Scenic Views · Camping & Hiking · Fishing · British Columbia
A BC provincial park on Highway 4 west of Parksville, with an easy loop to upper and lower waterfalls through a rocky canyon, a campground and nearby Cameron Lake. Busy and well loved; swimming is closed near the falls.
Little Qualicum Falls Provincial Park follows the Little Qualicum River through a series of canyons and rock ledges, with an upper and a lower falls linked by forest trails. Visitors describe clear water, a constant roar and dramatic lookouts over both falls. It's one of the most popular stops on the road across Vancouver Island.
An easy loop from the day-use area takes in both falls, and there are about 6 km of trails in total. Reviewers say the upper falls trail is mostly flat, while the lower falls side has lots of stairs. Families with young children manage it, though one visitor noted people with mobility limits may struggle when it's muddy. There are picnic tables and washrooms, and parking is large but can fill on busy days.
The park campground gets good reviews. Campers mention clean, single-room washrooms with showers on the upper loop, roomy sites that fit RVs, and friendly neighbours. Leashed dogs are welcome. Cameron Lake, about ten minutes west, is the place for swimming, paddling and scuba diving, and it's known for its brown trout.
There are few complaints. One visitor was disappointed to find names carved into arbutus trees, and another wished for a water refill station. Take the swimming rules seriously: BC Parks closes the river to swimming around the falls because of hazards, and cliff jumping is prohibited.
Summarised from visitor reviews on Google Maps. Based on 1,285 Google reviews. Conditions and rules change — check current park, access and fishing regulations before you go.
