strathcona Park where facilities (a steel fire ring) are provided for campfires.
No open fires are allowed in any of the backcountry areas.
In the areas where fires are allowed, (steel campfire rings are provided at each campsite in the Buttle Lake and Ralph River campgrounds), we encourage visitors to conserve the environment by minimizing the use of fire and using stoves instead. Firewood can be purchased from the park operator at the Buttle Lake and Ralph River campgrounds. Fees for firewood are set locally and may vary.
To preserve vegetation and ground cover, please don’t gather firewood from the area around your campsite or elsewhere in the park (this 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.
Drinking water hand pumps are located at the Buttle Lake, Ralph River and Driftwood Bay campgrounds. In the backcountry, drinking water comes from a variety of sources. Boiling, treating or filtering surface water prior to consumption is recommended.
Drinking water system reports
The Strathcona Wilderness Institute (SWI) in partnership with BC Parks, provides a park information service during the summer months. SWI operates information huts both at the Paradise Meadows trailhead and parking lot (adjacent to the Mount Washington alpine resort, raven lodge) and at the Buttle Lake, old park headquarters site (east side of lake, just south of the Highway 28, Gold River intersection). Visit SWI website for information about the programs they offer and annual operating hours.
There are a wide range of picnic and day-use opportunities throughout this park. Picnic and day-use facilities are available at Elk Portal, Buttle Lake boat launch, Lupin Falls, Auger Point, Karst Creek, Lady Falls and Crest Lake. Please refer to online maps for more details on locations. Paradise Meadows is a popular day-use area although no picnic tables are available. This area offers a variety of trails suitable for day hikes.
About this park
Strathcona Park, designated in 1911, is the oldest park in British Columbia. In the valleys and lower regions of Strathcona are forest stands that were already old when Captain James Cook of Britain’s Royal Navy landed at Nootka Sound in 1778, on the west coast of Vancouver Island a few kilometres from what is now the western boundary of the park.
Strathcona Park was named for Donald Alexander Smith, First Baron Strathcona and Mount Royal, a Canadian pioneer and one of the principals in the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway. On November 7, 1885 Lord Strathcona drove the last iron spike into the twin ribbons of steel that united Canada from the Atlantic to the Pacific at Craigellachie in BC’s Selkirk Mountains.
Western red cedar, Douglas fir, grand fir, amabilis fir, and western hemlock cover much of the park’s valleys and lower mountain slopes, this gives way to sub-alpine fir, mountain hemlock, and creeping juniper in the sub-alpine areas. Throughout the summer months the park offers a spectacular floral display in various areas from sea level to above 1,800 metres elevation. Found at varying heights are varieties of heather, lupine, monkey flowers, and violets as well as Indian paintbrush, phlox, and moss campion.
Vancouver Island’s separation from mainland British Columbia by Johnstone and Georgia Straits means that many mammal species common to other parts of the province are not found on the Island. Species such as the Roosevelt elk, the currently-endangered Vancouver Island marmot, the Vancouver Island wolf, and the coastal black-tailed deer are different from their mainland relatives. The park has a large deer population and a significant number of Roosevelt elk, while wolves, and cougars, though present, are seldom seen. Resident birds include the chestnut-backed chickadee, red-breasted nuthatch, winter wren, and kinglet, as well as the gray jay, Steller’s jay, and band-tailed pigeon. The park also supports numerous blue grouse, ruffled grouse, and a limited number of unique Vancouver Island white-tailed ptarmigan.
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 43K Wilderness Solutions. |
| General questions and feedback for BC Parks | We answer emails weekdays from 9 am to 5 pm Pacific Time. |
