About the Park

There are over 5 kilometres of trails in the park. The trails pass through a variety of unique and scenic ecosystems from a lush Douglas fir, cedar and alder forest that give way to a sprawling meadow and marshland, then transitions to an oceanside walkway. Many visitors also enjoy strolling along the massive white sand flats of Rathtrevor Beach.

For more information, please visit www.bcparks.ca.

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Picnicking

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A large picnic area is located within this park adjacent to the beach. Picnic tables, fresh water, and toilet/change buildings are available.

Perfect for a family reunion, company picnic or any other gathering in the park, Rathtrevor also has two covered picnic shelters available for reservation. Picnic shelter #1 is situated amongst the majestic trees to the left of the visitor day-use parking lot in the field beside the campground entrance. Picnic shelter #2 is situated closer to the beach and nearer the playground in the field beside the campground entrance. Both picnic sites include a shelter with picnic tables to seat approximately 40-60 each and water taps with water available mid-March to mid-October.

Please book the picnic shelters up to one year in advance by contacting BC Parks Camping.

Camping

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Drive-in campsites
Rathtrevor is world renowned for its beautiful campground and facilities. Each of the 226 non-serviced, forested campsites available within the campground is located within a five-minute walk from the beach. Each site has its own picnic table and fire ring. Campfires are allowed in designated fire rings provided. During a fire ban fires are not allowed anywhere in the park. There is a mature forest that blankets the campground allowing dappled sunshine to filter in. There are three washroom buildings located in the campground, which provide private hot showers as well as clean drinking water and flush toilets, fresh water taps, walking trails and an adventure playground. There is also an RV sanitation station available to empty waste tanks and to refill water tanks.

Walk-in tenting
There is a large tenting field 25 sites available, which allows walk-in visitors to set up their tents next to a picnic table and share communal fire rings. The sites provide full sun and the area is only a short distance from the beach and all services. Visitors are not allowed to drive their vehicles into the field but can park in a lot close to the site and transport their camping gear to the site.

Group Camping

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There are 4 group sites located within beautiful and popular Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park! The main groupsite area has four sites and is situated just past park headquarters on the right before reaching the day-use and campground portions of the park. Here there is a shower and washroom building as well as a communal wash station for dishes. Two of the sites here are located in the trees being more suitable to tenting with fewer camping units. The other two sites are in the open field area and more suited for campers, RV’s, trailers, and tents.

Each group site contains a communal fire pit with surrounding picnic tables. Sites 1-4 hold a maximum of 40-50 people.

Reservations are accepted up to 1 year in advance of arrival.

Fires

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Campfires are allowed in designated fire rings provided that a fire ban is not in effect. Firewood is available for purchase in the park. To preserve vegetation and ground cover, please do not gather firewood from the area around your campsite or elsewhere in the park (this is a ticketable offence under the Park Act). Dead wood is an important habitat element for many plants and animals and it adds organic matter to the soil. It is illegal to burn wood or material from the forest because it is destructive and damages the protected ecosystems within the park.

Park Info

Activities


  • Hiking

  • Swimming

  • Canoeing / kayaking

  • Fishing

  • Interpretive programs

  • Pets on leash

  • Bicycling
  • Windsurfing

  • Playground

  • Beach

  • BBQ

Amenities


  • Vehicle accessible

  • Picnic sites

  • Camping

  • Group campsites

  • Toilets

  • Showers

  • Drinking water

  • Wheelchair accessible

  • Sani-station / dump facilities

  • Winter recreation

Location

Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park is located on central Vancouver Island 3 km south of Parksville on Hwy 19a. Take exit #51 from the Inland Island Highway (Hwy #19) and follow signs to the park. Parksville is located at the junction of Highway 19, which runs the length of Vancouver Islands east coast and Highway 4, which runs to the west coast of the island through Port Alberni to Long Beach.

Nearby Parks

Nearby parks within a 20 to 30 minute drive of the park include Englishman River Falls Provincial Park, Little Qualicum Falls Provincial Park, Spider Lake Provincial Park, Rosewall Creek Provincial Park and Cathedral Grove at MacMillan Provincial Park. This is an excellent park for visitors wanting to experience several different natural settings within a single park.

For more information, please visit www.bcparks.ca.

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Rentals & Accommodations

Trailer Rentals

Rathtrevor Beach trailer rentals close on October 15, 2024. Goldstream Park and Sproat Lake trailer rentals close on September 30, 2024. All trailers will be available to rent for the 2025 season starting on March 1, 2025. Are you hoping to enjoy a camping experience at one of our most popular campgrounds but don’t have...

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