Lorraine fell in love with this campground and once you have been here you will know why! Rathtrevor beach is a magical campground cut into old growth forest. It is a big campground with 174 sites in the main loop and 51 sites in the overflow. Nestled on the Strait of Georgia on the inside channel of Vancouver Island, it is protected from the worst weather the west of the island can offer. Rathtrevor is also located right on the edge of the beautiful seaside town of Parksville. Parksville offers all of the amenities required to have an extended stay here on the ocean.
Rathtrevor is a sought after Canadian vacation hot spot. If you are going to come here you better be prepared to fight the online reservation system, and be on time with you reservation. If you luck out there are many RV parks in the area but they also tend to book 1 yr in advance.
The sites at Rathtrevor are a nice size and big rig friendly. Our site here had more than enough room for our old 26ft' RV, car dolly and Toad vehicle. The roads in the campground are all paved and there is a sani-dump on site with potable water. In the center of the campground there is a shower house and flush toilets.
As you can see here we had more than enough room to glamp up our campsite in style and have room to entertain. When on the island we typically have guests, as my family primarily lives on the island.
The views from our campsite were stunning! Old growth forest with greenery everywhere. We never grew bored of our view and in the end we were sad to let go of this wonderful campsite. but travel on we must.
All around the campground trails are in abundance. This trail circumnavigates the park, and offers stunning ocean side views. Lorraine and Annie stop along this trail to admire what they see.
Time to move on..
Meanwhile back at the campsite, my Mom and my niece both kick back in the loungers and enjoy our hospitality. Of course Pepper my Mom's dog is also enjoying the comforts of glamping.
My Son, Zack, and his cousin Jessie, are also trying out the loungers. Actually i think Jessie kinda claimed that chair for herself during her visit. This was the first year we got these chairs so everyone was so impressed with how comfortable they were.
My Daughter, Stephanie also came by for a visit but was out of luck, no anti-gravity lounger for her.
Lorraine still on her travels wonders down towards the beach area.
There is a path to lead you anywhere you may want to travel while in this campground. Here down by the beach you can find the crossroads to the campground, or the circular route, or on to the beach, the choice is yours.
As we move towards the beach the forest falls behind us and scrub land appears. The wind through hear can be breezy but the heat from the sun usually makes up for it.
As we walk the beach this old stump provided an excellent background in which to take one last picture of Mom. Soon we must move on but we have thoroughly enjoyed as always our trip to the West Coast of Canada. Vancouver island and the town of Parksville never disappoint us when we come to visit.
On our last night at Rathtrevor Mother Nature gave us one last spectacular sunset to etch into our memories, the beauty of living on the West Coast. An almost tropical sunset on a truly Canadian landscape.
Happy Trails
The Glampurs
Nuts & Bolts:
This Campground is as resorty as Canadian Provincial campgrounds get. It is big rig friendly and poses no threats to your RV from low over hangs or tight corners. The campground itself offers 226 sites in which to find your perfect spot. None of the sites have any services, so no electrical or sewer. Generators are allowed but only during specific times. Hours of operation are. 8am to 9:30am and 5pm to 7pm. Sani-dump services and potable water are available within the campground. Firewood can be purchased on site, and a store offering propane, fuel and minor grocery items lives at the front gate to the park. Cell service is very good and no booster is required. With Parksville enticingly close, campers can find all sorts of touristy attractions to entertain the whole family. Full services are available in Parksville and this makes stocking the RV for an extended stay here easy and affordable. A night at the campground will cost you $35/night. This is a very popular destination so reservations are recommended. They can be made here:
Video Extra: Dash Cam Footage