Horne Lake Caves Park

Horne Lake Caves Provincial Park, Vancouver Island, B.C. Canada

Welcome! We are open daily for tours and self-guided exploration year round. If you’re looking for real adventure, come and explore UNDER Vancouver Island and discover another world – see amazing crystal formations and ancient fossils or climb an underground waterfall! Visitors to this unique park can explore on their own or try one of the award-winning guided tours. There is something for everyone: mild to wild! Please be sure to visit our Tour Schedule for tour availability and access information.

What to do at Horne Lake Caves…

Cave Theatre

Come visit the Horne Lake Cave Theatre and gain a greater appreciation for cave conservation. Horne Lake Caves has built the first Cave Theatre in Canada to increase the depth of appreciation and understanding for visitors to the Park prior to entering the fragile karst and cave ecosystem. The Cave Theatre is funded by the Canadian Cave Conservancy and and operated by the park operator Island Pacific Adventures Ltd. Open May – Sept.

Caving Programs

The best  caving programs in Canada! At Horne Lake Caves Provincial Park you can experience the magic of the underground world in the caverns protected within this unique park. The park was established in 1971 at the request of public caving groups on Vancouver Island who were concerned about the potential damage of the caves and the fragile crystal formations they contain. The park offers both self exploring and guided opportunities. Whichever method of exploring the caves you choose, you are bound to be fascinated by this amazing underground world in the heart of Vancouver Island.

The caves at Horne Lake are largely undeveloped and kept in a natural state. In keeping with the low-impact theme, none of the caves have permanent lighting or sidewalks and the floors are rocky and uneven. In winter, wetter conditions prevail and the tours are NOT for children under 8. Due to the terrain, the very elderly or those with limited mobility may have difficulty on the trails or in the caves. The temperature inside the caves is cool (8 degrees C or 48 degrees F). Bring warm clothes and sturdy boots or running shoes. Cameras are welcome!

Open from 10:00am-4:30pm daily, Horne Lake Main Cave offers adventurous visitors a chance to explore a rugged and wild cave without a guide. Self exploring in these public caves starts with a squeeze, followed by crawling and some moderate climbing and more narrow passages, so be prepared. Helmets are highly recommended and you must have at least two sources of light (unless you like getting stranded in ultimate blackness while waiting for a rescue!). Sturdy footwear and warm layered clothing will help ensure an enjoyable experience for everyone.

We rent helmets with lights for $8.50 +HST. Please see our office hours. Self exploring caves are locked at dusk.

Touring the caves with a certified guide is truly a unique and unforgettable experience. Learn about cave development, conservation, and cave travel while seeing caves that cannot be visited on your own.

Summer: Daily access to all of our caves is available. Our Visitor’s Centre is open for information, helmet rentals, tour registration and information. We offer hourly tours with no reservations required. Peak visitor times are 11-2pm so avoid the crowds by coming earlier or later in the day. Evening trips are also available. Sturdy footwear and an extra sweater are recommended.

Spring / Fall: These are great seasons to visit Horne Lake. Avoid the crowds and enjoy everything we have to offer. Daily tours and self exploring available but RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED FOR SPRING AND FALL TOURS.

Winter: With the rainy season upon us, Mother Nature takes centre stage. The caves transform from a serene environment to a high-energy, wet and wild adventure! Witness the awesome forces that carved these marble caverns into the mountains near Qualicum Beach. Tours and self exploring available but RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED. Click here to view our seasonal tour schedule. Rains of 25mm or more the day before mean higher water levels. Check the Weather Network (Horne Lake) or call us for weather updates 250-248-7829.

Trail Walking

Horne Lake Caves Provincial Park has about 2kms of hiking trails for you to explore. Dogs on leash are welcome. Bicycles are limited to roads (not cave trails) and overnight camping is not permitted in the park. If you want to see the caves, be sure to check tour availability and cave access before you come to the park.

Geocaching

There are a number of geocaches located in the park and surrounding areas. If you would like to learn more about geocaching please visit thier website and have fun!

Read more about Horne Lake Caves Provincial Park on the BC Parks website.

Cave Maps