Strathcona Provincial Park: King’s Peak (2 days / 18 km)
King’s Peak lives up to its name. Although the route is relatively short, reaching the summit—and carrying overnight gear to camp high on the ridge—requires paying for every view with a staggering amount of elevation gain.
Out of respect for the mountain and the difficulty of the climb, we approached this trip with the right mindset, packed much more thoughtfully than on some of my previous trips, keeping the random extras to a minimum while still carrying everything required for an exposed overnight camp.
Trip Completed: August 2025
Trip Summary
| Starting Point | Kings Peak Trailhead, off Highway 28 |
| Ending Point | Kings Peak Trailhead, off Highway 28 |
| Duration | 2 days / 1 night |
| Difficulty | Advanced |
| Total Distance | 17.5 km |
| Elevation Gain | 1880 m |
| Location | Strathcona Provincial Park, Vancouver Island, British Columbia |
| Traditional Territory | Traditional territory of the Mowachaht and Muchalaht peoples |
Maps & Resources
Primary online Map: AllTrails (offline topographic maps, imported GPX track, waypoints, and notes).
Primary Route Reference: Steven Song’s King’s Peak trip report, which served as the main reference for route descriptions, trailhead access, terrain, ridge camping, and the downloadable GPX track.
Trail Conditions: BC Parks’ Strathcona Provincial Park trail-condition
Permits & Reservations
Campsite Reservations: No campsite reservations are required. Camping near King’s Peak is wilderness camping, not at a designated backcountry site. Flat, durable tent sites are limited on the upper ridge, so campers should avoid disturbing vegetation or expanding existing sites.
Permits: No backcountry camping permit or camping fee is currently required for the King’s Peak route. The route is outside Strathcona Provincial Park’s designated backcountry fee-collection areas. However, regulations and advisories should always be checked before departure. Campfires are not permitted anywhere in the park’s backcountry.
Know Before You Go
Season
Most hikers attempt King’s Peak between July and September, after the main snowpack has melted. However, this is a high-elevation route, and summer does not necessarily mean snow-free conditions. BC Parks notes that higher trails in Strathcona Provincial Park may remain snow-covered until mid-July, while shaded bowls and gullies can hold snow even longer. Rain and sudden changes in mountain weather are possible throughout the summer.
The main gully and upper ridge deserve particular attention. Depending on the year and timing, lingering snow may make the route substantially more technical than it appears in dry-season trip reports. Recent conditions, weather forecasts, and snow reports should therefore be checked rather than relying only on the calendar.
We completed the trip in late August 2025, when the route was all snow-free, and conditions were generally stable. That said, summer conditions should never be taken for granted on King’s Peak. I still saw trip reports from July 10–11, 2026, describing wind and snow near the summit. Even in July, hikers should be prepared for rapidly changing alpine weather and near-winter conditions at elevation.
Cell Reception
There was no reliable cell service for our entire trip. We used a Garmin Messenger to stay in touch with our contact at home.
Water
There are several water sources along the lower route in the first half of the hike, including waterfalls, creeks, and the canyon crossings. However, there is no reliable water source on the upper ridge or near the summit.
The second meadow and the basin at approximately 1,300 metres are generally treated as the last dependable places to collect water. We filled our bottles there and carried enough water for the rest of the climb, dinner, breakfast, coffee, and the first part of the descent. Carrying the extra water added noticeable weight, but running short at an exposed ridge camp would have been a much bigger problem. We filtered or treated all water collected along the route.
Wildlife
King’s Peak passes through remote forest, creek, subalpine, and alpine environments. Wildlife encounters are possible even when the trail itself appears busy.
We did not see any bears during this trip, although we still carried bear spray and followed proper food-storage practices throughout. Our main wildlife encounter was a small group of grouse moving quietly at the ridge. They blended into the surroundings remarkably well and were easy to miss until they began moving.
Waste / Toilets
Rule No. 1: Pack in, pack out, LEAVE NO TRACE.
There are no toilets at the King’s Peak trailhead, along the trail, or at the ridge-camping area. A toilet has previously been reported at the nearby Elk River trailhead, approximately one kilometre farther west along Highway 28, but hikers should not depend on it being available.
We carried a small trowel specifically for human-waste disposal. Whenever needed, we moved well away from the trail, campsites, and water sources, dug an appropriate cathole, and carefully restored the ground afterward.
Food Storage
We used bear canisters for the entire trip. It’s heavy but worth every bit of peace of mind. We placed it away from the tent in a location where it could not roll down a steep slope if disturbed.
Outfitters & Shuttles
King’s Peak is an out-and-back route, so no shuttle or outfitter is required. The trailhead is reached from Highway 28 between Campbell River and Gold River, via a short gravel access road near the Elk River crossing.
The gravel road is approximately one kilometre long. It has historically been passable by regular two-wheel-drive vehicles with careful driving, although potholes and road conditions can change from season to season. There are no facilities at the trailhead.
Our Logistics
Day 0: Early-morning ferry from Horseshoe Bay to Nanaimo, followed by the drive to Strathcona Provincial Park.
Warm-up Trip: Backpacking to Baby Bedwell Lake and camping there for one night.
Transfer to King’s Peak: We hiked out from Baby Bedwell Lake early the following morning, returned to the car, and drove to the King’s Peak trailhead.
King’s Peak Route: Out-and-back from the King’s Peak trailhead, with one night of wilderness camping on the upper ridge.
Trip Report
Day 1: King’s Peak Trailhead to Ridge Camp
We started from the King’s Peak trailhead and entered the forest almost immediately. The lower route followed a series of dirt switchbacks, steadily gaining elevation beneath the trees. Although we knew how much climbing was ahead, the opening kilometres felt manageable, and the well-defined switchbacks allowed us to settle into a steady rhythm.
The variety of terrain was one of the nicest surprises. We passed several waterfalls before entering a canyon section, where the trail followed the water upstream and crossed the creek several times. The crossings were manageable during our trip, but water levels could clearly make a significant difference after heavy rain or during snowmelt.
The canyon section was narrow and wet in places. Loose soil, scree, roots, and sloping terrain required more attention than the elevation profile alone might suggest. A few existing ropes or handlines appeared along the route. We used them cautiously rather than assuming that they were professionally installed or maintained.
After passing two meadows, the nature of the climb changed. The trail became considerably steeper, and the second meadow was our final practical opportunity to collect water. We stopped there to filter water and filled every available bottle before continuing toward the ridge.
The extra water, bear vault, overnight equipment, and full packs made the remaining ascent much more demanding. On a day hike, the route would already involve a staggering amount of elevation; with backpacking gear, every upward step felt more expensive.
The first major ridge provided a useful dividing point. Before reaching it, the terrain was narrow, wet, and mostly unexposed, with loose scree and several short sections where the ropes were helpful. Beyond the ridge, the route became sunnier, more open, and slightly exposed. The views began to unfold around us, but the summit still looked frustratingly far away.
The upper route alternated between steep hiking, loose ground, and occasional larger steps where using our hands felt natural. Nothing felt excessively technical in the conditions we encountered, but the combination of fatigue, pack weight, route-finding, and loose terrain required sustained concentration.
Eventually, we reached the ridge and began searching for a suitable campsite. Ridge camping sounds simple until you actually need to find a flat, durable surface that is large enough for a tent and reasonably protected from wind.
Pitching my non-freestanding Durston on the rocky ridge was particularly tricky. The ground did not offer ideal stake placement, so the setup required patience, careful tensioning, and some creativity. Still, the Durston did not fail me.
Once camp was secure, we could finally take off our packs and absorb where we were. After carrying water, a bear vault, and our full kits through nearly the entire elevation gain, being able to sit quietly on the ridge felt like its own summit.
| Campsite | Ridge camp near King’s Peak (undesignated campsite) |
| Total Distance | 8.1 km |
| Elevation Gain | +1776 m |
| Campsite Reservation | None |
Day 2: Sunrise, King’s Peak Summit, and Descent
We woke early enough to watch the light begin to move across the mountains.
The sunrise was magnificent. At first, the landscape remained cool and muted, but then the distant ridgelines began to blush red. The shadows slowly withdrew from the valleys, the air started to warm, and individual peaks emerged more clearly around us. For a moment, it felt as though everything could still happen—that there were many possibilities ahead and so many places left to explore.
We made coffee and wandered slowly around the summit and ridge. After working so hard to carry everything upward, there was no reason to rush away. We took our time looking at the surrounding peaks, watching the light shift, and allowing the morning to become more than a quick summit photo.
King’s Peak lives up to its name. It may not be the highest mountain in Strathcona Provincial Park, but from the ridge, surrounded by the jagged Vancouver Island ranges, it certainly feels like a throne.
Eventually, we returned to camp, packed the tent, secured the bear canister, and started the descent.
The descent tested my knees much more than the ascent. Sustained downhill travel, loose terrain, and the weight of the remaining gear required controlled movement rather than speed. In several places, steps that had seemed simple while climbing upward felt more awkward in reverse.
We paced ourselves and rested whenever necessary. The exposed upper ridge gradually gave way to wetter, narrower terrain, followed by the meadows, creek crossings, canyon, waterfalls, and finally the forest switchbacks.
Descending through each terrain zone felt like replaying the previous day in reverse. The route remained physically demanding almost until the end, but the packs became lighter as we drank the water we had carried to the ridge.
By the time we reached the trailhead, my knees were ready to stop. Still, the difficult descent did not diminish the experience. The ridge camp, sunrise, coffee, and slow summit morning made every metre of climbing worthwhile.
| Campsite | N/A |
| Total Distance | 9.1 km |
| Elevation Gain | +104 m, -1880m |
| Campsite Reservation | N/A |
Reflections
What Went Well
We approached King’s Peak with the right level of respect. Our weather was excellent, which made the upper ridge significantly more manageable. The dry conditions gave us better footing through the steep and loose sections, made setting up camp easier, and allowed us to spend a slow, peaceful morning around the summit. We had enough time to drink coffee, watch the sunrise, and enjoy the changing light instead of immediately packing up and rushing downhill.
Our pacing also worked well. The climb was sustained, but we stayed steady and took breaks before exhaustion began affecting our decisions. On the descent, when my knees started to feel the accumulated vertical, we slowed down rather than trying to maintain an arbitrary pace. Having both physical and scheduling margin allowed us to move carefully through the steeper sections and enjoy the trip rather than merely endure it.
The ridge camp itself was challenging, especially with a non-freestanding tent, but the Durston performed well. Finding suitable ground and securing the tent required patience and creativity, yet the setup remained stable throughout the night.
Most importantly, this trip confirmed that the route was within our abilities while still giving us a meaningful challenge. Completing it with my Mountain Mentors mentor (highly recommend the program) also made the experience feel less like a single summit achievement and more like part of a longer process of learning how to travel responsibly and confidently in the mountains.
What I’d Change
The main thing I would change is the pre-trip itinerary.
Baby Bedwell Lake was beautiful and made a pleasant warm-up, but our schedule did not give us enough time to properly explore the area. In particular, we did not have time to continue to Bedwell Lake, which meant the side trip felt slightly compressed: we carried overnight gear in, stayed one night, and hiked out early the next morning before immediately transferring to the King’s Peak trailhead.
The warm-up also added hiking distance and fatigue before the main objective. Although it helped us settle into backcountry mode, hiking out from Baby Bedwell and then beginning a route with approximately 1,850 metres of elevation gain on the same day was not necessarily the most efficient use of our energy.
If I planned the trip again, I would probably choose a front-country campground inside Strathcona Provincial Park for the night before King’s Peak. Car camping would still allow us to arrive from Vancouver the previous day, sleep close to the trailhead, organize our equipment, and start early—but without using energy on an additional overnight hike.
Alternatively, I would treat Baby Bedwell and Bedwell Lake as their own trip and allow enough time to explore them properly rather than using the area only as a brief warm-up.
Advice for Someone Doing this Route
Do not judge King’s Peak by distance alone. A route of approximately 17.5 kilometres may sound modest, but the nearly 1,850 metres of elevation gain, creek and canyon terrain, loose upper sections, overnight pack weight, and long descent make it substantially harder than many longer backpacking routes.
The vertical is the main event. Pack weight matters, and water planning matters even more. Determine where you expect to collect your final reliable water, then carry enough for the climb, dinner, overnight needs, breakfast, coffee, and the beginning of the descent. At the same time, avoid bringing unnecessary extras simply because the mileage appears short.
If you plan to camp high, think carefully about shelter selection and setup. Ridge sites are limited, exposed, and not necessarily well suited to every tent. A non-freestanding shelter can work, but you should be comfortable securing it on rocky or uneven ground and improvising when normal stake placement is impossible.
The descent also deserves as much respect as the ascent. Fatigue, loose ground, and sustained downhill movement can make the return more difficult than expected. Allow time, protect your knees, and do not rush through steeper sections simply because the summit is already behind you.
Finally, build enough margin into the itinerary to enjoy the reason you carried overnight equipment to the ridge. The sunrise was not simply an attractive addition to the trip—it was one of its central experiences. The shifting light, distant ridgelines turning red, the air slowly warming, and coffee on the summit transformed a difficult climb into something much more meaningful.
Prepare carefully, start early, carry what matters, and respect the vertical. Then, once you reach the ridge, slow down and let yourself be there. The mountain has already made you pay for the view; you may as well take the time to enjoy it.
Author Bio
Yu-ning Liu, a nature-loving hiker originally from Taiwan, a small, mountainous, tropical island that shaped how I see the world. After seven years in Vancouver, I’m still grateful for everything these forests and coastlines offer, and I’m working toward becoming a more independent, self-reliant hiker. I believe the world isn’t human-centered, and I move through it with humility.
Fun fact: I always carry an extra trash bag in my pack, just in case—so on the way down I can pick up whatever litter I see. I’m hoping for the day I hike out with an empty bag because there’s simply nothing left to collect.