Artlish Caves Provincial Park, Cave network in Strathcona Regional District, Canada
Artlish Caves Provincial Park is a limestone cave system spread across a large forest area with two main caves. The two main passages are long enough that visitors need several hours to explore them.
The area was officially documented in 1932 by the Canadian Geological Survey, though hunters and timber workers had known about it long before. Protection as a park came later after local knowledge led to formal study.
The name comes from the A'licath people of the Kyuquot confederacy, who held ties to this territory across many generations. These caves were part of the landscape they inhabited and knew well.
To reach the caves, visitors must walk across forest roads and trails for several kilometers before crossing the park boundary. Sturdy footwear and weather-appropriate clothing are important since the route goes through active forest areas.
The Artlish River flows completely underground through one of the main caves, creating Vancouver Island's last undisturbed karst river system. This hidden waterway forms a rare landscape feature that has become scarce across the island.
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