The largest active river cave system known in Canada sits in this B.C. village

Zeballos is a tiny Vancouver Island village known for its prime cold-water diving, winding nature trails, and abundant wildlife, and it’s worth the visit this spring or summer.

Canada’s largest active river cave system

According to the village’s website, centuries of limestone erosion from the historic hamlet of Quatsino has created thousands of caves on northern Vancouver Island, including the largest active river cave system known in Canada.

“The Artlish Caves Provincial Park, located northwest of Zeballos, is a concentration of river karst features unique in Western Canada,” says its website.

Visitors can also explore a designated Wetland Reserve at the Zeballos River estuary, which offers the perfect opportunity to observe native plants and wildlife of the rainforest. In the springtime, this includes “swarms of hummingbirds,” eagles, herons, woodpeckers, finches, sea ducks, and wrens.

During the colder months, flocks of trumpeter swans are often seen gliding across the inlet.

Looking for a scenic coastal trail to add to your itinerary? The 30 km Nootka Trail runs along the west side of Nootka Island from Louie Bay to Friendly Cove, with charters available in Zeballos to take you to the starting point.

If beachcombing is more your speed, Zeballos is home to a wide variety of intertidal marine life, sheltered in numerous rocky sea caves, some of which may be uncovered for the first time.

“Dozens of ‘undiscovered’ caves, sink holes, and disappearing streams in the area await those who like to explore.”

In town, there are boardwalk trails guiding visitors through stands of old-growth forests.

Scenic marine parks

Those who enjoy discovering new areas by paddleboard or kayak can head to Nuchatlitz Provincial Park, located at the very northwest tip of Nootka Island. Here, park-goers can meander through picturesque islands and islets, opting for wilderness camping if they choose.

Located in the Esperanza Inlet, Catala Island Park is another marine park worth exploring, consisting of numerous reefs, islets, a lake, a bog area, and a rugged shoreline. Similarly, Rugged Point Marine Park is considered a “must-see” by B.C. Parks, with protected beaches and spectacular views of the open ocean and Kyuquot Sound, making it one of the most beautiful stretches of shoreline on the west coast.

Zeballos

How to get there: Take a ferry from Horseshoe Bay, West Vancouver, to Nanaimo, and drive four hours to Zeballos via BC-19 N.

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