White River Provincial Park on northern Vancouver Island is a small, undeveloped wilderness area that offers excellent fishing opportunities and protection for important Roosevelt elk and black bear habitat.
This scenic park and its old-growth forest were stunning enough for Hollywood to take notice – portions of White River were used as a film site for the movie The Scarlet Letter, filmed here in 1994. Visitors to the park today will find remnants of the film set, including wide boardwalks designed to accommodate horse-drawn carriages.
A short loop trail through the forest leads down to the White River. Along the way, visitors will be rewarded with views of some massive Douglas fir and western red cedar trees – giants which, no doubt, helped White River earn the nickname, “the Cathedral Grove of the North Island.”
Established Date: April 30, 1996
Park Size: 72 hectares
The White River is a prime recreational area for angling and nature appreciation. Fishing is permitted as per provincial and federal fishing regulations. All anglers should check the current regulations issued by Fisheries and Oceans Canada prior to fishing. Anyone fishing or angling in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence.
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 regulations.
The park is located on the White River, approximately 25 km south of Sayward on northern Vancouver Island. The park is accessed by a gravel logging road off Hwy 19 from Sayward Junction.
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.