Sproat Lake Provincial Park, Provincial park on Vancouver Island, Canada
Sproat Lake Provincial Park is a nature reserve situated along Sproat Lake on Vancouver Island, offering wooded hiking trails and designated swimming areas. The park also provides boat launch facilities and sits within forested terrain near Port Alberni.
The area was shaped by Gilbert Malcolm Sproat, a Scottish entrepreneur who arrived on Vancouver Island in 1860 and established industrial operations. His activities influenced the economic development of the region during that period.
The K'ak'awin petroglyph panel carved into rocks along the shoreline shows figures from indigenous traditions and beliefs. These carvings remain an important place where First Nations' knowledge and stories continue to be shared and remembered.
The park has two campgrounds, with 44 and 15 pitches for tents and motorhomes, plus a simple washroom block with showers. Highway 4 runs through the park, separating the smaller campground from the lake and its sanitary facilities; the larger campground and both picnic areas sit directly on the shore. The boat launch and small beach are on the north shore.
The Martin Mars water bombers were based next to the park until 2024. On 11 August 2024 the last airworthy example, Hawaii Mars, flew to Victoria International Airport, escorted at times by Canadian Forces Snowbirds, for display at the British Columbia Aviation Museum. The grounded Philippine Mars went to the Pima Air & Space Museum in the United States.
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