Horne Lake Caves Provincial Park facts for kids
Horne Lake Caves Provincial Park is a special provincial park located on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. Its main purpose is to protect and manage several amazing caves known as the Horne Lake Caves. It's also a fantastic place for people to visit and explore these natural wonders.
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A Look Back in Time
The caves at Horne Lake have been known to local Indigenous people for a very long time. The first written mention of these caves appeared in a geological report in 1912.
Early Discoveries and Visitors
Two caves, called Main and Lower Main, became known to loggers in the area. More people started visiting them after they were featured in public news in 1939. In 1941, a larger cave named Riverbend Cave was discovered. By 1945, it had become a popular spot for tourists.
Protecting the Caves
By 1957, the government set aside a 29-hectare area around the Horne Lake caves. This was because many of their beautiful rock formations, called speleothems (like stalactites and stalagmites), had been damaged.
In 1963, another cave called Euclataws Cave was found, but its location was kept secret until about 1969. Local cave explorers were worried about more damage. They asked the government to protect the caves. In February 1971, Horne Lake Caves officially became a provincial park.
Guided Tours and Continued Protection
To protect them, Euclataws and Riverbend Caves had special gates installed. Guided tours began in Main, Lower Main, and Riverbend caves. However, some damage and gate-breaking still happened. In 1984, a serious incident in Riverbend Cave led to more efforts to protect the park.
A new plan was created in 1985 to manage the park better. This led to improved visitor facilities and privately run cave tours. Recently, four more caves have been found and documented within the park: Cougar Cave, Eggshell Cave, Andre's Annex, and Riverbend Trail Slot Cave. The park also includes forests and part of the Qualicum River, offering chances for hiking, fishing, and canoeing.
Where is Horne Lake Caves Park?
Horne Lake Caves Provincial Park covers 158 hectares (about 390 acres). It is located about 60 kilometers (37 miles) north of Nanaimo. It's also about 26 kilometers (16 miles) west of Qualicum. To get there, you take the Horne Lake exit off Highway 19 and drive about 12 kilometers (7.5 miles). Map from Highway to Horne Lake Caves
