Paradise Meadows is the gateway to the Forbidden Plateau area of Strathcona Provincial Park, reached through the Mount Washington alpine above Courtenay. It is the easiest way to walk through genuine sub-alpine meadows on Vancouver Island, on a gravel-and-boardwalk trail that stays nearly flat the whole way.
The short Centennial Loop is fully accessible and stroller-friendly, while longer trails branch off from the same trailhead toward alpine lakes and peaks.
- Distance: 2.5km accessible Centennial Loop, or 4.2km for the full Paradise Meadows loop
- Time: 1 to 3 hours depending on the loop you choose
- Cost: Free
- Dogs: Allowed on leash; not recommended deeper into the backcountry due to wildlife
- Accessibility: The Centennial Loop boardwalk is wheelchair and stroller friendly
- Best season: July to early October for wildflowers and clear boardwalk; snow lingers into June
- Best for: Families, casual walkers, photographers, and snowshoers in winter
Paradise Meadows is an easy sub-alpine hiking area in Strathcona Provincial Park, British Columbia, accessed from the Mount Washington resort road near Courtenay. A flat boardwalk and gravel trail loop through meadows, ponds, and forest at around 1,100 metres elevation, with longer routes continuing to alpine lakes such as Battleship Lake and Helen Mackenzie Lake. It is free to visit and open year-round, with snowshoeing in winter.
A great fit for families and anyone wanting alpine scenery without a hard climb. Less ideal for hikers chasing big elevation gain or solitude, since the main loop is popular and the meadows are fragile, so you must stay on the boardwalk.
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The Trails: Centennial Loop and Beyond
Two walks share the same trailhead. The 2.2km Centennial Loop is the showcase: a fully accessible boardwalk and gravel path that passes meadows and a pond and returns to the parking lot, flat enough for strollers and wheelchairs. The full Paradise Meadows loop extends this to about 4.2km, still easy, with more meadow and forest scenery.
From the same network, more ambitious hikers continue deeper into Forbidden Plateau toward Battleship Lake, Helen Mackenzie Lake, and Kwai Lake, or push on to bigger objectives like Mount Albert Edward. Those routes turn an easy stroll into a full day or an overnight, so plan ahead if you are heading past the meadows.
The meadows are a fragile sub-alpine environment, which is why so much of the route is boardwalk. Keeping to the trail protects the plants and soil, and signs throughout the area ask visitors not to shortcut between sections.
When to Go and What You’ll See
Summer is the headline season. Wildflowers typically peak from mid-July through August, when the meadows fill with colour. Snow can linger on the boardwalk into June, so for a dry, clear walk, July to early October is the safe window.
In winter the area transforms into a popular snowshoeing and backcountry skiing zone, with the meadows and lakes covered in deep snow. Mount Washington Alpine Resort sits right beside the trailhead, so the access road is maintained through the ski season.
Getting There and Parking
From Highway 19, take exit 130 onto the Strathcona Parkway and follow signs toward Mount Washington Alpine Resort for about 20km of steady climbing. Near the resort, turn onto the Nordic Lodge road and continue about 1.5km to the Paradise Meadows parking lot at the trailhead.
The drive up from Courtenay takes roughly 45 minutes. There is a large parking lot, but this is one of the most popular trailheads on the Island, so it fills on summer weekends. Arriving in the morning is the reliable way to get a spot and beat the midday crowds on the boardwalk.
What to Bring
Even though the walk is easy, this is alpine terrain at about 1,100 metres, and the weather changes fast. Bring a warm layer and a rain shell even on a clear morning, along with water and sun protection for the exposed meadow sections.
There are pit toilets at the trailhead, but no drinking water or services on the trail. The longer routes into Forbidden Plateau need proper hiking footwear, a map, and more food and water than the loop suggests.
Strathcona Park is black bear and cougar habitat even on the boardwalk sections. Our Vancouver Island wildlife safety guide covers what to know before you go, especially if you continue into Forbidden Plateau.
Part of Strathcona, Vancouver Island’s Oldest Park
Paradise Meadows sits inside Strathcona Provincial Park, established in 1911 as British Columbia’s first provincial park. The Forbidden Plateau area it opens onto is a rolling sub-alpine landscape of meadows, lakes, and low peaks that draws hikers, backpackers, and winter travellers.
For most visitors, the meadows are the perfect introduction to that landscape: alpine scenery, big-mountain air, and an easy trail, all within an hour of the Comox Valley.
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