Vancouver Island, with an area of some 32,100 square kilometres,
is the largest island on North America's west coast. Four percent of this
surface area (1,200 square kilometres) is karst.
With over 1000 recorded, there are more explored limestone caves here
than in all other Canadian provinces combined. Vancouver Island is so inundated
with caves, however, that the majority of them have yet to be explored.
Northern Vancouver Island has some of Canada's longest and deepest cave
systems. Hundreds of caves have been surveyed here, some with over
8 kilometres of mapped passages.
Some of the better known and more accessable caves in the mid
to north Vancouver Island region within a day trip's reach of the Comox
Valley are listed below.
Caves open to the public offering guided or
self-guided tours include:
Horne Lake Caves Provincial Park:
The most accessible of caves on Vancouver Island, Horne Lake has three
caves open for exploration. The park attracts over 50,000 visitors annually.
Main Cave and Lower Main Cave are open for self-guided tours. Safety helmets
and flashlights can be rented at the park during operating hours. The third
cave, Riverbend, is accessible only on guided 1.5 -hour tours. For those
who crave a spelunking challenge, there is a five-hour caving lesson using
ropes and harness in a second section of Riverbend. If you're keen to rappel
down seven stories, these are the caves to visit.
Directions: Horne Lake Caves are west of Qualicum Bay on the
east side of Vancouver Island. From the Comox Valley, a thirty minute drive
south on the Inland Island Highway will bring you to Horne Lake Road. The
caves are at the end of the road, about 12 kilometers from the highway
turnoff.
Upana Caves:
Near Gold River, Upana Caves are actually several caves within one
group. Altogether, the caves have 15 known entrances and 450 meters (1,500
feet) of passages. There are both self-guided and organized tours. The
interior of
the caves remain wild and undeveloped. At one point, you will come
across an underground river. The underground sequences of the television
series Huckleberry Finn and His Friends were filmed in Upana Caves.
Directions: From the Comox Valley, head north on the Inland
Island Highway to Campbell River and Hwy. 28 (the Gold River Hwy). Gold
River is about 90 minutes west. Once in Gold River, follow the signs. Maps
for self-guided tours are available in Gold River.
Little Hustan Caves Regional Park:
Located at the south end of Nimpkish Lake on north Vancouver Island,
the Little Hustan Caves offer self-guided tours.
Directions: From the Comox Valley, head north on the Inland
Island Highway through Campbell River and Sayward to the gravel road turnoff
for Zeballos. Watch for the signs.
Artlish River Cave:
North of Zeballos, these are some of the biggest caves on Vancouver
Island. They can only be accessed by guided tours. Check with the Zeballos
Chamber of Commerce for more information.
Directions: From the Comox Valley, head north on the Inland
Island Highway through Campbell River and Sayward to the gravel road turnoff
for Zeballos. Zeballos is about 50 kilometers away.
Essential equipment when exploring
caves includes: sturdy boots, warm clothing and a safety helmet, flashlight
and spare batteries. For beginners, starting out with guided tours is advisable.
More information about caving, spelunking, caves, caverns, karsts,
speleology, etc. in British Columbia:
B.C. Speleological Federation- 1-250-283-2283
