Plan Schoen Lake Park north of Campbell River with wilderness camping, rugged hiking, paddling, lake trout fishing, rough road access, and seasonal closure notes.
Schoen Lake Park is northwest of Campbell River in the Nimpkish Valley on Vancouver Island. BC Parks describes it as a scenic wilderness park with old-growth forests, waterways, meadows, small lakes, deer habitat, Roosevelt elk habitat, fish habitat, and vehicle-accessible camping on northern Vancouver Island.
The park is 140 kilometres north of Campbell River, with campground access from gravel Davie Road.
Why Visit Schoen Lake Park
Schoen Lake is a quieter, more primitive camping and wilderness destination. BC Parks lists hiking, backpacking, boating, fishing, swimming, and camping, but also notes that the park lacks some modern amenities.
There are no maintained trails, yet rugged routes include the Schoen Creek Trail from the Davie Road campground and the Nisnak Lake Trail. Strong hikers may aim for 1,802-metre Mount Schoen for wide views over the lake and surrounding country. Canoeing and kayaking are possible on the five-kilometre lake from a rough boat-launching area near the campsite.
Things To Do
Camp, explore rugged unmarked hiking routes, paddle Schoen Lake, swim without a designated area or lifeguards, fish for lake trout with the proper licence, cycle only on park roads, hunt during open seasons, and plan winter skiing or snowshoeing in the small subalpine area north of the campsite.
Planning Notes
BC Parks warns swimmers to avoid the unstable log jam near the campground outflow into the Davie River. The campground is closed and gated from November 1 to March 31 because of slide risk, and winter snow can make access impassable. Davie Road and upper Adam Road can be rough, with logging vehicles common.