Elk Falls Provincial Park
Sign up free — See who's going and message them.
About
More photos 4
1 / 4
Why go
- Salmon migrations on the Quinsam and Campbell rivers, mainly king and coho salmon.
- Six kilometres of hiking trails cross the park.
- The Quinsam fish hatchery near the campground stocks the river with salmon and rainbow trout.
Don't miss
- Elk FallsThe Campbell River drops about 25 metres over a rock ledge into a canyon.At the east end of John Hart Lake, northwest of Campbell River
- Old-growth Douglas fir forestVancouver Island’s only significant remaining old-growth Douglas fir forest north of MacMillan Provincial Park is near the falls.Near Elk Falls
What you see
- From the suspension bridge over the Campbell River canyon, you can see Elk Falls.
Facilities
- Picnic area A large picnic area.
- Campground 122 sites beside the Quinsam River, about four kilometres downstream from the falls, near its confluence with the Campbell River.
Photo spots
- Beaver Pond and Kingfisher PondBeavers live at these two ponds; they may be subjects for wildlife photos.Beaver Pond and Kingfisher Pond
Shorts
History
The park was established in 1940 to protect the waterfall and canyon. Logging and fire left much of today’s forest as second growth. The John Hart Dam and Generating Station were completed after the park was established. The dam formed John Hart Lake in 1948, and the plant has served a pulp and paper mill since 1952.
- 1929Logging had cleared most of the park area; timber was transported along the Campbell River.
- 1938A wildfire devastated nearly 300 square kilometres of logged forest near Campbell River, and the burned land was widely replanted.
- 20 December 1940Established to protect the waterfall and canyon, initially covering 1,124 hectares.
- 1946The park lost 102 hectares for construction of the John Hart Dam and hydroelectric plant.
- 1948The dam impounded the Campbell River and formed John Hart Lake.
Show all
- 1952The hydropower plant began serving a pulp and paper mill.
How to get there
- CarHighway 28 crosses the park, which lies about two kilometres from Campbell River.
Sources: Elk Falls Provincial Park - Wikipedia · Elk Falls Provincial Park - Wikipedia · checked 3 Oct 2026
Plan from here: Evening walk →
Questions and answers
What fish live in the rivers at Elk Falls Provincial Park?
The rivers hold rainbow trout, cutthroat trout and char.
Where is the Quinsam fish hatchery at Elk Falls Provincial Park?
It is near the campground and stocks the Quinsam River with several salmon species and rainbow trout.
Are there paths beyond the trails at Elk Falls Provincial Park?
A wider network of forest roads lies beside the park.
What trees grow in Elk Falls Provincial Park?
Douglas fir, western red cedar, shore pine, red alder and bigleaf maple grow in the park.
- See who's going — faces, not ticket counts.
- Write to someone who shares your interests — no swipes, no matches, no paywall.
- Pick the event or the place to meet at — and go together.