Strathcona Provincial Park, designated in 1911, the oldest provincial park in British Columbia nestled in the forest and encircled by mountain peaks, is a hot spot for camping. Camping in the Strathcona Provincial Park Campground will be a memorable wilderness adventure. The dense old-growth forested campground is an enormous campground with several places for backcountry camping. Wilderness camping is allowed in the park in designated areas. The Strathcona Provincial Park is a rugged mountain wilderness with the most beautiful sights in the world.
The park offers three group campsites, Driftwood Bay Group Site, Croteau Lake Campsite, Karst Creek Group Site. Located on Buttle Lake, Driftwood Bay Group Site offers a covered picnic shelter with a wood stove and wheelchair-accessible pit-toilets. Croteau Lake Backcountry Group Site has a day-use yurt facility and is hike-in only with no vehicle access. Karst Creek Group Site near the Ralph River on the south end of Buttle Lake has direct access to the lakeshore and features wheelchair-accessible pit toilets, fire pits, and picnic tables.
At Bedwell Lake Trail, Elk River Trail, Della Falls Trail, and the Forbidden Plateau core area, designated backcountry sites are provided for enthusiasts. (Also, Lake Helen Mackenzie, Kwai Lake, and Circlet Lake are accessible from Paradise Meadows trailhead.)
In designated areas at backcountry sites, wilderness camping with few or no facilities is available. No random camping is permitted within 1 km (0.6 miles) of the main road and in designated areas where fees are applicable. On Buttle Lake Campground and Upper Campbell River, there are opportunities for marine backcountry camping at five marine campsites.
Two day-use areas, Crest Creek Crags and Crest Lake are located in the park. Within the area of Strathcona Provincial Park, no camping is permitted in any day-use area.
The Strathcona Provincial Park experiences moderate weather in summers and winters. Snow lingers on mountain peaks throughout the year, even at not very high elevations.
Strathcona Provincial Park offers training in wilderness skills and outdoor education at Strathcona Park Lodge and Outdoor Education Centre. Adjacent to the park, Mount Washington Alpine Resort offers Nordic and Alpine skiing opportunities and recreational facilities for winters and summers. A great time fishing at Buttle Lake would be excellent while camping in the Strathcona Provincial Park with a hot dish of Cut-Throat and Rainbow fish.
Strathcona Provincial Park is a vast area that breaks up into five: Forbidden Plateau, Elk River, Bedwell Lake, Ralph River, and Buttle Lake.
Strathcona Provincial Park is located in central Vancouver Island. It is near Upper Campbell Lake and Buttle Lake and 3 km (1.86 miles) west of the Upper Quinsam Lake and Wokas Lake. Beside Buttle Lake to the west of Strathcona Provincial Park, are Driftwood Bay Group Site and Buttle Lake Campground. Lupin Falls Trail, a nice hike trail with beautiful sites, is located beside Buttle Lake.
The average temperature in Strathcona Provincial Park is about 10°C (50°F). It experiences the coldest month in December with a maximum temperature of 4°C (39°F) and a minimum temperature of 0°C (32°F). The warmest months are July and August, with a maximum temperature of 25°C (77°F) and a minimum temperature of 13°C (55.5°F). Rain falls throughout the year—the high rate of precipitation from October to April. Snowfall is from October to April.