Qualicum Beach, BC
V9K 2L7
Looking for an affordable family holiday right here on Vancouver Island? Check out the crystal-clear water, stunning scenery and amazing outdoor adventures at Horne Lake Regional and Provincial Parks.
The Horne Lake Regional Park offers family camping in a wilderness setting. Visitors get free parking and public beach as well as spectacular lakefront campsites. Visitors can take part in a wide variety of award-winning activities including rock rappelling, the “Horne Lake Amazing Race”, canoe & kayak rentals or take a swing through the Low Ropes Challenge Course. Campers are free to explore on their own or register for the daily activities throughout the summer. Tent and RV campsites, teepee camping and activity reservations can be made at no charge by calling 250-927-0053 or online at www.hornelake.com.
The park is also becoming known for its excellent summer camps and the popular Family Adventure Camps where meals and guided activities are all included along with camping in a teepee, making this package the easiest camping ever! For more information call the Camp Coordinator 250 703-6051 or visit www.hornelake.com.
Right next door, BC Parks presents the Horne Lake Caverns, voted the “Best Natural Outdoor Site in BC” by Attractions Canada. This unique provincial park offers visitors the chance to discover the mysteries of the underground world. Visitors can choose to self-explore in the park’s smaller caves or enjoy one of the informative guided tours leaving hourly. Family-oriented tours reveal ancient fossils and amazing crystal formations. Bring a camera! No prior experience necessary. Adults with children age five and up, and mobile seniors should have no trouble with the tour, but should wear long clothing and good footwear. More adventurous explorers can try the “Ice Age Adventure” or the “Night Caving Tour”, a three hour spelunking adventure that features an underground waterfall and climbing through the ceiling galleries. For the more adventurous, longer 4 and 5 hour cave tours feature vertical rock climbing using ropes and harness. The wildest tour in the park is the “Underground Extreme”, which leads explorers on a roped descent down a seven-storey underground waterfall! For this tour, amateur explorers practice their rope skills in a two-hour outdoor session with an instructor before rappelling inside the big cave. Reservations are required for all activities except the Family Cavern Tour, which runs on a first-come, first serve basis. Reservations can be made online at www.hornelake.com or by calling 250-248-7829.
From relaxing on the beach to being active all day long, surrounded by some of the best scenery on Vancouver Island, visitors are sure to find an amazing holiday experience at Horne Lake.