Horne Lake Caves Provincial Park

The lower cave at Horne Lake, open to public visitation.

A vertical drop in Riverbend cave at Horne Lake, part of an adventure caving tour

Horne Lake Caves Provincial Park is a provincial park on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. Its principal function is the protection, management, and recreational use of several caves collectively known as the Horne Lake Caves.

History

Although certainly known to natives, the first reference to caves at Horne Lake is in a geological report from 1912. Two caves known as Main and Lower Main were thereafter known to loggers, and public visitation increased after they were publicised in 1939. In 1941 the larger Riverbend Cave was discovered and was a popular tourist site by 1945. In 1957 the Province placed a 29 ha reserve around the Horne Lake caves which by then had been stripped of many of their formations.

Fears of vandalism in the recently revealed Euclataws Cave (discovered in 1963 but kept secret until about 1969) led local cavers to approach the provincial government for protection, and in February 1971 Horne Lake Caves became a provincial park. Euclataws and Riverbend Cave were gated and guided tours commenced in Main, Lower Main and Riverbend caves. Vandalism and gate-breaching continued, however, and in 1984 a serious incident of vandalism in Riverbend Cave led to increased attention and the creation of a management plan in 1985, followed by improved visitor facilities and privately managed cave tours. Four additional caves, Cougar Cave, Eggshell Cave, Andre's Annex and Riverbend Trail Slot Cave, have recently been documented within the park. The park includes forest and part of the Qualicum River which provides opportunities for hiking, fishing and canoeing.

Location

The 158 ha Horne Lake Caves Provincial Park is located approximately 60 km north of Nanaimo and 26 km west of Qualicum, and is 12 km from the Horne Lake exit off Highway 19. Map from Hwy to Horne Lake Caves

See also

Adam Grant Horne for whom Horne Lake was named.

References

Horne Lake Caves Provincial Park Master Plan Province of British Columbia, March 1985

Recent Developments at Horne Lake Caves Park The Canadian Caver Vol 16 No 2

External links

• Horne Lake Caves Provincial Park website
• "Horne Lake Caves Provincial Park". BC Geographical Names.
• "Horne Lake". BC Geographical Names.