Nitinat River Provincial Park : Cowichan Lake
Cowichan Valley, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada

Nitinat River Provincial Park

Nitinat River Provincial Park is a wilderness destination located near the community of Lake Cowichan, Port Alberni and Port Renfrew, BC on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. The wilderness park follows the Nitinat River from Nitinat Lake.

The parks is undeveloped. There are no services in the park. However, there are some roughed-in hiking trails in the park leading to waterfalls, spawning pools, sandy beaches and swimming holes. The activities enjoyed on the river in the park include fishing, backpacking, wilderness camping, swimming, tubing, picnicking and hiking.

There are no developed campgrounds in the park. Wilderness camping is only permitted. All campers are reminded that it is important to pack out what you pack in - leave no trace behind. The three most visited areas in the park include Nitinat River Falls, Red Rock and the Nitinat River Bridge Swimming Hole.

The 160 hectare park was established to protect the rainforest, riparian habitat and the spawning grounds on the Nitinat River. The forested park consists of mostly Douglas fir and Western hemlock trees and is home to many endangered plant species, most notably, the Scouler’s corydalis and the tooth-leaved monkey flower.

Nitinat River Provincial Park is a vital park in the region for the local fish population. Along the Nitinat River is an important section of quiet pools and spawning grounds for steelhead, cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, and coho and chinook salmon.

The park is also home to wildlife. Some of the wildlife in the park include black bears, cougars and wolves. The park is also a winter range for roosevelt elk.

How to Get to Nitinat River Park

The park can be accessed via Port Alberni, Cowichan Lake or Port Renfrew.

The park is about 70 kilometres southwest of Lake Cowichan. Nitinat Lake is located via the Nitinat Main and South Main gravel logging roads which are best accessed from the south western end of Cowichan Lake.