Little Qualicum River Trails run on both sides of the Little Qualicum River in the Little Qualicum River Falls Park. The park has one waterfall after another as the river rushes from Cameron Lake and heads to the sea. The river runs through some incredible canyons surrounded by a beautiful West Coast forest setting.
This is one of the most magnificent parks on Vancouver Island. The Little Qualicum River starts on the southern shore of Cameron Lake, which is right next to the awesome Cathedral Grove forest. This magnificent 440-hectare park is a popular family recreation area. Surrounded by riverside trails and picnic areas, it makes it a favoured destination for many.
There are many walking and hiking trails in and around the park for you to enjoy. Loop trails on both sides of the Little Qualicum River provide access to many swimming holes and to the upper and lower falls.
Swimming and fishing in the river and Cameron Lake are both quite special, and sailboarding is excellent in the lake. The river is one of the few rivers on Vancouver Island to have brown trout. Facilities in the park include an adventure playground, a 105 campsite campground, and scenic hiking trails.
Cameron Lake’s day-use area has the best swimming opportunities in the park. There are picnic tables and pit toilets provided in a small parking lot at the southern end of the lake. Fires are prohibited in the day-use area, and animals must be on a leash at all times and are not allowed on beach areas.
There is no camping at Cameron Lake, but it is an ideal spot for swimming, kayaking/canoeing, and fishing, as well as sailboarding, due to the wind funnel created by the surrounding mountains. The Cameron Lake and Beaufort day-use areas are located 10 minutes west of the campground on Highway 4. Camping is available at the Little Qualicum Falls Park with 96 campsites available; 9 are first-come, first-served sites. All in all, this is one of Vancouver Island’s premier parks.