One of Canada’s highest waterfalls flows over three cascades at B.C.’s oldest park

Known for having mild winters and no shortage of fascinating natural features, Strathcona Provincial Park is a must-visit on Vancouver Island. Created in 1911, the park is the oldest in B.C., and it just so happens to be home to one of Canada’s highest waterfalls: Della Falls.

Accessible via a combination of hiking and boating, the magnificent falls drop 440 metres, flowing over three cascades.

How to get to Della Falls

Situated in the southern remote section of the park, the trailhead to Della Falls is accessible by boat or canoe at the northwest end of Great Central Lake. Once you reach it, the trail takes you on a long but scenic 16 km journey past historic sites from the area’s early days of logging and mining, as well as Love and Della Lakes.

According to BC Parks, the trail follows an old railway up Drinkwater Valley to the base of the falls.

Note that the lake-to-trailhead area is susceptible to high winds, so exercise caution when crossing the lake.

Those looking for a less challenging, more accessible hike can opt for the journey to Forbidden Plateau, which takes visitors through vibrant sub-alpine meadows via a boardwalk and gravel trail.

The highest point on Vancouver Island

Strathcona Park is also home to the highest point on Vancouver Island, the Golden Hinde, which stands at an elevation of 2,200 metres above sea level.

BC Parks notes that three roadless tracts exist within the park, including Big Den, Central Strathcona, and Comox Glacier. These have all been designated as nature conservatory areas, with each one protecting the natural environment, undisturbed by humans.

Buttle Lake and Forbidden Plateau are the two developed areas of the park that visitors can explore, offering plenty of wilderness adventures like backpacking, hiking, and fishing.

If you’re looking for dramatic landscapes and sweeping views, no matter which way you look, Strathcona Park never disappoints. From its deep valleys to its rocky mountain peaks, the region has an extensive geological history extending back 380 million years, according to BC Parks.

This history is marked by “violent volcanic eruptions on ancient seafloors” and “mountain ranges sculpted by thick ice sheets,” which only melted a few thousand years ago.

How to get there: Take a ferry from Vancouver to Nanaimo and drive two hours and 16 minutes to Strathcona Provincial Park via BC-19 N.

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