Elk Falls Provincial Park
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A campfire ban is currently in effect for this park. For more information about campfire bans and about provincial parks with park closures and campfire bans in effect, visit the BC Parks campfire ban webpage.
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CAUTION - Please be advised that portions of the Quinsam River trail above the campground have been damaged by flooding. Sections of trail have been eroded - please use rerouted trail areas and keep back from river edges. Thank you for your cooperation - BC Parks.
CAUTION - Bears can be seen in this area. Please do your part to be bear aware.
Here's how to be Bear Aware:
- Keep a clean and tidy camping site.
- All food and garbage must be stored in well sealed containers.
- Store all food containers and coolers in your vehicle or RV.
- Never leave cooking utensils, coolers or grease, or dishwater lying around your campsite.
- Use bear-proof garbage containers located through out the campground
- Cook and eat well away from your tent.
- Avoid getting food odours and scented products on clothes and sleeping bags.
- Never feed or approach bears
- Never get too close to bears
- Be noisy when using hiking trails.
- Keep children close by and…
- Keep pets leashed, Pets can anger a bear and provoke an attack and may bring the bear back to its owner.
If a Bear Approaches You:
- Talk softly to the bear so it knows what you are.
- Leave slowly - always face the bear, but don't stare directly at him.
- If the bear follows you or starts to circle you, slowly but calmly keep backing up
- If you see or are approached by a bear report it to park operators, park rangers or to Conservation Officer 24 Hour Hotline at 1-877-952-RAPP (7277)
Park Info
A thundering waterfall and some of the finest year-round salmon fishing in Canada are just two of the reasons Elk Falls is one of the most popular provincial parks on Vancouver Island. Add to that the extensive network of forest trails, the nearby Quinsam salmon hatchery and, in the fall, the sight of spawning salmon in the Quinsam and Campbell Rivers, and it’s easy to see why this provincial park is considered one of the best campground accommodations in the “Salmon Capital of the World”.
This convenient location - just 2 kilometers from downtown Campbell River on central Vancouver Island - provides quiet riverside camping in the heart of a world-renowned fishing area. And you don’t have to go far to find fish—from November to March, the Steelhead run right by the campsites on the Quinsam River. As spring progresses, lakes in the area--many of which have been stocked--ripple with Rainbow, Cutthroat and Dolly Varden trout. During late spring and through the summer, fishermen head to the tidal waters to fish for Chinook for coho salmon.
After a morning fishing, pack a picnic lunch and take a cool stroll to the Elk Falls day-use area. Just 3 km from the campground, this picnic area contains easy walking trails and the plunging 25-meter waterfall that gives this park its name. Hiking trails also lead to other areas in the park, which is home to the only significant stand of old-growth Douglas fir north of MacMillan Provincial Park.
The large campground at Elk Falls Provincial Park provides a convenient base camp for day tripping. Gold River, destinations in the Sayward Forest, Kelsey Bay, Rock Bay, and the parks of Quadra and Cortes Islands are within easy reach.
Park Size: 1,087 hectares
| Campground Hours of Operation
All dates are subject to change without notice |
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| Opening and Closing Campground Dates: (campground is accessible but may not offer full services such as water, security, etc.) |
Open year round |
| Campground Dates with Full Services and Fees: | May 1 – October 15 |
| Campground Reservable Dates: | May 15 – September 8 |
| Total Number of Vehicle Accessible Campsites: | 122 |
| Number of Reservable Campsites, if applicable: (all remaining sites are first-come, first-served) |
57 |
| Note: The above information is for the campground only. Park users can still walk into the park if conditions such as weather permit. Check the "Attention Visitor Notice" above for park alerts. | |
General Visitor Information
Visitor Safety Information (park safety, hazards, wildlife safety information, health risks)
Location
The Quinsam Campground at Elk Falls Provincial Park is located 3 km north of Campbell River on central Vancouver Island on Hwy 28 toward Gold River. The Elk Falls day-use areas are located 3 km west of the campground off Hwy 28.
Nature & Culture
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In the campground, each of the campsite posts identifies a tree, shrub or flower growing adjacent to the post or near the campsite. Here is a Guide (15 kb pdf format) explaining the plant names and additional comments.
- Wildlife - Wildlife in Elk Falls Park includes a variety of small mammals and birds. Great blue herons, killdeer, Glaucous-winged gulls, crows, Chestnut-backed chickadees, Golden-crowned kinglets and starlings are the most abundant resident bird species. Mammals include deer, bears and cougars, as well as shrews, squirrels, voles, raccoons, mink, river otters, muskrat and beaver. A beaver dam and pond are located west of the campground. Roosevelt elk also utilize portions of the park for winter range. Fish species include steelhead, Cutthroat and Dolly Varden trout, Three Spine Stickleback, fresh water Sculpin and Chinook, chum, coho, pink and sockeye salmon.
- General Wildlife, Marine & Outdoor Ethics Information
Management Planning
Management Planning Information
- Online Management planning information for this park
Map / Brochure
Any maps listed are for information only - they may not represent legal boundaries and should not be used for navigation.
- Park Brochure (72 kb pdf)
- Park Map (87 kb pdf)
Reservations
Reserveable, vehicle accessible campsites must be reserved through Discover Camping.
Campsite Reservations:
Campsite reservations are accepted and first-come, first-served sites are also available.
Activities Available At This Park
Cycling | ||
Fishing | ||
Hiking | ||
In the day-use area there is a short trail to the magnificent old growth Douglas fir forest. Another system of trails will take you to Elk, Moose and Deer Falls, found along this portion of the Campbell River. Detailed trail maps are located at the day-use areas and in the campground.
For your own safety and the preservation of the park, obey posted signs and keep to designated trails. Shortcutting trails destroys plant life and soil structure.
Pets on Leash | ||
Backcountry areas are not suitable for dogs or other pets due to wildlife issues and the potential for problems with bears.
Swimming | ||
Wildlife Viewing | ||
Facilities Available At This Park
Campfires | ||
Drinking Water | ||
Picnic Areas | ||
Pit or Flush Toilets | ||
Playground | ||
Sani-Station/Dump | ||
Vehicle Accessible Camping | ||
This park offers 122 vehicle accessible campsites. Approximately 25 of these sites border the Quinsam River; the rest are set in a second-growth forest. The Quinsam Campground entrance is located on the west side of the Quinsam Bridge. Campsite reservations are accepted and first-come, first-served sites are also available.
Wheelchair Access | ||
Winter Camping | ||






