Parks are selected and cherished for their natural beauty and diverse habitat, and in British Columbia, we are blessed with a staggering number of regional, provincial and national parks from which to choose.
Selection of the Top Ten parks on and around Vancouver Island is both a difficult and rewarding task. Each park is a unique part of Canada’s heritage, protecting the finest natural environment for the benefit of future generations of residents and visitors.
Pacific Rim National Park
Location: Pacific Rim, West Coast Vancouver Island
Discover the haunting beauty of the wild west coast in the only national park wholly located on Vancouver Island – lush coastal rainforest and over 100 small islands.
Goldstream Provincial Park
Location: Victoria, South Vancouver Island
A 700-year-old temperate rainforest with massive trees, a cascading waterfall and a spectacular fall salmon run – and only twenty minutes from downtown Victoria!
Carmanah Walbran Provincial Park
Location: South West Vancouver Island
An awe-inspiring home to the tallest tree in Canada – the 95 metre (315 feet) Carmanah Giant, believed to be the tallest spruce in the world.
Strathcona Provincial Park
Location: Central Vancouver Island
Hiking trails, alpine lakes and the highest waterfall in Canada – all in a rugged mountain wilderness of over 250,000 hectares.
MacMillan Provincial Park
Location: Central Vancouver Island
Roadside access to Cathedral Grove’s 800-year-old Douglas-fir forest – a unique opportunity to count the fallen tree’s rings for yourself.
Miracle Beach Provincial Park, Central Vancouver Island
Few family holiday destinations can rival Miracle Beach’s broad sandy beaches, spacious campsites and nature programs for the whole family.
East Sooke Regional Park
Location: South Vancouver Island
Perhaps the best hiking on Vancouver Island – East Sooke’s Coast Trail is considered to be one of the premier day hikes in Canada.
Desolation Sound Marine Provincial Park
Location: BC Sunshine Coast
The most beautiful cruising ground in BC, and one of the premier sailing playgrounds in the world – warm waters, a mild climate and rich sea life.
Beaumont Marine Park (Gulf Islands National Park)
Location: Pender Island, Southern Gulf Islands
Tucked along the shore of picturesque Bedwell Harbour, Beaumont is the most popular marine park in the Gulf Islands, with a beautiful sandy beach.
Porpoise Bay Provincial Park
Location: BC Sunshine Coast
A forested park with hiking trails, sandy beaches, spawning salmon streams and one of the top 20 recreational scuba dives in the world.
