If you are an explorer in the subterranean getaways, I must say that you have chosen the right area for your adventure. On Vancouver Island, you can find thousands of recorded caverns and caves. The number of them is so large that Vancouver Island is sometimes known as Caves Island. It includes significant numbers of caves in your caving (spelunking) vacations in North America. Among them is Thanksgiving Cave, the longest and deepest cave on Vancouver Island, which is located in Tahsis, the cave capital of Canada. Let's step beyond the surface and get a little into the inner layers of the earth. You may find what we do not see in your daily lives by searching in the dark. As a caver, you can see the pictographs and the shape of minerals on the walls while wearing a headlamp. You may cross waterways or have a chance to watch caves with waterfalls such as Hidden Falls or Sombrio Beach Falls. Check out beaches with caves like Low Tide Sea Cave at Chesterman Beach. Go to the darkest layers of the earth and find traces of ancient humans. Participate in Vancouver Island guided caving tours to challenge your abilities. Many Vancouver Island caves and tunnels are made of karst limestone, dolomite, or gypsum.
While planning for your caving journey, it is better to know the activity difficulty. For self-guided caves, Horne Lake Caves is one of the best on Vancouver Island. Little Huson Cave Regional Park is a good place for beginners, where you can find 15 caves, including Little Huson Caves. Whether you are a caver or spelunker, your caving adventure may require hiking and rock climbing skills. There are some easy recreational caving tours for beginners on Vancouver Island. If you don't have enough caving experience, don't choose unmapped tracks. It will be one of your first steps to bring essential caving gear and equipment with you. Try not to explore Vancouver Island's hidden caves alone because the navigation process would be hard at deeper levels. Every time you start an adventure, it is best to notify someone.
Vancouver Island is one of the popular caving destinations in British Colombia. You can find the cave with a suitable difficulty level for every age on Vancouver Island. Vancouver Island caves locations are such beautiful that you can experience half of the adventure just on the way to reach them. In the following list, you can see the most famous caves on Vancouver Island.
1. Upana Caves
2. Horne Lake Caves
3. Artlish Caves Provincial Park
4. Florence Lake Cave
5. Low Tide Sea Cave
6. Thanksgiving Cave
7. Florence Lake Cave
8. Coral Cave
9. Nitinat Caves
10. Minigill Cave
Vancouver Island is an unimaginable place to go caving; there are over 1000 known caves on Vancouver Island, but the real number could be many more just waiting to discover. Memekay River near Comox is one place where you can enjoy exploring and finding hidden caves there.
The exact location may not be found on Google Maps, but you can explore the mentioned area and find them yourself.
Notice the caves' names; they may not be registered names of them.
1. Homesite Creek Caves (near Honeymoon Bay)
2. Valdes Island Caves
3. Gordon River Caves (near Honeymoon Bay)
4. Emilia Caves (north of the island, near Memekay River Valley)
5. Cave near Century Sam Lake (Alberni-Clayoquot )
6. Crystal Caves (near Menzies Bay)
7. Middle Scallop Cave (north of the island, near Memekay River Valley)
8. Peat Cave (north of the island, near Comox Valley)
9. Chicken 2 Caves (north of the island, near Memekay River Valley)
There are five sea caves on Vancouver Island, and all of them offer a fantastic view from both the ocean and the cave.
You can find a full mystery cave at the south corner of Chesterman Beach.
Low Tide Sea Cave, as the name shows, is visible at low tide. This cave is one of the most special sea caves in British Colombia.
San Josef Bay provides another sea cave plus an excellent area around itself at the north of Vancouver Island.
Mystic Beach at the Pacific Rim area of Vancouver Island has a unique, fabulous cave, especially when tides are low and become a great photography spot.
Also, hikers can reach Owen Point Sea Caves located near the West Coast Trail on Pacific Rim National Park, providing the tide is below 1.8 meters (5.9 ft). Surges of the Pacific Ocean have carved out magnificent caves over time, and you can enjoy seeing them.
Ice caves are one the most stunning types of caves that you can find on Vancouver Island. There are different types of ice caves that you can see some of the best of them on the north and Pacific Rim area of the island. These amazing wonders of nature that hiding under the glaciers make a great scene for cavers lovers.
1. Near Century Sam Lake
2. Middle Scallop Cave
3. Peat Cave
Vancouver Island has Challenging caves for experienced cavers, and the difficulty level of most of them are from moderate to hard.
Beginners and inexperienced cavers should only go caving with proper training, expert guides, and also being respectful of fragile environments.
Remember, spelunking always can be dangerous, so bring the proper equipment and never caving alone.