Last month, my cousin and myself packed up her car and our dogs for a trip up island to visit Strathcona Provincial Park.

We’d both been wanting to go ever since breathtaking photos of the park kept popping up on our social media feeds. It’s a funny juxtaposition to seek out the back country from internet influences, isn’t it?

Regardless, we made plans to venture it for ourselves! And this is what we found it had to offer…

THE TERRAIN

Strathcona: where tall mountains reach down to meet clear blue lakes, rivers, creeks and falls. The views are SPECTACULAR. On Buttle Lake, you really do feel like you’re standing inside of a screensaver- again with technology- but it’s that picturesque.

CLEAREST WATER I’VE SEEN ON VAN ISLE

I was astounded by how CRYSTAL CLEAR the water at Buttle Lake was— and tropical blue green in colour! I’m a Vancouver Island native and an avid swimmer and I’ve never before seen lake water so clear! It completely floored me. Just… BRAVO NATURE! WELL DONE!

ONE OF THE BEST SWIMMING EXPERIENCES I’VE EVER HAD

Myra Falls is a creek located at the very bottom of Buttle Lake, and it’s a PARADISE ON EARTH. It boasts giant, jagged rocks with blue green water flowing overtop of them into a pool below. The pool’s deep, so you can jump in from the surrounding rock formations (which you BET we did)! The area is quiet and secluded, nestled in the forest…
My cousin and I were amazed with how perfect it was. Like something you’d expect at Disneyland or at a fancy hotel resort; carefully created for optimum enjoyment. It’s surreal that this spot is natural. Swimming at Myra Falls was unbelievable— an experience I won’t soon forget.

SUNSET/SUNRISE

Though we only stayed in Strathcona one night, the 48 hour trip contained multitudes. With the ending of the first day, we decided to wake up early the next to see the sunrise. My dread upon waking up at 5am quickly turned into delight with the sight of the lake in all its early morning glory. No one else in the campsite was awake yet. It was just us, the dogs and this wilderness.
The serene stillness of it all with the moon still in sight (photo 2 above- another screensaver moment!) had something akin to a healing effect.
And to think we consistently miss sunrise; one of the most beautiful moments in a day… Seeing the sunrise in Strathcona definitely makes me want to get up for more of them in my life.

QUALITY DOG TIME

As it was just the four of us- and half of us had paws- there were ample amounts of playing, fetching and cuddling. I take my dog Ferris (far left photo) with me everywhere I can. Though we haven’t taken many far trips— Strathcona was one of our first. He handled himself well, lol. He’s almost 6 now, and he’s become more of a sensitive dog as he’s aged. I never thought I’d see the day where he was the calm, mature one of the pack (as he was a very rambunctious puppy), but here we find ourselves! Asher is my cousin’s dog, she’s about 3.

PEACE AND QUIET

I actually didn't know how far out Strathcona Park was until we went. The last grocery store for example is an hour drive away. You really are in the wild.
There’s a literal (and figurative) quiet you can only get when you venture out that far. No reception, no internet, nothing to be accountable to— just you and the vastness of all that’s out there.
As a Van Islander, I’m lucky to have access to hiking trails, lakes and beaches virtually right outside my front door— much of what Strathcona has. But one of the not so obvious- yet idillic- differences was its innate peace and quiet, only coming from being somewhere that far away from everything else.

Thank you Strathcona! You’ve opened my eyes to ‘back country’ exploring and how it truly feels to be off grid.