Category: rain forest

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Strathcona Park BC – Buttle Lake area day hikes

By BestHike editor Rick McCharles

Strathcona Provincial Park,  Vancouver Island, offers many challenging multi-day adventures. And many very challenging day hikes.

In this post, however, I focus on easy highway-accessible day hikes recommended for kids, families, everyone.

Campgrounds are often booked months in advance. I once got an overflow site at Buttle Lake marine campground. Designated for those on the water, IF space is available, you can sometimes get a spot for yourself at marine campgrounds. They are less busy.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

I hiked most of these.  All good.

Almost everyone stops for the short walk to the viewing platform at Lady Falls.

  • Elk River Viewpoint
  • Lupin Falls
  • Auger Point
  • Karst Creek
  • Wild Ginger
  • Shepherd Creek

Without question Lower Myra Falls is best of the easy day hikes.  Don’t miss it.   And bring a bathing suit if weather is good.

Auger Point Fire Trail was interesting in seeing how some trees can survive major forest fires.

If you stay at Buttle Lake campground, I loved their Beach Access Trail.

I was cycling this trip, hiding my bike in the trees between each short nature walk.

BestHike editor Rick McCharles

The best hiking guidebook is Exploring Strathcona Park. Dead tree version available only. 

See our list of the best hikes in North America. 

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El Camino de Costa Rica 280 km

El Camino de Costa Rica is a breathtaking 280 km / 174 mile hike from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean, which is no easy feat even for the most experienced hikers.

While it can be intimidating to take on this type of adventure, there are so many incredible things to see and do while trekking this route, from tropical beaches and dense trails to mountain villages and indigenous communities.

official website

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

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BestHike #1 – West Coast Trail, British Columbia

West Coast Trail is our top hike in the world.

Click PLAY or watch a 1-minute preview on YouTube.

West Coast Trail

Challenging in many ways.

So much VARIETY in pristine Canadian coastal wilderness.

Mystic dawns and mind-blowing sunsets. Hidden pocket coves and weird coastal geology.

You’ll never forget the West Coast Trail.

WCT ladders

AT A GLANCE

  • 75 km (47 mi), 5-7 days Pachena Bay <> Gordon River
  • 3-5 day routes possible via Nitinaht Village trailhead
  • southwestern edge of Vancouver Island
  • Pacific Rim National Park
  • Permits required 
  • May 1 – September 30
  • extremely rugged, requires a high level of fitness
  • 6,000+ backpackers / year

Read more on our WCT information page.

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Cape Scott Trail, Vancouver Island

Trip report by BestHike editor Rick McCharles

I hiked the North Coast Trail in 2012.

Vowed to return to the beaches on the Cape Scott Trail. One day. The best part of the North Coast Trail.

In 2025 I waited for good weather. And headed back to this paradise.

The worst part of this adventure is the 60km drive in on a gravel road. Bring a good vehicle.

Highlights for many in this remote N.W. corner of Vancouver Island is wildlife. Especially bears and the quickly evolving coastal wolves.

The trail itself is super interesting. Plenty of boardwalk.

Some of the old growth trees were cut in the past. But there’s still plenty of fascinating greenery.

First stop is fantastic San Josef Bay (3-4km from the parking lot).

stunned at the magical scenery 😀

From there, I continued on to the biggest and best beach of all ➙ Nels Bight.

There are a couple of campsites on the way with platforms.

Continue to Nels if you have the time and energy.

This was close to where I camped in 2012.

Sunset was fantastic on the west coast.

Here’s the view from my tent.

No photo editing.

Pit toilets are decent.

Be sure to lock up all your food on arrival as bear sightings are almost guaranteed. (I saw only 1 bear next morning. Unlucky. Everyone else saw more.)

Weather on awakening was far more typical. Overcast with fog.

It can be very muddy. Bring good footwear.

On the return to the parking lot, I stopped to read signboards and visit the historical sites.

From 1896-1907 approximately 100 Danish settlers attempted to establish a self-governing farming and fishing community. It was extremely difficult.

A 7-foot-high dyke built to protect these flatlands was wiped out the 1st year.

Later, the government offered incentives to all. By 1912 more than 600 people were homesteading in the Cape Scott area. By 1917 most of the settlers had left the area, leaving behind whatever they could not easily pack out, including farm tools, buildings, stoves, machinery, and vehicles.

Walking out seemed to go more quickly than walking in. That often happens to me on out and back hikes.

Always a pleasure to hike temperate rain forest.

I do hope I get back to the beaches at least once more in this lifetime. 😀

2025
paradise - Nel's Bight, Cape Scott Trail, BC
2012

Surprisingly, I saw not one wolf in two days. I’d seen plenty in 2012.

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Dakota 576 Crash Trail, Vancouver Island

The Dakota 576 Crash Site Trail near Port Hardy, Vancouver Island, leads to the sad wreck of a 1944 Royal Canadian Air Force Dakota plane. 

The out and back trail starts on a road near the Bear Cove parking lot.

Sidetrips to a narrow, overgrown trail.

Ends up in a rugged, muddy track with some steep sections requiring ropes.

Arriving at the crash is haunting. Wreckage still strewn through the forest.

Happily, the site seems little vandalized or looted.

Pilot Officer J.M. Talbot and Navigator T.S. Wardlow were killed. A third crew member, Sgt. T.R. Moss, survived the crash.

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Dave Farrant Trail, Vancouver Island

Out of the Forest Campground at Telegraph Cove is the Dave Farrant Trail to Blinkhorn Point trailhead.

1st Viewpoint

The challenging trail is a labour of love from Dave Farrant himself, who hacked out a route with chainsaw while hanging from a rope over the cliff.

It’s steep and rugged.

The campground asks that you sign-in when setting off for this trail. I suspect some inexperienced hikers have gotten in trouble in the past.

I only went as far as the “bus stop” (outhouse) which marks the scramble up to first scenic overlook.

That was enough for me. I turned around rather than continue to the Blinkhorn Peninsula. I’d fallen once already — and once was enough.

Looking back, the trail was fun. Scrambling over fallen logs. Navigating trippy roots.

There are some huge old growth stumps to admire.

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Elk Falls, Campbell River, Vancouver Island

Trip report by BestHike editor Rick McCharles.

The #1 day hike on AllTrails out of Campbell River is Elk Falls via Millenium Trail.

  • up to 7.2 km return
  • up to 262m elevation gain
  • family friendly
  • excellent trail maintenance

Elk Falls are spectacular. But be warned there’s a lot of construction nearby in 2025 and for years to come.

The suspension bridge has great views down into the canyon.

Old growth forest is always a joy to walk.

About 200,000 visit each year. Free parking in a Provincial Park.

Trail maintenance is excellent.

Surprisingly, you can legally walk right to the edge of the falls.

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Serpent’s Back Trail, Hope, B.C.

Serpent’s Back Trail (aka Dragon’s Back or Kw’okw’echíwel Stl’áleqem) is a good description of a popular hike out of Hope, British Columbia.

  • 4km return
  • 424m elevation gain
Summit Viewpoint

Constant steep switchbacks through temperate rain forest. Mostly good footing.

Rest at a series of lookouts.

Mount Hope Viewpoint
West Viewpoint

Detour at Stone Garden.

A good hike.

The gravel road to the official trailhead was pretty rough, so I parked below and walked up.

You know you are in the right place when you see this impressive sign.

Start of the trail.

About 6km past the trailhead, there’s a small campground.

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Farewell Rathtrevor Beach, Vancouver Island

Over the years, I’ve taken thousands of photos Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park close to Nanaimo, Vancouver Island.

Most of those near dawn. I’d enjoy my first coffee of the day on the beach.

BUT summer 2025 I’m relocating back to my home town ➙ Calgary, Alberta.

I’ll miss those Rathtrevor mornings.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube. Montage of some of my favourite photos.

See more of my favourite Rathtrevor pics on Flickr.

Of course I’ve made many VIDEOS on Rathtrevor, as well.

My favourite of those is Vancouver Island at Dawn — 4 Seasons 🎵.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

When I first got into serious VIDEO editing — during COVID — this 2020 edit is another favourite. 😀

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

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Top Bridge Regional Trail, Vancouver Island

Trip report by BestHike editor Rick McCharles

The closest officially designated hiking trail to Parksville is Top Bridge Regional Trail from Rathtrevor Provincial Park.

I’ve hiked it at least 100 times — though it’s been rerouted in recent years.

Only 4km one way to an impressive pedestrian-cyclist suspension bridge from my favourite beach on Vancouver Island, Rathtrevor.

Normally I don’t start from Rarthrevor. I skip the road walking and begin at the “I” information sign. That’s the trailhead parking lot: 175 Allsbrook Rd, Parksville.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

NOTE ➙ There are plans to expand the municipal trail system by connecting Top Bridge and Coombs to Parksville Rail Trail.