Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park

• NOTICE PET OWNERS – To protect migratory Brant Geese, no pets are allowed within 100m of the beach in the park from February 15 to April 30.

About This Park

Majestic old growth trees, beautiful ocean sunsets and an inviting, wide sandy beach with campsites nestled amongst mature Douglas fir trees makes Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park in Parksville one of the premier vacation destinations on Vancouver Island.

At low tide the ocean recedes almost a kilometre, providing an ideal place for visitors of all ages to play in the sand and explore the shoreline. When the tide rolls in over the sun-baked sand, the warmed water is unbeatable for swimming and salt water fun.

Rathtrevor Beach is ideal for a relaxed family outing. Simply sit back and soak up the seaside atmosphere or take a walk through the wooded upland area of the park. All campsites are within a 5-minute walk to the 2 km stretch of sandy beach. The park also features a large day-use area, perfect for an afternoon picnic. For your convenience, the park has a concession managed by the Park Facility Operator.

Bird watching is also a popular activity at the park, particularly in the spring when large numbers of seabirds congregate for the annual herring spawn. During March and April, Rathtrevor Beach is also one of the best spots on the Island to view the migrating Brant Geese.

Park Size: 347 hectares

Special Notes:

• This is a very popular park during the summer months and reservations are required between the last week of June and Labour Day in September. Alternative camping space may be available at nearby Englishman River Falls Provincial Park (13 km) or Little Qualicum Falls Provincial Park (24 km). Both of these parks also accept reservations.
• This park does not have a boat launch. The closest launch is at French Creek Marina, 8 km north of the park on Hwy 19a.

Campground Dates of Operation All dates are subject to change without notice
Opening and Closing Campground Dates: (campground is accessible but may not offer full services such as water, security, etc.)	Year round
Campground Dates with Full Services and Fees:	March 15 - October 15
Campground Reservable Dates:	May 15 - September 1
Total Number of Vehicle Accessible Campsites: Drive-in sites 100% reservable	174 drive-in sites 25 park/walk-in sites
Number of Reservable Campsites:	100% Reservable
Note: The above information is for the campground only. Park users can still walk into the park if conditions such as weather permit. Check the "Attention Visitor Notice" above for park alerts.

Reservations

All reserveable, vehicle accessible campsites and groupsites must be reserved through Discover Camping.



Campsite Reservations:
Campsite reservations are accepted at this park. All campsites are reservable; there are no first-come, first-served sites.

Group Camp/Picnic Reservations:
Group campsite and/or group picnic site reservations are accepted at this park. Reserve both through Discover Camping, group camp sites from May 15 to October 14 and group picnic sites from March 15 to October 15.

Location and Maps

Please note: Any maps listed are for information only - they may not represent legal boundaries and should not be used for navigation.

• Location Map

Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park is located 3 km south of Parksville on Hwy 19a, on central Vancouver Island. Take exit #51 from the Inland Island Highway (Hwy #19) and follow signs to the park. The closest communities are Parksville, Qualicum and Nanaimo.

Maps and Brochures

Any maps listed are for information only - they may not represent legal boundaries and should not be used for navigation.

• Campground Map [PDF 517KB]
• Brochure [PDF 696KB]

Nature and Culture

• History - Rathtrevor takes its name from the Irish family who homesteaded on this land. William Rath, a gold prospector, arrived in 1886 with his young wife and baby daughter. They built a log cabin, cleared the land and in 1895 built the barn. William died in 1903 leaving Elizabeth the farm and five children. She proved to be an industrious person, successfully running the farm and eventually operating it as a campground. The suffix “trevor” was added to give the campground a more lyrical name. Rathtrevor Campground became Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park in 1967 and though much has changed since William and Elizabeth first arrived, its beauty and importance will be preserved for our continued enjoyment.
• Wildlife - Several species of wildlife can be seen in the park including deer, raccoons, squirrels, otters, mink, eagles, osprey, hawks, vultures, owls and many shore and migratory birds that use the park area during their spring and fall migrations. The most famous migratory shore birds are the Brant Geese (Branta bernicla) who use the beaches of Rathtrevor and Craig Bay as staging and feeding areas on their spring migration to northern Canada and Alaska.

Management Planning

Management Planning Information

• The approved management plan for Rathtrevor Provincial Park [PDF 1.96MB] is available in PDF format.
  DISCLAIMER:
  This is NOT the original management planning product. This document has been scanned from the original format of the plan. It may contain some formatting changes, however the content is consistent with the original.

Activities Available at this Park

Canoeing

Cycling

Fishing

Hiking

Interpretive Programs

Pets on Leash

Swimming

Wildlife Viewing

Windsurfing

Facilities Available at this Park

Campfires

Drinking Water

Group Camping

Picnic Areas

Pit or Flush Toilets

Playground

Sani-Station/Dump

Showers

Vehicle Accessible Camping

Walk-In/Wilderness Camping

Wheelchair Access

Winter Camping