Strathcona Provincial Park

Buttle Lake Area
Please note: The suggested times listed below are estimates for a one-way trip.

School groups planning to hike in Strathcona Park are asked to register with the Vancouver Island Region. Click here to register.

Elk River: Length, 11 km. Suggested time, 5 hours. Elevation change: 600 metres. Trail starts at Highway 28 and follows the generally moderate Elk River Valley for 10 km before turning up to Landslide Lake. Campsites are available at Butterwort Flats (6 km) and the upper gravel bar campsite (9 km). No camping available at Landslide Lake.

Crest Mountain: Length, 5 km. Suggested time, 4 hours. Elevation change: 1,250 metres. Trail starts at Highway 28. Excellent views above 1,300 metres.

Marble Meadows: Length, 6.6 km. Suggested time, 6 hours. Elevation change: 1,250 metres. Trail starts at Phillips Creek Marine Campsite on Buttle Lake. Access the trail head by boat from Auger Point or Karst Creek day use areas. Marble Meadows features viewpoints, alpine meadows and limestone formations.

Phillips Ridge: Length, 6 km. Suggested time, 4 hours. Elevation change: 800 metres. This well-graded trail starts from the trailhead just past Westmin and leads to Arnica Lake. There is a camping area at the north end of Arnica Lake.

Flower Ridge: Length, 6 km. Suggested time, 5 hours. Elevation change: 1,250 metres. Trail starts on Buttle Lake Road. Notable for its open hiking on the ridge and some striking viewpoints. CAUTION: trail is steep and rough till you reach the open alpine ridge; water can be scarce.

Upper Myra Falls: Length, 3 km. Suggested time, 2 hours. Elevation change: 100 metres. Trail starts at trailhead just past Westmin and follows gravel road for 700 m before turning into a forest trail. Features include old growth forest and a waterfall.

Bedwell Lake: Length, 6 km. Suggested time, 3.5 hours. Elevation change: 600 metres. Trail starts from Jim Mitchell Lake Road. Camping in designated areas only, but no campfires are permitted. This hike includes some excellent viewpoints. Routes to Cream Lake and Bedwell Sound depart from this area.

Price Creek/Cream Lake: Length, 8.5 km. Suggested time, 7 hours. Elevation change: 1,200 metres. Trail starts from the south end of Buttle Lake, following a gravel road for the first 3 km. A rough trail follows the main valley another 7.3 km where it crosses Price Creek and deteriorates into a very steep, rough route to Cream Lake.

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