Artlish Caves Park is a BC Parks site northwest of Zeballos on northern Vancouver Island. BC Parks says the park is known for spectacular and unique karst features of provincial and national significance.
The remote park has two large cave entrances, an underground river, and an old-growth forest setting.
Artlish Caves is for experienced, cautious visitors researching karst landscapes, rugged forest travel, wildlife, fishing, and wilderness caving. BC Parks describes a landscape shaped by water dissolving carbonate bedrock such as limestone, dolomite, or marble.
This is a sensitive area. BC Parks says use was not recommended until a management plan was complete, while also noting that wilderness caving opportunities exist for experienced, adventurous cavers. Routes to cave entrances are not marked, and White-Nose Syndrome precautions apply before entering any cave.
There are no developed trails, only rugged, non-maintained forest routes. Hazards include sinkholes, grikes, creek crossings, fast-rising water during wet weather, and a one kilometre walk on deactivated logging road before reaching the western park boundary.
BC Parks also notes culturally modified trees in the park.
Plan around rugged hiking, experienced caving, karst observation, old-growth Sitka spruce viewing, fishing under current regulations, black bear, bald eagle, black-tailed deer and Roosevelt elk awareness, and careful route finding.
Access uses active logging roads where loaded trucks have the right of way. Bring water or treat surface water, use extreme caution around karst hazards and creek crossings, decontaminate caving gear, and check BC Parks updates.
