Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
the last departing Cortes Island at 5:50pm. Peak round-trip fare is adult $10.55, child $4.65,
vehicle $25.25.
Running from the east coast to the west coast through the northern section of magnificent
Strathcona Provincial Park, Highway 28 is another island road worth traveling for the
scenery alone.
Strathcona Provincial Park
British Columbia's oldest and Vancouver Island's largest park, Strathcona preserves a vast
250,000-hectare (617,800-acre) wilderness in the northern center of Vancouver Island. Van-
couver Island's highest peak, 2,220-meter (7,280-foot)
Golden Hinde,
is within the park.
The peak was named for Sir Francis Drake's ship, in which he circumnavigated the world
in the 1570s; some believe he would have sighted the peak from his ship. The park's other
superlative natural features include 440-meter (1,440-foot) high
Della Falls,
one of North
America's highest waterfalls, and a 1,000-year-old, 93-meter-tall (300-foot) Douglas fir,
British Columbia's tallest known tree.
You'll get a taste of Strathcona's beauty along Highway 28, but to get into the park prop-
er, turn south off Highway 28 halfway between Campbell River and Gold River. This access
road hugs the eastern shore of
Buttle Lake,
passing many well-marked nature walks and
hiking trails. One of the first is the short walk (10 minutes each way) to
Lupin Falls,
which
are more impressive than the small creek across from the parking lot would suggest.
Apart from numerous day-use areas along the shore of Buttle Lake, the only facilities
within the park are two campgrounds.
Buttle Lake Campground
(April-Oct., $16) is on
the west side of Buttle Lake, just west of the junction of Highway 28 and the park access
road.
Ralph River Campground
(May-Sept., $16) is 35 kilometers (22 miles) farther
south, on the shore of Buttle Lake. Both have pit toilets, picnic tables, and fire rings, but no
hookups. Make reservations through Discover Camping (519/826-6850 or 800/689-9025,
Gold River
Those looking for a glimpse of Vancouver Island away from the touristy east coast will
find the 90-kilometer (56-mile) drive west from Campbell River to Gold River (pop. 1,700)
along Highway 28 both enjoyable and interesting.
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