Horne Lake Caves Provincial Park
Horne Lake Caves Provincial Park
Horne Lake Caves Provincial Park
5
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Explore the Hidden Gem of Vancouver Island, now open with limited daily tour departures, smaller group sizes and new health and safety protocols. Winner of BC’s Remarkable Experience Award and ranked #1 of 22 Things To Do IN Vancouver Island. Explore this park in 3D - above by hiking through the beautiful rainforest Fossil Trail or venturing underground on a guided tour. Start your journey with a short hike through the forest to reach the cave entrance. Here you’ll begin a fascinating subterranean experience. As you step away from the emerald forest and deeper into the cave, a new world of crystal formations, marbled passages and ancient fossils are revealed. Navigate ramps, ladders and slides to meander through the caverns. Feel the cool air. Listen to the sound of your guide’s voice, the steady drip of water or the rumbling of an unexpected waterfall. Turn off your headlamp to heighten your senses and absorb the power of complete darkness on this fun and educational adventure!
Duration: 2-3 hours
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- Fay RKitimat, Canada14 contributionsFirst time cavers - ☑️This was our first time caving. Mother/daughter adventure. We were a bit nervous and not exactly sure what to expect. We decided to go with the easiest option . The experience was amazing! The guides, Curtis and Allister were very professional, knowledgeable, and entertaining. They made sure everyone was feeling comfortable and made us feel at ease. We really enjoyed ourselves. Thank you!Visited May 2024Travelled with familyWritten 10 May 2024
- Gjh77Vancouver, Canada30 contributionsAmazingHad an absolute blast on the multi cave with our guide Allister. It was a full 2.5 hours, absolutely the best value tour for the price I have ever done. Allister explained so many interesting things on the hike up to the caves as well as inside the caves. The caves themselves were breathtakingly beautiful. There were a few tight spots but that just added to the amazing experience. The waterfall in the main cave was a must do.Visited May 2024Travelled soloWritten 15 May 2024
- Veronika A7 contributionsEverything we hoped for it would be , it was !My boyfriend and I have been wanting to plan a trip to Horne Lake for about a year . Our original plan was to do the Max Depth adventure but unfortunately it wasn’t open till June , and we were very eager to go so we couldn’t wait any longer and ended up doing the Action Pack . We got there and it was AMAZING ! Our tour guide was named Oscar he was awesome ! We got to explore the caves , climb a waterfall in the caves and go through an amazing tour of the caves . We are gladly planning the next adventure to do the Max depth in the caves !Visited May 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 20 May 2024
- Melissa S1 contributionGreat guide and fantastic tour.We participated in the multi-cave experience with our 10 and 11 year old. We all had so much fun and learned a great deal. The caves are beautiful and the waterfall climb and slide, the complete blackout, and the “cheese grater” squeeze were just the right amount of excitement.Visited May 2024Travelled with familyWritten 26 May 2024
- tenmile1Victoria, Canada87 contributionsRock Stars of Horne Lake Caves!Our adventure at Horne Lake Caves was nothing short of epic, and it's all thanks to our amazing guide, Alex. If you're ready to channel your inner Indiana Jones, this is the place to be! From the moment we met Alex, we knew we were in for a treat. With a sense of humour sharper than a stalactite and enthusiasm that could light up a cavern, Alex made spelunking an absolute blast. She had us laughing while learning, cracking jokes while explaining the intricate beauty of the caves. Who knew geology could be so hilarious? Alex's engaging storytelling had us hanging on every word (and sometimes literally hanging on to cave walls!). She navigated us through the twists, turns, and tight squeezes with the finesse of a rock star. We climbed, crawled, and marvelled at the stunning formations, feeling like true explorers on a grand quest. Safety was always a priority, but that didn't stop Alex from sprinkling in some thrilling surprises. She even managed to make the smallest of spaces feel like the grandest of adventures. Her knowledge of the caves was impressive, and her passion for sharing it was contagious. If you’re looking for an adventure that rocks (pun intended), don’t miss out on Horne Lake Caves. And if you're lucky enough to get Alex as your guide, prepare for a journey filled with fun, laughter, and a whole lot of great memories. Thank you, Alex, for turning a cool cave tour into an unforgettable adventure. We'll be back for more spelunking fun soon! (My son and I did the Action Pack tour.)Visited July 2024Travelled with familyWritten 17 July 2024
- Sheri B9 contributionsThe most awesome, epic caving tour ever! 🤙We did the Achilles Challenge the other day, with Nikolai (not sure if I spelled that correctly), and I was a little nervous going in especially about the parts with the belly crawls, as I have a little bit of claustrophobic fears. He was such an amazing guide, and really made it so much fun and I was very comfortable the entire time. I had no issues at all, I was so pleased I was able to complete the tour with no fear at all, and I can't wait to do it again! Thank you so much Nikolai for you patience and awesome work! We had such a blast! 👍😁Visited August 2024Travelled with friendsWritten 22 August 2024
- S H1 contributionHorne Lake Cave TourFrom start to finish, this experience was positive. Thanks to Laura and John. A big thank you to Jenna, our cave guide. Jenna’s easy going attitude was the right mix of humour, knowledge and competence. You’ll be in safe hands with Jenna. We highly recommend this adventure!Visited August 2024Travelled with familyWritten 24 August 2024
- Lisa SGibsons, Canada190 contributionsFun Experience for First Time Cavers!Had the most amazing tour of the caves with Oscar. He was fun, informative and had a great demeanor. We did the Action Pack tour, which was the perfect length. Saw some very interesting caves, learned lots and still had the afternoon to do other things. We were first time Cavers and it did not disappoint. We rented the suits, and were very happy we did! Kept our clothes clean and dry!Visited August 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 3 September 2024
- Tiffany S1 contributionAwesome experience doing the max depth tourAwesome tour with the best guide! My friend and I did the Max Depth tour with our guide Oscar. We were underground for around 5 hours and got to do the craziest repels and get down and dirty on our bellies crawling through tight spaces. Worth it!Visited September 2024Travelled with friendsWritten 22 September 2024
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5.0
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Peanut-Chopper
Vancouver, BC, Canada52 contributions
Aug 2020
I'm not an "athletic" person but I can walk forever. I don't like strenuous hikes but the 45 uphill hike to the first cave was fine because we took about 5 educational breaks. We did the "Multi-Cave Explorer" which consists of 2 caves. Total trip was 3 hours. We really enjoyed it. Our 11 year old came and loved it! Smaller people will be more comfortable because there are some tight spots. You can't be claustrophobic and you can't be afraid of darkness. They supply with headlamps. Because of COVID-19, you must wear a face mask. Wear a comfortable one because you will have it on the entire time. You may be going with another group. They try to keep the groups separated. I felt like it was a real adventure and had a lot of fun. The caves are very interesting. It is moist and wet at some spots like in the last cave there is a small flowing water fall. I climbed up it. A little bit of rock climbing but if you can climb a tree, you can do it. They have a quicker tour that is less strenuous called the Riverbend Cave Explorer (which is the 2nd cave in the Mulit-Cave Explorer). It's much closer to where you start so very little walking/hiking involved before you get to see a cave. I highly recommend this activity. We had so much fun.
Written 14 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Grady F
1 contribution
Jul 2022 • Friends
Me and my partner did the Achilles Heel tour which is not on the trip advisor website but can be found on the Horne Lake Cave Tour website.
I would highly recommend for anyone who wants a little adventure and is interested in doing some climbing and crawling. The tour was 3 hrs long and featured a swinging rope, a cable ladder, a 17ft climb, and a few stomach crawls. Each of these fun challenges made us feel like true adventures and definitely added to the experience of caving. The Achilles Heel also features some of the most beautiful open chambers you can find west of the Rockies. With soda straws and calcite forming into some stunning shapes you never get tired of discovering new rock formations, fossils, and more! If you like nature and adventure, this is definitely something I would add to the list!
We had the pleasure of having Curtis as our tour guide and he was wonderful. His vast array of knowledge about the caves, caving, the surrounded land, and geology more than answered our many questions and inquiries. Curtis instantly made us feel welcome and his positive energy made for a great few hours of laughter and exploration. On top of that, Curtis was very direct and firm about our safety and the preservation of the caves. We never once felt that we were at risk of danger or that we would do something to damage the natural wonder of the caves. Thank you for an amazing afternoon Curtis, you went above and beyond our expectations!
I would highly recommend for anyone who wants a little adventure and is interested in doing some climbing and crawling. The tour was 3 hrs long and featured a swinging rope, a cable ladder, a 17ft climb, and a few stomach crawls. Each of these fun challenges made us feel like true adventures and definitely added to the experience of caving. The Achilles Heel also features some of the most beautiful open chambers you can find west of the Rockies. With soda straws and calcite forming into some stunning shapes you never get tired of discovering new rock formations, fossils, and more! If you like nature and adventure, this is definitely something I would add to the list!
We had the pleasure of having Curtis as our tour guide and he was wonderful. His vast array of knowledge about the caves, caving, the surrounded land, and geology more than answered our many questions and inquiries. Curtis instantly made us feel welcome and his positive energy made for a great few hours of laughter and exploration. On top of that, Curtis was very direct and firm about our safety and the preservation of the caves. We never once felt that we were at risk of danger or that we would do something to damage the natural wonder of the caves. Thank you for an amazing afternoon Curtis, you went above and beyond our expectations!
Written 23 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
stephp
Kelowna, Canada15 contributions
Aug 2022 • Friends
We did the “Max Depth” experience and it was incredible. Our guide Zac was so knowledgeable; you knew how special the caves were to him and how important safety was to him. The max depth adventure takes you to the very end of the cave and back. I crawled through crevices I didn’t know a human body would fit and rappelled & climbed with confidence - without being experienced. Definitely rent the rubber boots, use the provided knee pads & gloves and ensure you have durable clothing on your forearms. Don’t bother brining water or a fanny pack, you don’t need it. Protect your phone/camera by placing in a chest pocket - not a pants pocket as one of our tourmates found out can break your screen. The photos we stopped to take are breathtaking and I have left this experience telling everyone I know THEY’VE GOT TO GO HERE!
Written 28 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tera w
Duncan, Canada5 contributions
Sept 2020 • Family
Our family of four had a great time exploring the Riverbend Cave and the Play Cave with Meghan. Our guide was informative, casual, and lots of fun. She challenged us to fit through some tight spaces! I thought I would be nervous being in confined spaces, but I wasn’t at all. I really appreciated that Meghan went at a pace that all members of the group could manage. We admired the calcite formations, climbed a cave waterfall, and had a silent moment in total darkness!
Written 2 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Walter D
Abbotsford, Canada40 contributions
Sept 2020 • Couples
Went to the caves for a tour. The safety briefing was clear and covered the important points including the wearing of masks due to Covid. The total time for the tour was over 2 1/2 hrs and were slowed down by some inexperienced climbers who struggled going up and over rocks and tight spaces. That aside, the experience inside the caves was amazing. The sights and the total black out moment was truly amazing. Would highly recommend the tour to anyone who would be going near the area.
Written 16 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tenmile1
Victoria, Canada87 contributions
Jul 2024 • Family
Our adventure at Horne Lake Caves was nothing short of epic, and it's all thanks to our amazing guide, Alex. If you're ready to channel your inner Indiana Jones, this is the place to be!
From the moment we met Alex, we knew we were in for a treat. With a sense of humour sharper than a stalactite and enthusiasm that could light up a cavern, Alex made spelunking an absolute blast. She had us laughing while learning, cracking jokes while explaining the intricate beauty of the caves. Who knew geology could be so hilarious?
Alex's engaging storytelling had us hanging on every word (and sometimes literally hanging on to cave walls!). She navigated us through the twists, turns, and tight squeezes with the finesse of a rock star. We climbed, crawled, and marvelled at the stunning formations, feeling like true explorers on a grand quest.
Safety was always a priority, but that didn't stop Alex from sprinkling in some thrilling surprises. She even managed to make the smallest of spaces feel like the grandest of adventures. Her knowledge of the caves was impressive, and her passion for sharing it was contagious.
If you’re looking for an adventure that rocks (pun intended), don’t miss out on Horne Lake Caves. And if you're lucky enough to get Alex as your guide, prepare for a journey filled with fun, laughter, and a whole lot of great memories.
Thank you, Alex, for turning a cool cave tour into an unforgettable adventure. We'll be back for more spelunking fun soon!
(My son and I did the Action Pack tour.)
From the moment we met Alex, we knew we were in for a treat. With a sense of humour sharper than a stalactite and enthusiasm that could light up a cavern, Alex made spelunking an absolute blast. She had us laughing while learning, cracking jokes while explaining the intricate beauty of the caves. Who knew geology could be so hilarious?
Alex's engaging storytelling had us hanging on every word (and sometimes literally hanging on to cave walls!). She navigated us through the twists, turns, and tight squeezes with the finesse of a rock star. We climbed, crawled, and marvelled at the stunning formations, feeling like true explorers on a grand quest.
Safety was always a priority, but that didn't stop Alex from sprinkling in some thrilling surprises. She even managed to make the smallest of spaces feel like the grandest of adventures. Her knowledge of the caves was impressive, and her passion for sharing it was contagious.
If you’re looking for an adventure that rocks (pun intended), don’t miss out on Horne Lake Caves. And if you're lucky enough to get Alex as your guide, prepare for a journey filled with fun, laughter, and a whole lot of great memories.
Thank you, Alex, for turning a cool cave tour into an unforgettable adventure. We'll be back for more spelunking fun soon!
(My son and I did the Action Pack tour.)
Written 17 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Alex-St-Swiss
Zurich, Switzerland14 contributions
Jul 2023
We did the The Action Pack (Main & Lower Caves)
It has been a real pleasure to climb in this caves. it has been challenging and pretty cool! Guide was amazing (Kate), very helpful, friendly and clearly instructing.
We recommend it definitely to all adventure seeking people! and would definitely not miss the opportunity to experience this adventure!
You can get trough the whole tour without getting wet shoes in summer. But if you don't take care at some points, you will get wet shoes. We recommend to rent a Cave Suite from the company, as it keeps you warm, protected and you will not make your own clothes dirty or shred them.
It has been a real pleasure to climb in this caves. it has been challenging and pretty cool! Guide was amazing (Kate), very helpful, friendly and clearly instructing.
We recommend it definitely to all adventure seeking people! and would definitely not miss the opportunity to experience this adventure!
You can get trough the whole tour without getting wet shoes in summer. But if you don't take care at some points, you will get wet shoes. We recommend to rent a Cave Suite from the company, as it keeps you warm, protected and you will not make your own clothes dirty or shred them.
Written 26 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brittney A
1 contribution
Aug 2023 • Family
My sister and I did the max depth adventure and it was absolutely amazing! Not having experience in caving we were a bit worried signing up for the most intense tour but our guide Chloe made us feel safe and confident the entire time. We can not recommend it enough, loved it from start to finish. P.S. Chloe provided Dad jokes throughout which were much appreciated 🙏
Written 15 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Guide32419499161
1 contribution
May 2023 • Couples
We went on the Action pack tour. It was great! Our guide T.J. was lots of fun and very informative. Would highly recommend renting the cave suit and rubber boots, especially if it is a wet time of year. We would definitely go on one of their other tours as well.
Written 10 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
NeilMcCubbin
Lac Brome, qc5 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
Our tour not listed. We did the deepest one with rappelles and a load of messy wiggling
Good fun but energetic and not for the fat boys
Our guide, Chloe, was very competent and good fun.
Only problem was slight unannounced change in start time
Good fun but energetic and not for the fat boys
Our guide, Chloe, was very competent and good fun.
Only problem was slight unannounced change in start time
Written 30 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
How is this place look like at this time ? 09/2022 ?
Written 11 September 2022
My husband and I are pretty good with hikes although long distances and steep inclines would wear me down quickly. But we are not.. ahem...skinny. We are definitely the other side of skinny. Should we even bother, or is it likely that we quite frankly could not squeeze through?
Written 19 June 2020
We just did the multi-cave tour, and there were some optional places to climb or squeeze through. Our guide claimed some very large people had made it on these sections, and it’s far more about how adventurous you are and willing to squish yourself than anything else. As long as you’re in reasonable shape, the trail up to the caves is definitely a moderate (though not long) climb and you need to be strong enough to get around rocks with an overhang, doing a bit of a crab walk in a few places. It’s never for long, and there’s lots of spots to rest and look at formations. Try the 1 hour tour, see if you like it!
Written 10 September 2020
We're both in our 60s and not particularly fit, travelling with my 7 year old granddaughter. Is the first leg of the cave tour suitable for our little group?
Written 29 June 2019
My husband an I did the three hour visit. It involves a vigorous uphill hike to get to the caves and then about 2 1/2 hours inside. There were no children on our tour. There were many places that I had to squat/crab walk on uneven ground, wary of hitting my head. (Thank goodness for the helmet that was provided.) There are a lot of loose rocks underfoot for much of the experience. Even though I exercise daily, I found my legs to be a bit wobbly at the end of the excursion. The three hour hike involves some climbing (maybe 10 feet?? high with good hand holds in a short waterfall). Also, there are no toilet facilities available on the tour if that is an issue. Overall, I found the tour to be very enjoyable, educational, and a highlight of our trip. But it was fairly vigorous.
Written 2 July 2019
Are they any tours or activities that would include a three year old?
Written 12 October 2018
Unfortunately there is nothing organized for really young children. There are trails you can walk for free. Not sure if that would hold their interest, it would depend on the 3 year old.
Written 12 October 2018
I'm considering the 4 hour tour as there is a Groupon available. My concern is I'm claustrophobic. How tight are the spaces (site says the height of a picnic table) and for how long of a distance? I can handle short durations but if it goes on for too long, I'm out.
Written 1 August 2017
It's very tight in places. But they told me the two hour tour was more open although I did the one hour which I assumed would be easy and it was NOT! Crouching, squeezing, climbing....barely enough room to get through in spots. I loved it but you need to be fit, agile and definitely ok with tight spaces. Ask them about the two hour tour though, they are very approachable and will give you an honest review.
Written 1 August 2017
How good/bad is the gravel road ? can a normal car go there ?
Written 19 May 2016
Yes the road is a publicly-maintained gravel road. No problem for cars just take it easy on the speed. As summer is peak time around the lake, watch out for oncoming traffic - everything from ATV's to logging trucks share this road. Drive slow with headlights on and be ready to pull over and stop if necessary.
Written 10 June 2016
They don't mention anything about an upper age limit, but you need to be somewhat fit and sure footed. We were on the 90 minute Family tour and there was a woman there with her 80 year old mother...she managed the hike up to the cave entrance but when she got inside she had second thoughts about the decent into the cave. I believe the 3 hour tour is much more physically challenging.
Written 31 August 2015
Hi,
How do you get to the caves from downtown vancouver? How long does the ferry ride take? Thanks!
Written 17 March 2015
From Downtown Vancouver, you would take the ferry from Horseshoe Bay to Departure Bay (Nanaimo). The ferry ride is 1 hr, 35 min (sailing time), then by car it would be about 45 minutes north of Nanaimo. As previously stated in the other reply, I would think you would need to have a car, as the caves are actually about 15/20 minutes off the hiway near a little town called Bowser. Take the clothing recommendations on the tour seriously as well unless you want to get wet. It is really cool. One of those things that I cant believe I have lived on the island most of my life, but waited a long time to see.
Written 18 March 2015
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