Strathcona Provincial Park was created in 1911 and is the original park in the BC provincial system. At the time, the 544,000 acres (200,000 hectares) seemed like a fabulous amount of land to set aside. It still does, especially to those who like to hike in the middle of the rugged, heavily glaciated Vancouver Island Mountains. The park was created for those who seek adventure in remote wilderness surroundings. It may be easier to reach the trailheads today, but the routes still remain as challenging as ever. To really experience the beauty of this park, come prepared to explore the backcountry. A day-trip to Strathcona gets you into an unparalleled natural wonderland of vast forests, great lakes, alpine meadows and challenging peaks.

More than a dozen hikes and walks originate from the Buttle Lake area of Strathcona Park. Trailheads are found at both the north and south ends of the 9-mile (15-km) lake, as well as additional trails that lead off elsewhere around the lake. From the park entrance on Hwy 28, the Elk River Trail (moderate; 13.5 miles/22 km return) leads through the Elk River Valley to aptly named Landslide Lake. Careful of your footing here and on the Crest Mountain Trail (moderate; 6 miles/10 km return), which climbs to a variety of scenic viewpoints farther west. The Crest Mountain trailhead is located on the north side of Hwy 28, about 15 miles (24.5 km) west of Buttle Narrows Bridge. A fascinating look at weathering appears along the Karst Creek Trail (easy; 2.5 miles/4 km return), which begins beside the picnic area on the east side of Buttle Lake. The Wild Ginger and Shepard Creek walking trails originate in the Ralph River Campground.

Hikes closer to Gold River include the Heber River Trail (40 minutes, round trip), which follows the spectacular Heber Canyon. The trailhead is at the bridge on Matchlee Drive. The Peppercorn Trail (40 minutes one way) starts from the Gold River bridge and ends at the Peppercorn Park, which features swimming and a diving cliff. The Antler Lake Nature Walk (60 minutes one way) starts at the end of Scout Lake Road, follows Scout Lake for a short distance, and then heads up the mountain. This trail is an easy walk through bush, winding and shaded most of the way. At the side of the mountain the trail starts a steep descent out into the open. At the dirt road you can see Antler Lake. Proceed down the road for ten minutes to the lake for a refreshing swim or picnic.

Strathcona Provincial Park is a mountain climbers dream. Over 100 routes exist in Crest Creek Craggs alone - drawing climbers from all over the world. Use the Crest Mountain hiking trailhead to reach the routes, located on the north side of Hwy 28, about 15 miles (24.5 km) west of Buttle Narrows Bridge. Other favourites include Kings Peaks and Elkhorn Mountains.

Picnic/day-use facilities are available at Elk Portal, Buttle Lake boat launch, Lupin Falls, Auger Point, Karst Creek, Lady Falls and Crest Lake. Paradise Meadows is a popular day-use area although no picnic tables are available. This area offers a variety of trails suitable for day hikes.

Strathcona Provincial Park is located on central Vancouver Island near the communities of Campbell River and the Comox Valley, which are the primary access points to the park. The main access to Strathcona Park is via Highway 28. The main access route to Forbidden Plateau from Courtenay and Campbell River is via the Paradise Meadows Trailhead at Mount Washington. Day users of Strathcona will be interested in two areas: Buttle Lake and the hiking opportunities afforded by Forbidden Plateau.

Embark on one of the many trails in spectacular Strathcona Provincial Park, stopping to fish in a trout-stocked alpine lake, or mountain bike down the side of a magnificent mountain. There are easy access trail systems for day hikers as well as mountain ranges to challenge the most experienced mountaineers and backpackers.

Miracle Beach Provincial Park is one of the most popular parks and family vacation spots on Vancouver Island, located 14 miles (23 km) south of Campbell River beside Hwy 19. It's a 10-minute walk from the campsites to the extravagant expanse of cobblestone beach that gives way to hard-packed sand flats at low tide where herons stalk, seals bark, and ravens and eagles call. What a chorus! The beach seems to stretch forever in each direction. From the covered picnic shelter (featuring two gas barbeques) visitors look east out onto Elma Bay. Watch for harbour porpoises, Steller sea lions, California sea lions (much smaller), harbour seals, and killer whales.

The campsites are located in a second-growth forest of gnarly Douglas fir, western red cedar, and western hemlock. Wildflowers bloom throughout the park from early spring to the end of summer. Black Creek flows through the park and past the Miracle Beach Nature House, which has natural-history displays. Beachcombers will find a tide chart posted here daily from late May to September. Pick up a brochure here and take a self-guided nature walk through the park.

Elk Falls Provincial Park, located 6 miles (10 km) west of the junction of Highways 28 and 19A, is a great base camp for exploring the Campbell River region. The park has two distinct sections. The picnic/day-use area is located near the waterfalls on the Campbell River as it enters John Hart Lake. Campsites are situated 4 miles (6.5 km) away on the Quinsam River. A large stand of Douglas fir surrounds Elk Falls, which present a lively sight during spring runoff. A 1.5-mile (2.5-km) hiking trail runs from the riverside campsites to the nearby Quinsam River Hatchery, which is open daily for tours.

As you pass through Campbell River, it's hard not to notice strollers and cyclists meandering along Oyster Bay Shoreline Regional Park, a shoreline bike-and-walking trail with gravel beaches and great views across to Quadra Island. Pulverized oyster shells speckle the gravel with a bright, white hue. The trails wind for much of the distance from the town's southern perimeter to the central harbour, passing the new museum on the hillside above the beach. The occasional picnic table and park bench invite travellers to pull over and join the fun.

Strathcona Provincial Park was created in 1911 and is the original park in the provincial system. At the time, the 544,000 acres (200,000 hectares) seemed like a fabulous amount of land to set aside. It still does, especially to those who like to hike in the middle of the rugged, heavily glaciated Vancouver Island Mountains. The park was created for those who seek adventure in remote wilderness surroundings. It may be easier to reach the trailheads today, but the routes still remain as challenging as ever. To really experience the beauty of this park, come prepared to explore the backcountry. A day-trip to Strathcona gets you into an unparalleled natural wonderland of vast forests, great lakes, alpine meadows and challenging peaks.

Ripple Rock Rest Area just north of Campbell River on Hwy 19 offers a fine view of Seymour Narrows, and a great picnic spot. This is a harbinger of the vistas along the Inside Passage from here north to Prince Rupert. An interpretive marker here describes the maritime history of the region since it was first charted by Captain George Vancouver in 1792. Despite the blasting away in 1958 of the twin peaks of Ripple Rock, which lies underwater directly east of the viewpoint, large boats are still harassed by the rip tides, swirling currents, and whirlpools that constantly agitate the surface of the Seymour Narrows. The tidal rip offshore is so vicious that when viewed through binoculars it has the appearance of a writhing mass of snakes.

The trailhead for the Ripple Rock Trail (easy; 5 miles/8 km return) is located at a well-marked roadside parking area on the east side of Hwy 19, about 4 miles (6 km) north of the Ripple Rock Rest Area. The trail leads hikers through abundant second-growth forest (with a few spectacular examples of old-growth Sitka spruce and Douglas fir on the east side of Menzies Creek) to a viewpoint of the treacherous waters in Seymour Narrows