Englishman River Falls Hike, Vancouver Island

A saunter through Englishman River Falls Park, with its roaring waterfalls and moss covered giant trees, is most definitely, “…near the heart of the world.”

As long as I live, I’ll hear waterfalls and birds and winds sing. I’ll interpret the rocks, learn the language of flood, storm, and the avalanche. I’ll acquaint myself with the glaciers and wild gardens, and get as near the heart of the world as I can.
-John Muir
My family began our spring break BC hiking quest at Lighthouse Park. Our second hiking stop was on Vancouver Island. As we made our way to some of the oldest trees on the east side of the Island (800 years), we decided to stop for a hike though old and second growth Douglas fir, cedar, hemlock and maple trees. The incredible moss-covered forest, combined with two stunning waterfalls, made Englishman River Falls Provincial Park a must see.

The Island forests are so dense that they quickly become deep, dark and mysterious—they beckon to me & I am lured inside—my imagination and curiosity run wild.

The lower falls were closed to hikers but the upper falls were incredible–slipping into a slice in the rock, all the water seems to disappear into the narrow void (pictured below).

The falls empty into the rugged canyon pictured below. Down stream from this picture, the Englishman River leads to another, lower waterfall (the one closed at the time of our hike).

If there’s a log bridge, Peter has to cross it!

Mist and Pip breathing in the oxygen-rich air of the dense forest:

Me, Englishman River:

Check back later this week for more posts on our spring break hiking quest as we explore the rainforests of Vancouver Island
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