Fascinating Facts and Finds on Vancouver Island

24 Unique and Fascinating Facts about Vancouver Island and Where to Find Them

Vancouver Island attracts millions of visitors yearly, with our fantastic beaches being the biggest draw. While I can attest that our beaches are amazing, there is much more Vancouver Island has to offer. From being considered the best diving spot in BC to having the tallest and oldest trees in the world, this article showcases the unique and fascinating facts about Vancouver Island. Some of which many locals may not know about!

What's unique about Vancouver Island? Let us show you!

#1 – BC's Oldest Working Farm

Salt Spring Island has the oldest working farm in BC.

When on Salt Spring Island, take the drive to Beaver Point Road. This is where you'll find Ruckle Heritage Farm. It's the oldest working farm in British Columbia and is still owned by the original family. One of Salt Spring Island's earliest settlers, Henry Ruckle, went to the island in 1872 in hopes of acquiring farmland. By 1948, the family's total holding was 1196 acres.

In 1974, the Province of British Columbia was deeded 1000 acres of the Ruckle Farm for public use as parkland, camping, and trail use. This area is now called Ruckle Provincial Park, “one of the most beautiful parks in the Southern Gulf Islands.”

#2 – Petroglyphs a Plenty

If you are looking for an archaeological adventure, there are many easily accessible Petroglyph viewing locations.

Gulf Islands

• You'll find them scattered all over Gabriola Island. One of the best viewing spots, however, is the Weldwood site. Located behind the United Church and close to the government wharf in Degnen Bay, a path leads to a clearing in the woods. This is where you find large etchings of fish, birds, sea serpents, and stick men.

• The Gabriola Island museum displays replicas of the more prominent stone carvings around the island. These concrete replicas allow you to touch and take rubbings without worrying about disturbing the delicate sandstone of the originals.

• Quadra Island has an aptly named road where you can view carvings near the end of Petroglyph Road. There are also a few on the beach in front of Tsa-kwa-luten Lodge and RV Park, as well as around Cape Mudge Lighthouse in Cape Mudge Village.

Vancouver Island

• Petroglyph Provincial Park in south Nanaimo has the most concentrated collection of these rock art creations of previous generations.  A clearly marked trail will lead you through the park to view the petroglyphs. Visitors can also make their own petroglyph rubbings here as a souvenir.

• One of the finest carvings in BC is located on Sproat Lake in Port Alberni. Head to the east end of the Lake to Sproat Lake Provincial Park.

• Petroglyphs can also be found at Alldridge Point in East Sooke Regional Park.  The trail to the petroglyphs starts at the parking lot of the Aylard Farm entrance. This approximately 1.5-hour (round trip) hike/walk is reached through two paths. One path takes you on a relatively easy trail through the forest, while the other follows the rugged but scenic shores of the Coast Trail.

#3 – Hot Springs

Tofino has untouched Geo-Thermal Hot Springs!

Approximately 27 nautical miles northwest of Tofino lies Maquinna Provincial Park, where you can find Hot Springs Cove. Boiling spring water bubbles up from deep in the earth and cascades down a small cliff into a series of naturally layered rock pools. The incoming Pacific Ocean surf then cools down the hot water. These naturally heated pools range from at least 109ºC (228ºF) to approximately 50°C (122ºF).  So yes, they are hot, darn hot!

Several tour companies out of Tofino will take you to and from Hot Springs Cove. By boat, the trip takes a little over an hour. Opting for a floatplane gets you there in about 20 minutes.

#4 – Caves

Vancouver Island has the largest concentration of caves in North America.

With over 1000 known cave entrances recorded, many of these passages are largely unexplored. The most popular caving areas are as follows:

Guided Tours

• Head to Horne Lake Caves Provincial Park (near Qualicum Beach) for the best-guided tour. They offer plenty of options for the beginner, as well as those wishing for something a little more extreme.

• For some of Canada's longest and deepest caves, head to Weymer Creek Provincial Park, located just southeast of Tahsis. Cave exploration is ongoing here, and new discoveries are made every year.

Self-Guided Caving

• The Upana Caves are located 17km northwest of Gold River (near Campbell River) on Head Bay Forest Road. The Upana caves contain scenic, self-guided trails that lead to several entrances and comprise several different caves within one group.  The caves offer various sizes and lengths, and the interiors remain relatively wild and undeveloped.

• Head towards Zeballos to explore the caves in Huson Cave Regional Park. There are two exceptional caves in this park: The Vanishing River Cave and the Eternal Fountain Cave. Although both caves are self-guided, they are great spots for inexperienced cavers.

#5 – Big Trees

Port Renfrew is known as the “Big Trees Capital” of Canada and is home to Canada's two largest Douglas fir trees. It's also home to Canada's largest Sitka Spruce and Canada's “Gnarliest Tree.” To help you find all of the above, please read Finding Port Renfrew's Biggest Trees

#6 – Old Trees

Tofino has one of the oldest known Red Cedars.

One of the oldest known western red cedars, the Hanging Garden Tree, lives on Meares Island near Tofino. The tree is estimated to be between 1,500 and 2,000 years old.  A boardwalk takes you to the Hanging Garden Tree. Once there, you can carry on and complete the Big Tree Trail, which is a 3.3k round-trip hike.  Leave yourself 2 – 3 hours to enjoy your surroundings while hiking this loop.

Meares Island is accessible by boat. For a reasonable price, Tofino Water Taxi will take you on a return boat shuttle to and from Meares Island.

#7 – Tallest Waterfall

Strathcona Provincial Park has the highest waterfall in Canada.

Della Falls is claimed to be the highest waterfall in Canada and one of the ten highest in the world.

Unfortunately, it's not easy to get to.

The only way to reach the trail that leads up to Della Falls is by crossing the entire Great Central Lake by boat. After the 35 km (21 miles) crossing, a dock marks the beginning of the trail. This area can also be used as a base camp before attempting the next 15 km (9 miles) ascent to the base of Della Falls.

If you need to stop along the way, more campsites are available along the trail and at the base of the falls. The hike, part of which follows an old logging railway, takes about seven hours one way and is suitable for intermediate-level hikers.

Expect a duration of three days for this hike.

Della Falls Water Taxi provides a safe and enjoyable ride across Great Central Lake and is the only authorized carrier to the trailhead.

#8 – Amazing Hiking Trails

Besthike.com claims the West Coast Trail is ranked the #1 hike globally! The West Coast Trail is a 75 km (47 miles) backpacking trail, which typically takes five to seven days to complete. This challenging trail connects Port Renfrew with Bamfield and requires careful preparation and planning.

West Coast Trail Tips

• The trail is open from May 1 – September 30 (travel during the off-season is hazardous and not recommended).
• The terrain is uneven, and you must be prepared for slippery conditions, wooden surfaces, boulders and rocky shorelines.
• You will be wading through rivers, negotiating steep slopes, climbing ladders, and using cable cars at various points.
• You should be prepared for unpredictable weather conditions and unexpected changes on the trail (from storm damage, etc.)
• To address the concern of the environmental impact on the trail, as well as maintain hiker safety and enjoyment, the Canadian Parks Service has instituted a reservation system. You must reserve ahead of time to hike the West Coast Trail.
• Comfort Camping is available for those who only want to do part of the trail.

#9 – Cold-Water Diving

We have one of the best cold-water diving destinations in the world.

National Geographic Magazine recognizes Vancouver Island as one of the best cold-water diving destinations in the world. The renowned Jacques Cousteau Society also rates God's Pocket Marine Park as one of the best for the diversity of marine life and water clarity.

You can find this area 10 km northwest of Port Hardy. The park can be accessed by boat or floatplane from Port Hardy.

Hornby Island is also one of the few places where scuba divers can view primitive six-gill sharks.

#10 – Unique Species

We have unique species only found on Vancouver Island.

The Vancouver Island marmot is a distinct species of marmot found in the mountains of Vancouver Island. With only 280-320 living in the wild today, the Vancouver Island marmot is one of the world's rarest mammals.

Larger than other marmot species and the largest member of the squirrel family, the Vancouver Island marmots were considered extinct in the 1990s. They have recently come back due to breeding and conservation efforts.

#11 – Animals Exempt from Vancouver Island

On the topic of animals…there are quite a few native to BC that haven't made the trek to Vancouver Island (yet!). On Vancouver Island, you won't see:

• Skunks
• Foxes
• Coyotes
• Badgers
• Porcupine
• Moose
• Bobcats
• Lynx
• Chipmunks
• Mountain Goats
• Wild Sheep
• Poisonous snakes
• White-tailed deer and Black-tailed Mule deer. While we do have an abundance of deer here, they are Columbia Black-Tailed deer.

Grizzly bears are also quite rare but are becoming more frequently seen, especially in the northern part of Vancouver Island.

#12 High Concentration of Particular Animals

Vancouver Island has an extremely high concentration of black bears and cougars.

It is estimated that between 7,000 and 12,000 black bears are living on Vancouver Island, making it one of the most dense places in the world for finding this bear population. It's not uncommon to see black bears while out hiking on Vancouver Island.

An interesting thing to note about the black bears found here is that they are a subspecies of the ones found throughout the rest of North America. Vancouver Island black bears (Ursus americanus vancouveri) are slightly larger than the Ursus americanus found on the mainland.

As for cougars, an estimated 600 – 800 live here, making it the highest concentration of these mountain lions in North America. Despite the number of cougars here, coming in contact with one is still rare. This is true even for hikers who frequent our forested areas regularly. However, that doesn't mean they aren't out there watching YOU!

If you do intend to hike the trails around Vancouver Island, always follow the wildlife safety guidelines.

#13 – Tallest Totem Pole

Alert Bay has the world's tallest totem pole.

Alert Bay has many elaborate carvings, but the big draw is the 173-foot (52 metres) totem pole, making it the world’s tallest. This totem pole is next to the ‘Namgis Traditional Big House.

A 35-minute ferry ride from Port McNeil accesses Alert Bay.

Victoria's Fascinating Facts

British Columbia's capital has many fascinating facts

#14 – Victoria's Chinatown is the oldest in Canada

#15 – Victoria's Fan Tan Alley (located in Chinatown) is the narrowest commercial street in Canada

#16 – Victoria has an amazing selection of restaurant options. In fact, it has the second-highest number of restaurants per capita in North America. (San Francisco has the most).

#17 – Victoria has a famous garden. According to National Geographic, The Butchart Gardens was named among the world's Top 10 most Magnificent Gardens.

#18 – Victoria has the warmest climate in Canada

#19 -There are four castles to view and explore in Victoria

#20 – Fisgard Lighthouse, located at Fort Rodd Hill, is Canada's oldest west coast lighthouse

#21 – Murals 

The Chemainus mural project is the world’s leading community-driven art tourism experience.

The Chemainus mural project was brought on to save the community from economic collapse. Since then, they have inspired communities worldwide to beautify their towns.  Using the Chemainus model, some communities have used the mural concept to develop their own revitalization for stronger economic development.

#22 – Floating Pub

Nanaimo has Canada's only floating pub.

The Dinghy Dock Pub & Restaurant, located on Protection Island, is just a short 10-minute ferry ride from Nanaimo's harbourfront. It's a unique experience not found anywhere else in Canada!

#23 – Nanaimo Bars

Nanaimo bars were created here!

Although there is a bit of controversy over who created this bar first, according to Wikipedia, the earliest confirmed printed copy of the recipe using the name “Nanaimo Bars” appeared in Edith Adams' prize cookbook (14th edition) in 1953.  A copy of the book is on view at the Nanaimo Museum.

If you are a fan of this sweet indulgence, there is a Nanaimo Bar trail you might want to check out.

# 24 – Unique Structures

The Cowichan Valley has the world's tallest free-standing timber rail trestle structure!

The Kinsol Trestle, located near Shawnigan Lake, is one of the world's tallest free-standing and most spectacular timber rail trestle structures. It is 614 feet in length and stands 145 feet above the Koksilah River.

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Did You Learn Anything?

Learning about Vancouver Island transforms your visits from mere trips into immersive, meaningful experiences. Each piece of information is a key that unlocks a deeper connection, making your time on the island truly unforgettable.

For a bit of fun, try out this crossword to see if the information you just learned stuck!

Do you know of any other fascinating finds and/or unique facts about Vancouver Island? Please share in the comments below!

And don't forget to save this image on Pinterest for future reference: