Strathcona Provincial Park
...a pristine, natural wonderland!

The oldest provincial park in British Columbia, Strathcona Provincial Park lies in central Vancouver Island.

Officially established in 1911, the area which comprises Strathcona was first explored several decades earlier by John Buttle and then by William Bolton. The area of the park is massive; at nearly 2,500 square kilometers. (which translates to over 600,000 acres)

The Park has many unique sights and geological formations which help to make it so special.

It has the highest mountain peaks of the Vancouver Island Range; with several towering at over 2,000 meters in height. This list includes The Golden Hinde, which at nearly 2,200 meters is the tallest in the park and Elkhorn Mountain, just tens of meters shorter.

One of the tallest waterfalls in Canada can also be found in this Park. Della Falls is 440 meters up and provides astonishing and majestic views to visitors of the park.

The rest of the park includes many other smaller waterfalls, streams, rivers and lakes, the biggest of which, Buttle Lake, is one of the largest in British Columbia. All of this water provides plenty of great fishing spots, as well as lots of space for canoeing, kayaking and other water activities. There are even glaciers to be found, namely "The Comox Glacier".

Strathcona Provincial Park is almost entirely undeveloped and untouched by modern society and humanity. The only visitor centers can be found at Buttle Lake and Forbidden Plateau.

The result is pristine, natural conditions, views, plants and wildlife. Some of the types of trees common to the park are red cedars, Douglas firs and grand firs. During the appropriate warm months there is also an abundance of splendid flowers and floral displays.

There are two campgrounds within the park and several other smaller campsites. You can also camp with an appropriate permit outside of the main campsites, within certain distances from other areas.

All of this makes it an ideal getaway for outdoor enthusiasts and those who feel at home in nature and its surroundings. However, visitors should be alert to the presence of bears, cougars and other potentially dangerous animals.

Within Strathcona Provincial Park are dozens of different trails, ranging from easy to advanced and rocky paths. Some trails can be easily done in a relaxing matter while others are several day long, trying adventures.

Mountain climbers will also find plenty of space and ample rock for their pursuits with over 150 climbing routes.

Other popular activities include downhill skiing, cross country skiing and show-shoeing.

This Provincial Park is so massive, with so many areas of interest that it would be impossible to explore all of it.

However, don’t let that stop you from trying! It can make for a great day or weekend trip to take in all nature has to offer, or it can be a wonderful weeklong getaway destination.

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