Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park — Attraction in Parksville

I've been telling my kids about Rathtrevor Beach for years; it was really wonderful to discover that it was just as awesome as I remembered it!

The sand extends out forever at low tide; we spent at least an hour making our way from the edge of the trees to the water. There's just so many interesting shells and tiny crabs and things to look at! Remember to put suntan lotion on the back of your legs as you will spend a LOT of time bent over looking at them all!

In fact, I took my sandals off very soon because I was afraid I'd crush them; they were so thick in some places it was impossible to not step on them!

By the time we finally made it to the water's edge the tide had turned, and was coming in. It's like someone is filling a bathtub, the water swirls and bubbles and comes in so fast! And while the sand is comfortable to walk across in bare feet, it's warm enough that the water is warmed to literally bathtub temperature as it comes in. And everything comes alive, as clams start bubbling away under the sand as the water fills in their little tunnels, and snails start wandering across the bottom, and tiny baby crabs scurry out from under every rock, shell, and bit of seaweed... Stand still for more than a moment and they'll start climbing all over the interesting feet "rocks", and pinching off your toe hairs to see if they're a tasty new type of seaweed! One brave little fellow even climbed my ankle to the water's surface!

I had to constantly remind myself that my phone was in my back pocket so I didn't go diving in and swimming with the kids! Next time I think I'll have to leave it behind because swimming in that water would have been glorious!

Absolutely one of the best ways to spend a sunny day in Canada! Go if you have the chance; the experience is not...

Overall the park is absolutely amazing. The low rating is not about the staff in the park either as they were also amazing.

The low rating is for the management company and thier failure to provide proper information for people while booking and thier failure to sign the park in a manner that will help people navigate the park trying to find thier sites. Not to mention all the signs and fences on one side of the protected areas and not the other. Guests then inadvertently wondering thru the protected areas without realizing they shouldn't be in there.

When I booked my site I booked away from the playground to have more piece and quiet but, to my surprise when I arrived at my site there was a pair of poorly put together teeter totters which I repaired for the park and debated greasing them. These were not on the map online or the paper version. The park also was not mentioned on discover camping's website. This park which I had the joy of listening to at 6:30am so other parents in the campground could keep sleeping were not mentioned on the booking site either.

It's completely unacceptable and lazy not to have these things marked so people could make informed choices. I had many sites to choose from when I booked as well.

Then thier is the garbage issue. Bear proof bins so full of trash after the long weekend that people placed garbage on the ground around the bins all week long. Defeating the purpose of having a bear proof bin in the...

Established in the Spring 67, Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park has a truly magical feel! We experienced the the Majestic old-growth trees, some amazing ocean sunsets and the wide sandy beach with many campsites nestled amongst mature Douglas fir trees. Which is why this place just outside the town of Parksville a premier vacation destination on Vancouver Island.

Low tide recedes a kilometer, providing an ideal place for visitors of all ages to play in the sand and explore the beach. When the tide rolls in the water is unbeatable warm for swimming and salt water fun.

Rathtrevor Beach is ideal for a families, simply sit back, relax, and soak up the oceanside atmosphere. Take a long or short walk through the many trails through the wooded upland area of the park. The campsite is within a few minute walk to the huge, long stretched sandy beach. If your just passing through and only have a few hours, the park also features a large free day-use area, perfect for an afternoon picnic.

Birds of Prey, and many seabirds congregate for the annual herring spawn. During February, March and April, Rathtrevor Beach is also one of the best spots on the Island to view the migrating Brant geese.

The BC Parks webpage has additional information if you're thinking about visiting Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park.

Provincial Park Size: 347 hectares (107 ha upland and 240...