Camping & Hiking · Scenic Views · British Columbia
A forested provincial park near Parksville on Vancouver Island, with two waterfalls a short walk from parking, easy trails and a campground among huge trees. The river is clear but very cold.
Englishman River Falls Provincial Park is built around two waterfalls on the Englishman River, set in forest just a short drive from Parksville. The upper falls are about a five-minute walk from the parking lot, and a bridge looks straight down into a narrow canyon. Visitors talk about the clear water, the sound of the river and the light through the trees.
The campground gets high marks for spacious sites with natural privacy from the enormous trees around them. The park is well kept, with outhouses and proper restrooms near the entrance, plenty of parking and signs asking people to stay on the trails.
Most visitors loop between the two falls: cross the bridge at the upper falls, follow the river down to a second bridge, then continue to the lower falls, where people swim, jump in and stack rocks into inuksuit. The trails are wide and mostly easy, so they work well for kids and older walkers, although a few hills are steep. Winter visits are popular too, with the falls running high, and on summer Saturdays one reviewer recommends a stop at the Errington Farmers' Market on the way.
The water is very cold year-round, and the rocks are slippery. The paths aren't suitable for strollers. In winter, watch for heavy clumps of snow falling from the trees. Allow a few hours to explore properly.
Summarised from visitor reviews on Google Maps. Based on 2,271 Google reviews. Details change — confirm hours, prices and bookings with Englishman River Falls Provincial Park Campground directly.
