Forbidden Plateau Service Road

The Forbidden Plateau Service Road winds through Vancouver Island’s only true alpine zone, climbing steadily from the Comox Valley floor through old-growth forest to subalpine meadows dotted with tarns and granite outcrops. Built to service the original Forbidden Plateau ski lodge in the 1960s, the road passes the concrete ruins of the old base lodge before continuing to the plateau proper, where Mount Washington’s bulk dominates the eastern skyline. The route’s highlight is the final section through Paradise Meadows, where wooden boardwalks protect the fragile ecosystem and provide access to a network of alpine hiking trails.

This is an easy to moderate gravel road suitable for any high-clearance vehicle, though washouts after heavy winter rains can create temporary rough patches. Best season runs May through October, with peak wildflower displays in July and August. No permits required, but parking fills quickly on summer weekends. Courtenay offers full services 30 minutes away. The payoff is Vancouver Island’s most accessible alpine experience, complete with glacier-carved lakes and 360-degree mountain views that rival anything in the Rockies.