Vancouver Island is a caving paradise, boasting more explored limestone caves than the rest of Canada combined.

Upana Caves is one of the most accessible cave systems, located just a 25-minute drive (18km) along an unpaved road from Gold River.

Upana's cave system has fifteen entrances, from narrow passageways to expansive, cathedral-like openings. The highest concentration of caves can be found just 300 meters from the parking area.

Make sure to bring a couple of light sources and don't go beyond your comfort zone. Some visitors bring a helmet to explore the smaller caves.