 Strathcona Provincial Park was designated as a park in 1911 making it the oldest Provincial Park in BC. It is a massive 245 807 hectares and contains countless meadows, mountains, rivers and lakes. The park is also home to the Comox Glacier. Visitors spending a day or a week exploring the kilometers of alpine beauty are rewarded with a glimpse of inspiring BC wilderness. There are several access points to the park but the most common entrances are at Paradise Meadows on Mount Washington , Elk River Trail Head on HWY 28 and Bedwell Lake Trail Head located by turning left after the Thelwood River Bridge onto Jim Mitchell Road near the south end of Buttle Lake. Caution: Due to the remote wilderness conditions encountered in this park, visitors planning on an extended overnight stay or just a day hike in the park should inform a responsible person or agency of their itinerary. Communication should include predicted departure and return dates, times and routes through the park. Ensure to contact your responsible party immediately upon your return. There are few amenities in the backcountry other than tent pads in designated areas and outhouses as indicated at a trailhead. Hikers are asked to venture into the parks completely self sufficient, and possessing basic first aid equipment. Remember backcounty camping is strictly "Leave No Trace Camping". Be aware that in winter there are dangers such as avalanche, thin ice and other winter hazards to be prepared for. Trails and Alpine Camping
Forbidden Plateau and Paradise Meadows
The trailhead to Paradise meadows is located on Mt. Washington . Visitors are able to walk on a well kept boardwalk through extensive alpine meadowland divided by trickling streams and forest stands. There are many species of rare alpine plants and flowers found here. Due to the fact that some of these flowers take years to finally bloom; visitors are asked to stay on the boardwalk and not pick flowers. More advanced hikers are then able to follow the trail to higher elevations to see some of the many alpine lakes and mountains located on this side of Strathcona Park . Climbing the trail out of paradise meadows takes hikers into higher elevations and towards some backcountry camping destinations. Lake Helen Mackenzie is the first lake that hikers can camp at but Kwai Lake , Circlet Lake and remote McKenzie and Douglas Lakes also have Alpine tent pads and pit toilets. Elk River Trail
The Elk River Trail Head is located on Hwy 28 past Buttle Lake heading towards Gold River . The trail is 11km and is quite steep and rooty in places. The final 1 km of trail is a steep climb and there are sections of bare rock to navigate around. The reward is the view of the almost turqoise blue Landslide Lake . There is also a spectacular view of the conquered trail! Campsites are available approximately halfway along the trail and again just before Landslide Lake . Bedwell Lake
To get to Bedwell Lake visitors must drive over the Thelwood River Bridge near the south end of Buttle Lake and then turn left onto Jim Mitchell Road . It is a rough 6.8km long gravel road not well suited to small cars without 4 wheel drive. The trail is about 6km long and contains both a river valley cloaked in Old-growth forest as well as rocky sub-alpine vistas. Camping is allowed in the designated areas at Bedwell and Baby Bedwell Lakes . Prices
Backcountry camping costs $10.00 per adults and $5.00 per youth per night. Campers must register before they camp at vaults found at the trailheads. This also allows the Park Facility Operators to be aware of your entry location, date and general plans in case of an emergency. Fires
Campfires are strictly forbidden in the extremely dry and delicate Backcountry of Strathcona Park.
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