| Strathcona Provincial Park | |
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 Buttle Lake, located in the centre of the park | |
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| Location | Vancouver Island,British Columbia,Canada |
| Nearest city | Gold River,Campbell River |
| Coordinates | 49°38′59″N125°45′00″W / 49.64972°N 125.75000°W /49.64972; -125.75000 |
| Area | 2,458.07 km2 (949.07 sq mi) |
| Established | March 1, 1911 |
| Governing body | BC Parks |
| Website | bcparks |
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Strathcona Provincial Park is the oldestprovincial park inBritish Columbia, Canada, and the largest onVancouver Island. Founded in 1911, the park was named forDonald Alexander Smith, 1st Baron Strathcona and Mount Royal, a wealthy philanthropist and railway pioneer.[2]: 256 It lies within theStrathcona Regional District. TheClayoquot Sound Biosphere Reserve, established in 2000, includes threewatersheds in the western area of the park.[3]
The park is 9 kilometres (5.6 mi) east ofGold River and 25 kilometres (16 mi) west ofCampbell River. At 2,458 km2 (949 sq mi), it contains the highest peaks of theVancouver Island Ranges. Some notable mountains located within the park boundaries include:
Strathcona Park is also known for its lakes, waterfalls, and glaciers.Buttle Lake is a popular destination for swimming, canoeing, kayaking, and fishing. Also located in the park isDella Falls which, at 440 m (1,440 ft) in height, is among the highest waterfalls in Canada.
The 6,500 m (21,000 ft) thickKarmutsen Formation is the most abundant rock unit in the park. It is a pile of tholeiiticpillow basalts andbreccias. It is also the oldest, thickest and most widespread formation on Vancouver Island found on Triple Peak,Cat's Ears Peak and theMackenzie Range.
This area is the traditional territory of the Mowachaht and Muchalaht people of theMowachaht/Muchalaht First Nations. Commander John Buttle, for whomButtle Lake is named, first explored the area in the 1860s. In 1890, the British Columbia government conducted a survey to define the boundaries of theE&N Railway land grant. The grant, given toRobert Dunsmuir's company in exchange for the construction of the railway, extended from Muir Creek, nearSooke at the southern end ofVancouver Island, in a straight line toCrown Mountain. All of the land between that line and the east coast of Vancouver Island was included in the grant. The line that formed the west boundary of the grant became the east boundary of Strathcona Park when it was created in 1911. Although originally planned to reachCampbell River, the railway was never constructed pastCourtenay. At the time of the grant, the area within the present park boundaries was considered unexplored.
In 1894 and 1896, the area was explored by Reverend William W. Bolton. Bolton's explorations and federal government interest in establishing anational park led BC Premier SirRichard McBride to set aside a park reserve in June 1910. McBride's Minister of Lands, Price Ellison, lead an expedition to explore the new park reserve which included the first ascent ofCrown Mountain on July 29, 1910. W.W. Urquhart led a survey party, which included photographer W.R. Kent and Einar Anderson, throughout the park area in 1913 and 1914. They climbed many ofthe peaks and named geographic features throughout the park.
TheFirst World War caused elaborate plans for a railway and two hotels to be abandoned. As part of the war effort,there was logging in the Elk River Valley.
Over the years which have followed, other industrial uses have affected the park.
Mineral claims were staked in the park as early as 1911. In 1939, mining and logging became permitted in the park and in 1959 theMyra Falls Mine (originally owned byWestmin) was opened. This mine continues to operate in a section of the park calledStrathcona-Westmin Provincial Park. This area is entirely within the larger park and comprises 1.5% of the total area. As a Class B park, it is intended to cease its existence and return to the main park when the mine eventually ceases operations. The mine is currently owned byNyrstar and produces zinc, lead, copper, silver and gold concentrates.
In the mid-1950s, 600 hectares (1,500 acres) around the shoreline ofButtle Lake was logged to accommodate the increase in water levels from the creation of theStrathcona Dam in 1955-1958, impoundingUpper Campbell Lake.[4][5] Strathcona Dam is one of the threehydroelectric dams built to power the John Hart Generating Station on theCampbell River. The variation in water levels in Buttle Lake periodically exposes the stumps.
In 1987, the provincial government announced plans to remove large areas from the park for logging and other industrial uses. TheFriends of Strathcona formed a blockade which attracted significant media attention and resulted in the arrest of 63 protesters.[6] The government engaged Peter Larkin to conduct an independent review of the future of the park which eventually resulted in the Strathcona Park Master Plan. Most of the park is designated a conservation area under this plan. The Strathcona Park Public Advisory Committee was set up at this time to provide advice to BC Parks when making management decisions concerning the park.
In 1995, the McBride Creek area (37.5 km2 (14.5 sq mi)) and the Megin watershed (273.9 km2 (105.8 sq mi)) were added to the park. Later, the Divers and Rossitor Lake addition was included as well.
The park is a popular destination for hikers and mountain climbers, as well as swimmers, canoeists, and kayakers. There is an extensive network of hiking trails in the park; visitor facilities are located atButtle Lake andForbidden Plateau. The park includes campgrounds, backpacking and cross-country skiing trails, and downhill skiing. There is fishing, in season, forcutthroat,rainbow, andDolly Varden trout. Campfires are banned in all areas of the park, except in provided fire pits.
Although there are no commercial tourist facilities in the park itself, the nearby Strathcona Park Lodge and Outdoor Education Centre provides outdoors education. Visitor facilities are available in the nearby communities ofCampbell River andGold River.Mount Washington Alpine Resort, which offersdownhill andcross-country skiing, is located adjacent to the park. The Strathcona Park Lodge also offers weekend camps for tourists or international students with activities such as rock climbing, kayaking, hiking, swimming, etc.
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Strathcona Provincial Park travel guide from Wikivoyage| International | |
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| National | |
