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Petroglyph Provincial Park
Welcome
An intriguing and educational day-use park that offers excellent viewing opportunities of prehistoric rock carvings. Locations for rock art carvings were chosen carefully, and are usually marked by natural features such as waterfalls, rock formations or caves, and most are near water.
The sandstone gallery of petroglyphs, located on a hill overlooking Nanaimo Harbour, is just a short distance from the interpretive area along the walkway.
location
Just south of Nanaimo. Access to the park is via a pulloff from Hwy 1. Watch for signs.
- Region: Southern Vancouver Island - south of Nanaimo
- Driving time from city centre: About 1.5 hours from Victoria
- For a regional map of the park's location, click here.
Recreation Opportunities
Hiking:
A short walkway leads from the parking lot to an interpretive area with information boards that offer details about the history of the area and help to decipher the petroglyphs.
Day-Use/Picnicking:
There are no day-use or picnicking opportunities at this park.
Swimming:
There are no swimming opportunities at this park.
Canoeing and Kayaking:
There are no canoeing or kayaking opportunities at this park.
Viewing Opportunities:
The high concentration of prehistoric rock carvings are the main attraction at Petroglyph Provincial Park. Visitors can get a glimpse back to a time more than 1,000 years ago, when First Nations peoples created these traditional carvings. This park offers excellent viewing opportunities of these petroglyphs. The images – depicting everything from mystical wolf-like creatures to fish and human figures – were made for a variety of reasons, including territorial ownership and to commemorate special events among a people with no written language. The sandstone gallery of petroglyphs, located on a hill overlooking Nanaimo Harbour, is just a short distance from the interpretive area along the walkway.
Other Recreation:
Biking: Bicycles must keep to roadways.
Camping opportunities
There are no camping opportunities at this park.
interpretive programs
Interpretive panels at the petroglyphs offer information about the history of the area and help to decipher the petroglyphs. In the main interpretation area, visitors can make rubbings of replica castings of the petroglyphs by stretching cloth or paper across the carving and lightly rubbing with a crayon, charcoal or wax. These rubbings make a great souvenir.
Additional fees
There are no fees for the use of this park. Click here to view BC Park's General Fee Information website.
safety and other important notes
There are no other safety considerations for this specific park. Be sure to read our more general park safety information page.
Water:
Bring your own drinking water as potable water is not available in the park.
Toilets/Showers:
No toilets.
In addition to this information, Project G.O.! recommends reviewing the BC Parks website for petroglyph Provincial Park for important updates and detailed information before visiting this park.
park facility operator
R.L.C. Enterprize Ltd.
E-mail address: office@rlcenterprize.com
Phone: (250) 474-1336
other service providers at this park
There are no other listed service providers operating in this park.