Mount Washington Alpine Resort borders BC’s oldest provincial park, Strathcona. Strathcona is 250,000 hectares of mountain wilderness that offers a wide range of outdoor summer activities, including hiking, camping, canoeing/kayaking, fishing, swimming and wildlife viewing.

You can reach a number of popular Canadian hiking trails through Mount Washington’s Paradise Meadows. More than half of Mount Washington’s trails in Paradise Meadows are located within Strathcona Provincial Park. Buttle Lake and Forbidden Plateau, are two other great locations for day hikes that are easily accessible by car from Mount Washington.

Natural Highlights

Mountains dominate Strathcona’s landscape and the park is filled with rivers, lakes and streams. Strathcona Provincial Park is home to Della Falls, its 440 meter drop making it one of Canada’s highest waterfalls, and Vancouver Island’s highest peak, the Golden Hinde, elevation 2200 meters.

Three undeveloped areas in the park, Big Den, Central Strathcona and Comox Glacier, consisting of 122,500 hectares are designated as nature conservancy sites.

Park Activities & Attractions Within an Easy Drive of Mount Washington

Strathcona Park Lodge and Outdoor Education Centre, offers outdoor education and wilderness skills training. Boating, fishing, swimming and waterskiing are available at Buttle and other lakes, while some of the best Canadian hiking trails are located throughout the park.

• Canoeing and kayaking - Buttle and Upper Campbell Lakes
• Climbing – Crest Creek Crags has more than 150 climbing routes for various skill levels
• Fishing – angling for Cutthroat, Dolly Varden and Rainbow trout on Buttle Lake. Catch and release fly fishing on the Elk River.
• Hiking – 20 minute walks, day hikes and multi-day backpacking excursions throughout the park
• Horseback riding – in the Kunlin area north of the Ucona River only
• Hunting – restricted hunting permitted in the McBride Creek and Megin-Talbot area only
• Swimming – in Buttle Lake and all other lakes except Kwai Lake
• Waterskiing and windsurfing – Buttle Lake
• Wildlife Viewing – unlimited opportunities to view wildlife including bald eagles, whiskey jacks, deer, squirrels, swans, Roosevelt elk, the rare Vancouver Island marmot, black bears and cougars.

Park Facilities

• Boat Launches
• Cabins/Hut/Yurts
• Strathcona Park Lodge and Outdoor Education Centre offers outdoor education and wilderness skills training and accommodation
• Vehicle Accessible and Walk-in/Wilderness Camping Areas
• Picnic Areas
• Playground at Buttle Lake campground

For more information about Vancouver Island’s Strathcona Park:
http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/strath/