West of the E & N Railway right-of-way is the Greater Victoria Water Supply Area. Campsites, shower stalls, flush toilets, beach access, many walking trails, and parking stalls in the day-use area are all wheelchair-accessible. This area includes two parking lots, 75 picnic tables, two reservable picnic shelters, pit toilets, two flush toilet buildings, changing faculties, walking trails, and an adventure playground. From May 15 to the last week of June, reservations are highly recommended. Rebecca Spit PMP: This popular 177-hectare day-use park on Quadra Island is used for beach exploration, walking trails, kayaking, swimming and picnicking. Cameron Lake and Beaufort day-use areas are located 10 minutes west of the campground, on Highway 4. This park offers vehicle-accessible campsites in a forest setting. Miracle Beach Provincial Park - Vancouver Island The 55-hectare park offers 69 year-round vehicle-accessible camping sites. The National Park Reserve-wide ban includes all beach fires, including those below the high tide mark. Little Qualicum Falls Park, in the central Vancouver Island area, straddles the Little Qualicum River and incorporates the entire southern shore of Cameron Lake. Another trail loops from just before the main parking lot around a pretty heritage farm field. Wya Point Campground View from a campsite at Wya Point Campground | Photo Copyright: Lana Law For scenery and solitude in one of the most popular outdoor destinations of Vancouver Island, Wya Point Campground is the place to go. Pitch a tent, or just hike in for the day on Vancouver Island you can see nature as it was meant to be seen, in all its breathtaking glory. MacMillan PP (Cathedral Grove): Located 25 km west of Qualicum Beach, this popular 301-hectare day-use park provides beautiful walking trails through an old-growth forest. Camping On Vancouver Island: 20+ Best Campgrounds (+ Camping Tips) The park is very busy during the summer months and reservations are required between the last week of June and Labour Day. You can find this ER on the south shore of Lasqueti Island. The northern boundary includes 40 km of Vancouver Island shoreline. 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. Rathtrevor Campground became Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park in 1967 and, though much has changed since William and Elizabeth first arrived, its beauty and importance will be preserved for our continued enjoyment. Taylor Arm PP: Found on the north shore of Sproat Lake, this 71-hectare forested park offers six group campsites, an undeveloped beach and two day-use areas. China Beach campground and day-use area, the 47 km Juan de Fuca Marine Trail, and the world-renowned Botanical Beach are all found in this park. A favourite destination for both locals and family camping groups, few locations on Vancouver Island compare to popular Miracle Beach Provincial Park. Along with the protected lands on Mount Maxwell, Sullivan, and Mount Tuam, this park is part of the largest undeveloped areas within the Gulf Islands. Be sure to check out the new suspension bridge! Easy access from Campbell River. Several facilities in the park are wheelchair-accessible or have been designed for park visitors with mobility challenges. Reservations - Province of British Columbia | BC Parks Artlish Caves PP: Located between Woss and Zeballos, this 285-hectare park was established to protect Vancouver Islands last remaining undisturbed karst areas. The area offers sheltered anchorages and excellent sea kayaking opportunities. Quinsam Campground at Elk Falls Park is located 3km north of Campbell River on central Vancouver Island on Hwy 28 toward Gold River. Miracle Beach - Go Camping BC The only exception to this policy will be for authorized and identified trail maintenance bikes conducting work on behalf of BC Parks. British Columbia as a whole has 644 Provincial Parks and 148 Ecological Reserves, totalling 14,112,434 ha of parkland. Which one is your favourite to explore? You are responsible for their behaviour and must dispose of their excrement. Does your dream vacation include sleeping under the stars, or waking up on the shore of a pristine harbour? Other areas in the park may be closed to swimming during high-water periods. Sit back and soak up the seaside atmosphere or take a walk through the wooded upland area of the park. On the drier ridges visitors can find flowering dogwood, lodgepole pine and arbutus. The area is surrounded by private property, so visitors must be aware of park boundaries when onshore. These offer picturesque views of the river and provide access to the upper and lower falls. The stunning shoreline, protected beaches, and sheltered anchorages make it a popular spot to visit among kayakers and boaters. Sections of this river contain waterfalls, strong currents, and other hazards. To save this article for future use, please pin any of these images on Pinterest: (Images represent parks found in all four regions of Vancouver Island; South, West, East and North). Broughton Archipelago PMP: At 11,751 hectares, BCs largest marine park represents a collection of undeveloped islands off North-Eastern Vancouver Island. Winter camping fee: $13 per party per night. Wildlife in Elk Falls Park includes a variety of small mammals and birds. All campsite reservations must be made through the BC Parks reservations system. This park has a day-use area, located 3km west of the campground off Highway 28. Reserve beautiful private RV spots and campsitesfound only on Hipcamp. Schoen Lake PP: This large 8,430-hectare remote park near Woss offers fantastic trails to view glaciers and wildlife. I will look into creating one. Hipcamp | Outdoor Stays: Tent Camping, RV Parks, Cabins & Glamping A lookout point is located along this trail, offering spectacular views of the river and upper falls. Open to public access year-round Current status: Open Be sure to check advisories above before visiting Goldstream Campground Goldstream groupsites Spectacular panoramic views of the Strait of Georgia to the Strait of Juan de Fuca can be had from the summit of Mount Finlayson, making it well worth the climb. Sandwell PP: This 17-hectare park on Gabriola Island is a great place to picnic, walk or suntan on the beach. Of the provincial parks, 175 offer camping facilities, some of which permit reservations. Arrowsmith to the south. The Cameron Lake day-use area is located 23km west of Parksville on Highway 4. All rights reserved|, Boating, Sailing & Marinas, Marine Tours, Sport Fishing, Boating, Sailing & Marinas, Buy Now, Sport Fishing, Bird Watching, Hiking, Natural History, Parks, Accessible Travel on Vancouver Island North. E-bikes are restricted to park roads and areas where motorized use is permitted. Taps are shut off during the winter season. Loop trails on both sides of the Little Qualicum River provide access to numerous swimming holes and the upper and lower falls. Elk Falls Provincial Park is located west of Campbell River on central Vancouver Island, and is named for the 25-metre waterfall on the Campbell River that plunges over a rocky precipice into a rock-walled canyon below. Beavers have also been spotted in the area. Surrounded Yourself With The Great Outdoors, Beyond Your Basecamp: 5 Great Adventures To Do If You're Camping, Tips For Camping Respectfully & Sustainably, Vancouver Island North Campgrounds & RV Sites. Limited burning hours or campfire bans may be implemented. In the spring and early summer, Goldstream overflows with colourful wildflowers, including the shade-loving western trillium and the calypso, a delicate orchid of the mossy forest glades. Fires are prohibited in this day-use area. Flush toilets are available at the day-use area and through the main campground. RV Camping in Vancouver British Columbia: 131 Campgrounds in the Sooke Potholes PP: This 7.28-hectare day-use park in Sooke is ideal for watching the annual salmon spawning run in the fall. While fires are allowed, we encourage visitors to conserve the environment by minimizing the use of fire and using stoves instead. From early February to May, visitors can view the impressive Brant geese migration. E-bikes are restricted to park roads and areas where motorized use is allowed. Sooke Mountain PP: This 450-hectare undeveloped wilderness park north of Sooke has no vehicle access, making it a popular location for hikers and mountain bikers. Drinking Water System Report 2021: Goldstream visitor centre and day-use area [PDF], Goldstream Park is home to waterfalls, including. Rathtrevor Beach Park offers 5.5km of easy walking trails, most of which are wheelchair-accessible. Mitlenatch Island Nature PP: Located east of Black Creek, this 155-hectare park is home to the largest seabird colony in the Strait of Georgia. Whaleboat Island PMP: This small 10-hectare islet in the DeCourcy Group provides boaters and kayakers picturesque views of interesting geological formations. Cormorant Channel PMP: Located just north of Telegraph Cove, this 775-hectare marine park is a series of undeveloped islands popular with sea kayakers. Campsite reservations are accepted and first-come, first-served sites are also available. A number of walking trails are available in and around the park. However, the area offers excellent opportunities for boaters to observe and photograph various birds. However, the islands steep rocky banks make this small island extremely difficult to access, so best viewed from the water. To keep it organized, the parks are listed alphabetically. Petroglyph PP: At this Nanaimo PP, you can find the most concentrated collection of rock art on Vancouver Island. Trip report by BestHike editor Rick McCharles First time to this part of Strathcona Provincial Park, Vancouver Island, I decided to tent at the biggest campground on arrival Buttle Lake. The falls, lake swimming, shaded riverside trails, and picnic facilities make Little Qualicum Falls a very popular family destination. Santa Boca PP: Part of the popular Nootka Sound, this 440-hectare park is popular among kayakers and boaters. Zoom in to see details. Unclaimed or unreserved sites may be available on a first come, first served basis. Vancouver Island North uses 'cookies' to enhance the usability of its website and provide you with the best experience on our website. During February, March, and April, this park is also one of Vancouver Islands best spots for viewing migrating Brant geese. Theres something new, different, and exciting every month of the year at Goldstream Park. The park also features a large picnic area with shelters, as well as vehicle accessible camping and group sites. Sea kayaking, boating and wilderness camping are the main attractions for visitors. The facility is located in the main campground. The Quinsam campground entrance is located on the west side of the Quinsam Bridge. 1998-2021 Shangaan Webservices Inc. All Rights Reserved. Visitors are attracted to Elk Falls Park for different reasons. Scuba divers love this area for its abundance of marine life. A Final Word About Camping on Vancouver Island, complete travel guide to Canadas West Coast, Make reservations for BC provincial parks here, Flat, hard packed dirt and gravel surface for camping, Fire pits (no fires allowed during campfire bans), On-site host or staff that visit twice per day, Naturalist programs for kids (not common any more but there are still a few), Youre planning on camping at a popular campground usually the ones closest to cities, on the South Island, or with spectacular beach access on a summer weekend, You need more than one campsite and you want them to be together, You are travelling with kids and dont want to risk not getting a campsite, Currently, you can reserve up to 2 months ahead of your reservation date, People who get the most popular campsites plan ahead, so they know exactly what they want to book the day reservations open, So if you want to camp on July 7, be at your computer, logged in and ready to go, before 7am on May 7, Along with your camping fees, youll pay a reservation fee of $6/night + tax (to a maximum of $18/night + tax), Youre travelling during the week in winter or shoulder season, You dont mind making alternative plans at the last minute, If you didnt get that golden reservation, dont despair. For your own safety and the preservation of the park, obey posted signs and keep to designated trails. Dead wood is an important habitat element for many plants and animals and it adds organic matter to the soil. There are four group campsites in Rathtrevor Beach Park located off Rath Road, just past the administration building, before you reach the day-use parking lots. It is also ideal for sailboarding, due to a wind funnel created by the surrounding mountains. Spectacle Lake PP: This 67-hectare park in the Cowichan Valley provides an excellent trail system and a small lake to swim, canoe, kayak, fish, or picnic. It provides swimming and fishing opportunities. You can conserve firewood and air quality by keeping your campfire small. This awesome resource would REALLY benefit from a map with the info about each park being linked to the map. There are picnic tables and pit toilets provided off a small parking lot at the southern end of the lake. Learn how your comment data is processed. Effective June 8 at noon until further notice, a fire ban is in effect throughout Pacific Rim National Park Reserve including the West Coast Trail, Broken Group Islands, the Long Beach Unit and Green Point Campground. Firewood can be purchased from the Park Operator. Rathtrevor Beach Park does not have a boat launch. Woss Lake PP: This undeveloped wilderness park totalling 6,634 hectares is situated on the southern portion of Woss Lake, so typically only accessible by boat from the launch at the north end of the lake.