From gentle explorers to avid hikers, 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.

CHAIRLIFT HIKES

Hop on the Eagle Express chairlift for a ride to the peak of Mount Washington, where you can enjoy spectacular views of the Comox Glacier, the Strait of Georgia and Strathcona Park, including the tallest peak on Vancouver Island, the Golden Hinde. Keep your eyes open for bald eagles, whiskey jacks and the Vancouver Island marmot.

Choose from seven alpine trails on Mount Washington serviced by the chairlift, ranging from easy loops under 1km to more steep trails up to 4.3km. As you trek along the mountain’s bark mulch trails, interpretive signs identify the natural attractions of the Mile High Alpine.

PARADISE MEADOWS LOOPS

Just steps from the resort, Paradise Meadows trails wind their way through ragged alpine trees and flower-dotted meadows. Accessed from Mount Washington’s Raven Lodge, there are a choice of trails that includes a wheelchair accessible boardwalk. Loops around the meadows range from 3 km trails with little or no elevation to the 7-9 km loop to Helen MacKenzie and Battleship Lakes. The 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.

STRATHCONA PROVINCIAL PARK HIKING

Explore a bit further afield in the Vancouver Island alpine on multi-day expeditions – the Paradise Meadows trailhead also provides a gateway to the extensive hiking trails of Strathcona Provincial Park. Set out on scenic routes for the traverse to Buttle Lake, Mount Albert Edward or Comox Glacier. BC’s oldest provincial park, 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 set against a backdrop of pristine lakes, waterfalls, alpine meadows and wildlife.

Strathcona Provincial Park is home to 440 metre Della Falls, one of Canada’s highest waterfalls, and Vancouver Island’s highest peak, the Golden Hinde, with an elevation of 2200 metres.

The Strathcona Wilderness Institute Information Centre at the trailhead offers maps and information to visitors during the summer months and a schedule of one day and multi-day guided hikes.
 

More Strathcona Park Activities and Attractions

Further scenic hiking trails are accessed within an easy drive of Mount Washington, along with boating, fishing, swimming and waterskiing available at Buttle and Upper Campbell Lakes. There are also opportunities for rock climbing, caving, fishing and more. As always on the Island, keep your eyes open for unlimited wildlife viewing opportunities – bald eagles, Whiskey Jacks, squirrels, deer and elk, the rare Vancouver Island marmot, black bears and even rare but prized sitings of cougars and wolves.

Within the park there are numerous facilities available including boat launches, cabins/huts/yurts, vehicle accessible and hike-in camping areas, picnic areas and playgrounds.

For more information about Vancouver Island’s Strathcona Provincial Park, please visit the BC Parks website.