Rathtrevor Beach

Rathtrevor Beach is located off Highway 19, three kilometres south of Parksville within Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park. It has a massive 5 km wide expanse of flat white sands that are popular for walking in all seasons.

The beach was named after a pioneering gold prospector, William Rath who settled here in 1886 with his wife Elizabeth and 5 children. When he died in 1903, his wife developed the campsite as a means of income. She added “Trevor” to the name to make it sound more enticing.

The campsite is now part of Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park, nestled in the Douglas fir trees overlooking the beach. It has a sani-station, toilets and showers. The unspoilt area abounds in natural beauty making it one of the top vacation hotspots on Vancouver Island.

Rathtrevor beach has a wide tidal range and at low tide, with almost one kilometre of virgin sand exposed, it is ideal for walking, beachcombing and shelling.

In early spring many migratory birds and geese arrive to feast on the annual herring spawn. In summer, families can enjoy the adventure playgrounds nearby or follow the network of paths leading on a nature walk.

There’s an open-air amphitheatre in the park which is used to host events