Strathcona Provincial Park
Fast facts
- Established: 1911, the oldest park in British Columbia
- Size: more than 965 square miles (2,500 km²)
- Highest point: the Golden Hinde, about 7,220 feet (2,200 m), the highest peak on Vancouver Island
- Waterfall: Della Falls, a drop of about 1,440 feet (440 m) over three cascades
- Gateway: Campbell River, with access also from Courtenay and Port Alberni
- Managed by: BC Parks
The landscape
Strathcona sits almost in the centre of Vancouver Island, a rugged mountain wilderness of peaks, glaciers, alpine tarns and deep valleys. Buttle Lake fills a long valley along the eastern side. The Forbidden Plateau, in the east, is gentler subalpine country dotted with lakes. Three large roadless tracts are protected as nature conservancy areas. Black bears, cougars, wolves and Roosevelt elk live here, along with the rare Vancouver Island marmot.
Best time to go
Most trails are snow-covered from November until at least June, and higher routes often until mid-July. Summer is usually warm, but rain can fall at any time and evenings are cool. Winter brings heavy snow to the mountains and good skiing at neighbouring Mount Washington.
Getting there and around
Highway 28 from Campbell River runs along Buttle Lake, where the campgrounds and many trailheads are. Paradise Meadows, reached through Mount Washington, is the easy entry to the Forbidden Plateau. Della Falls is reached by boat to the head of Great Central Lake, followed by a long hike up the valley.
Things to do
Short walks and waterfalls line the Buttle Lake road. The Forbidden Plateau offers lake-to-lake backpacking, and Flower Ridge and the Elk River Trail climb into the alpine. Della Falls is a multi-day trip to one of the highest waterfalls in Canada. Mountaineers go for the Golden Hinde and Elkhorn. Paddlers use Buttle and Upper Campbell lakes.
Staying safe
Much of the park is steep, trailless and remote. Snow lingers late, so check conditions and carry traction early in the season. Rain and cold can arrive any day, so pack warm, waterproof layers. Help is far off beyond the roads, so carry a satellite messenger and leave a trip plan. Don’t leave valuables in vehicles at trailheads, where break-ins have increased.
Know before you go
Some backcountry areas charge camping fees through permit registration, and camping is banned in day-use areas. This page is a general overview, not a live conditions report, so check BC Parks advisories before you go.
- Coordinates
- 49.6975, -125.7220
- Magnetic declination
- 15.8° E (2026)
Set this declination on your compass, then align it to the map's north lines; it is the angle between true north and magnetic north, refreshed each year.
How declination works, and how to navigate with a map and compass
A spread of the park’s main places shows straight away, and the rest appear as you zoom in. You can also search above, or pick any place from the lists below, and the map will go to it. Places in bold, marked , have a short description.
Getting there 1
Visitor centre
On the trail 37
Trailheads
Route
Campgrounds
Hut or shelter
Picnic sites
Sights 92
Viewpoints
Waterfalls
Lakes
Points of interest
Islands
Peaks 30
Map data comes from third-party sources and may be incomplete or out of date, so carry a current official map (terms).
Looking for one of these closer to home?Destinations near me by trip type →
- Best seasons
- Summer (July to September), Winter (skiing near Mount Washington)
- Difficulty
- Easy to strenuous
- Access / trailheads
- Highway 28 from Campbell River follows Buttle Lake to Westmin; the Forbidden Plateau is reached from Mount Washington near Courtenay (Paradise Meadows); Della Falls is reached by boat up Great Central Lake from Port Alberni.
- Water
- Lakes and streams; treat all backcountry water.
- Cell / satellite coverage
- Limited to near Mount Washington; none in most of the park. Carry a satellite messenger.
- Nearest ranger / SAR / emergency
- Emergencies: 911 (RCMP coordinate search and rescue).
- Permits & regulations
- Backcountry camping fees apply in some areas and are paid through permit registration. Camping is not allowed in day-use areas.
- Leave No Trace
- Camp only in designated backcountry sites, never in day-use areas, store food away from wildlife, and pack out all waste.
January
- Below-freezing nights
February
- Below-freezing nights
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October This month
November
December
- Below-freezing nights
What to bring depends on your trip: how long you’re out, where you sleep, and how far you go from the road. The planner builds the list for yours.
Plan a trip here →Averages for 1981–2010 from Environment Canada climate normals, measured at the Campbell River Airport station, 22 miles (36 km)36 km (22 miles) away at 357 feet (109 m)109 m (357 feet). Higher trails run colder, by about 3.5°F for every 1,000 ft (2°C per 300 m)2°C for every 300 m (3.5°F per 1,000 ft) of climb. Daylight runs from sunrise to sunset on the 15th, on the park’s own clock, for a level horizon. Valleys and slopes facing away from the sun are in shade earlier.
Nearby parks
-
Pacific Rim National Park Reserve
Surf at Long Beach, the West Coast Trail and the Broken Group Islands on Vancouver Island's west coast, near Tofino and Ucluelet.
-
Juan de Fuca Provincial Park
A 29-mile (47 km) coastal trail west of Victoria: beaches, surge channels and tide pools, with floats marking the way.
-
Cape Scott Provincial Park
Old-growth spruce, deep mud and long white-sand beaches at the far northwest tip of Vancouver Island.
-
Gulf Islands National Park Reserve
Rocky shores, arbutus and Garry oak on islands in BC's southern Salish Sea, reached by ferry or kayak from Vancouver and Victoria.
Straight-line distance between park centres. Road distance is usually longer.
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