Strathcona Park: Buttle Lake trails

School groups planning to hike in Strathcona Park are asked to register with the Vancouver Island Region.

Short hikes (less than 5 km)

The suggested times listed below are estimates for a one-way trip.

Upper Myra Falls

Length, 3km. Suggested time, 2 hours. Elevation change: 100 metres. 

Trail starts at trailhead just past Westmin and follows gravel road for 700 m before turning into a forest trail. Features include old growth forest and a waterfall.

Crest Mountain

Length, 5km. Suggested time, 4 hours. Elevation change: 1,250 metres. 

Trail starts at Highway 28. Excellent views above 1,300 metres. 

Longer hikes (more than 5 km)

The suggested times listed below are estimates for a one-way trip.

Marble Meadows

Length, 6.6km. Suggested time, 6 hours. Elevation change: 1,250 metres. 

Trail starts at Phillips Creek Marine Campsite on Buttle Lake. Access the trail head by boat from Auger Point or Karst Creek day use areas. Marble Meadows features viewpoints, alpine meadows and limestone formations.

Phillips Ridge

Length, 6 km. Suggested time, 4 hours. Elevation change: 800 metres. 

This well-graded trail starts from the trailhead just past Westmin and leads to Arnica Lake. There is a camping area at the north end of Arnica Lake.

Flower Ridge

Length, 6km. Suggested time, 5 hours. Elevation change: 1,250 metres. 

Trail starts on Buttle Lake Road. Notable for its open hiking on the ridge and some striking viewpoints. CAUTION: trail is steep and rough till you reach the open alpine ridge; water can be scarce. 

Bedwell Lake

Length, 6km. Suggested time, 3.5 hours. Elevation change: 600 metres. 

Trail starts from Jim Mitchell Lake Road. Camping in designated areas only, but no campfires are permitted. This hike includes some excellent viewpoints. Routes to Cream Lake and Bedwell Sound depart from this area.

Price Creek/Cream Lake

Length, 8.5km. Suggested time, 7 hours. Elevation change: 1,200 metres. 

Trail starts from the south end of Buttle Lake, following a gravel road for the first 3km. A rough trail follows the main valley another 7.3km where it crosses Price Creek and deteriorates into a very steep, rough route to Cream Lake.

Elk River

Length, 11km. Suggested time, 5 hours. Elevation change: 600 metres. 

Trail starts at Highway 28 and follows the generally moderate Elk River Valley for 10km before turning up to Landslide Lake. Campsites are available at Butterwort Flats (6km) and the upper gravel bar campsite (9 km). No camping available at Landslide Lake.