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Free Adventures... and Stuff in and around Saratoga Beach - Miracle Beach, Vancouver Island,
British Columbia, Canada:
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- Mt. Washington Vancouver Island's largest snow ski and snowboard mountain park is the Mount Washington Alpine Resort located 30-45 minute drive just south of Campbell River, BC and 20-30 minute drive north of Courtenay, BC. Mt Washington is located in Strathcona Park and it is a privately owned resort, open year round with skiing in the winter and backpacking, hiking and mountain biking in the spring, summer and early fall. Mt. Washington is recognized as a top notch ski facility world wide and one of the most popular ski hills in British Columbia, Canada.
[ more information about Mt. Washington and Strathcona Park ]
- Strathcona Park. A journey into Strathcona Provincial Park will change outlooks of lives and rekindle lost spirits exploring this amazing 500,000 acre wilderness park located in the middle of Vancouver Island, BC, Canada. Strathcona Provincial Park is Vancouver Island's biggest park and British Columbia's oldest park and second biggest park. A land of untouched rugged forests, looming mountain peaks with far reaching valleys covered by a complex network of rivers and lakes.
[ more information about Strathcona Park, Vancouver Island, BC, Canada ]
- Miracle Beach Provincial Park: Miracle Beach Provincial Park connects to Saratoga Beach. Together, both beaches, create miles of sandy fun beaches and relaxing scenic moments. Miracle Beach has over 2 km of hiking trails in the park. The hiking trails lead from the campground and day-use parking lots through second-growth forest.
[ more info about Miracle Beach ... ]
- Discovery Islands: The bigger islands of Quadra Island and Cortes Island along with the smaller Read Island, work together, forcing the ocean tides into a powerful bottlenecks creating small rip tides, upwellings and whirlpools. Some great waters for ocean kayaking and boating. The area of Bute Inlet, just tucked behind Stuart Island is a popular area for wildlife viewing kayaking especially Black Bears, Bald eagles, Blue Herons, Elk, etc.
[ more info about the Discovery Islands ... ]
- Comox Glacier Trail. 3 day backpacking trip to the Comox Glacier. Bring an ice axe and rope and go get a glacier. Can access from tour companies. Head south of Saratoga Beach then west on
Comox Lake Main.
- Forbidden Plateau. Mountain biking, hiking and walking. Backpackers can venture deeper as trails are endless. Scenery and mountain forests spectacular. West of Saratoga Beach on Forbidden Plateau Rd.
- Kitty Coleman Provincial Park. Swimming, lots of beach and ocean views. Many trails in the area. South of the area in Merville, BC off the Hwy on Coleman Rd.
- Lake Helen Mackenzie-Battleship Lake Loop Trail. Muddy at times and some hill climbs in this 2 hr lake view hike. Access by parking lot at Nordic Lodge in Strathcona Park.
- Medicine Bowls. Three waterfalls born from Browns River. Great views after a short 2 km walk on a dirt oad at the end of Forbidden Plateau Road west of Miracle Beach.
- Nymph Falls Nature Park. Hiking and walking trails, great for mountain bikes and swimming. 55.4 acres of wilderness heaven. West of Miracle beach. Access from Forbidden Plateau Rd.
- Oyster River Nature Park. Walking trails through some serene forests, waves in the distance. You can here them, but cannot see them... yet. A halk hour walk on a level well marked trail leads you to the waves and the sandy beaches where Oyster River meets the ocean. Keeping busy with the off shoot trails will prolong the exploration period. South of Saratoga Beach.
- Paradise Meadow Loop Trail. Comfortable 2 km, 1 hr walk on well marked sawdust and boardwalk trails located in Strathcona Park west of Saratoga Beach.
- Ripple Rock. Head north on Hwy 19. Short trek through forest trails to views high over Seymour Narrows overlooking tidepools, eddies and whirlpools traveling at the speed of 35 km. Located 10 minutes south of Miracle Beach.
- Saratoga Beach. Amazing beaches go on for ever. Tide recedes 1/4 of a mile on low tide leaving tide pools visible for exploration and hard packed wet sand for a good game of long distance Frisbee. Walk out into the water for over a mile it is so shallow. Perfect for kids and big kids like you and I. Head east... you can not miss it. It is the BIG beach straight ahead.
- Tsolum River. Lots of swimming holes and river trails in the area. Access from the town of Merville south of Saratoga Beach and Miracle Beach, British Columbia.
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** Saratoga & Miracle Beach Accommodations**
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- British Columbia, Canada
- Vancouver Island
- Saratoga
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Saratoga Beach
