Mount Washington is a great summer destination with hiking trails around the mountain and from the Paradise Meadows trailhead, gateway to Strathcona Provincial Park.

Whether you take a chair lift up and enjoy the stunning views, then amble down the mountain, or hike the loops of Paradise Meadows, Mount Washington has trails to suit your interest and ability.

If you’re interested in multi-day hiking expeditions or climbing, Strathcona’s BC hiking trails and back country offers an incredible wilderness experience with lakes, waterfalls, alpine meadows and wildlife.

Chairlift Hikes

In the summer, Mount Washington’s chairlifts will take you up the mountain with spectacular views of the Comox Glacier, Mount Arrowsmith, the Strait of Georgia and Strathcona Park. One day lift passes are $15 for adults.

Hikers can choose from 7 alpine trails on Mount Washington (42% beginner, 29% intermediate, 29% expert) serviced by the Eagle Express chairlift. As you trek along the mountain’s bark mulch trails, interpretive signs identify the natural attractions of the Mile High Alpine.

Chairlift hikes and scenic mile high chairlift rides offer the opportunity to see bald eagles, whisky jacks and the Vancouver Island Marmot.

Paradise Meadows Loops

Paradise Meadows trails are accessed from Mount Washington’s Raven Lodge with a choice of trails that includes a wheelchair accessible boardwalk through alpine meadows. Loops around the meadows range from 3 km trails with little or no elevation to the 6.8 km loop to Helen MacKenzie-Battleship Lakes. The BC hiking trails through the Paradise Meadows and Strathcona Provincial Park offer the opportunity to see some of Vancouver Island’s abundant wildlife including deer and black bear.
Above Lake Helen MacKenzie hiking options are numerous, from larger loops, to overnight destinations at designated camping areas of Kwai or Circlet Lakes. The trails here are mostly class 4 with some sections class 3.

Strathcona Provincial Park Hiking

The Paradise Meadows trailhead from Raven Lodge also provides a gateway to the extensive Vancouver Island hiking trails of Strathcona Provincial Park, such as the traverse to Buttle Lake, Albert Edward or Comox Glacier.

Sign posted routes take hikers to the lakes, meadows and mountains of BC's oldest provincial park, with day hikes and multi day expeditions. The Strathcona Wilderness Institute Information Centre at the trailhead offers maps and information to visitors during the summer months. NEW this year is a complete summer schedule of one day and multi-day guided hikes:

For further information & opening hours please visit www.strathconapark.org/information.html

Links to further information on Strathcona Provincial Park:
www.env.ov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/strath/
Hiking trail map download link:
http://mountwashington.ca/downloads/2008_hiking_map.pdf