Hitchie Creek Park is north of Nitinat Lake, beside Pacific Rim National Park Reserve on the southwest coast of Vancouver Island. BC Parks says the park protects old-growth lowland rainforest, river and lake ecosystems, and a key wildlife corridor in the Nitinat Lake watershed.
There is no vehicle access to the park.
Hitchie Creek Park is for self-reliant visitors who want an undeveloped rainforest setting close to Nitinat Lake but away from developed recreation areas. Access is by hiking a rough, approximately one-kilometre route from Hitchie Lake within the adjacent national park reserve.
The park's official values are ecological. Hitchie Creek protects old-growth lowland rainforest, sections of the underrepresented Windward Island Mountain ecosection, and potential habitat for species at risk such as Marbled Murrelet and Keen's long-eared myotis. It also supports a wide range of species from salamanders to songbirds. The creek itself is a key wildlife corridor.
Recreation is limited to wilderness camping, nature appreciation, wildlife viewing, hiking access, and fishing under regulations. BC Parks notes that swimming, canoeing, and kayaking opportunities are at nearby Hitchie or Nitinat lakes outside the park rather than in designated park areas.
Plan around rough hike-in access, old-growth rainforest observation, wilderness camping, wildlife viewing, nature photography, fishing where regulations allow, and nearby lake recreation outside the park boundary.
There are no developed trails in the park. Open fires are strongly discouraged; use a stove and Leave No Trace practices. Keep pets leashed and prepare for wet coastal rainforest conditions.
