Horne Lake Caves Provincial Park, Cave system in Regional District of Nanaimo, Canada
Horne Lake Caves Provincial Park is a protected area on Vancouver Island containing several limestone cave systems open to the public. Two of the caves can be entered without a guide, while the deeper sections require a ranger-led tour.
The caves were first recorded in geological surveys in 1912 and placed under formal protection in 1971 as visitor numbers started to affect the underground formations. Since then, access has been carefully managed to keep the cave systems intact.
The caves sit on the traditional territory of the Qualicum First Nation, a fact that adds a layer of meaning to any visit. Walking through the tunnels, you move through land that has held importance for Indigenous communities long before the park existed.
The park is located near Qualicum Beach, and the site is well signed once you arrive. Wear sturdy shoes and bring a warm layer, since the temperature inside the caves stays cool regardless of the season.
The park contains what is said to be the only natural cave slide in Canada, formed in ancient limestone. Many visitors also do not realize the caves are home to a small bat colony that roosts in the darker sections of the system.
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