The Beaver Lodge Forest Lands are situated on the south western side of Campbell River, B.C. within the Simms Creek Watershed and Coastal Western Hemlock Biogeoclimatic Zone.  The drier portions of the forest grow well adapted tree species such as Douglas-fir, grand fir, bigleaf maple and red alder. Wetter areas are more favorable to the growth of western hemlock, western redcedar, and Sitka spruce.  Experimental planting techniques used in the l930's utilized a variety of tree species generating a parcel of land comprised of diverse habitats. Some of the resulting stands exhibit characteristics of an old growth forest, such as multi-level canopy height, large trees and limbs and a well-developed lower level of vegetation known as the understorey.

In 1931, 1028 acres (416 hectares) of land was donated to the Province of British Columbia by the Elk River Timber Company.  Since the original donation, additional parcels have been added to the Lands such that the total area today is approximately 520 hectares.  The land was given in trust to be used for experimental work in reforestation and forest management.  Historically the land was logged by railway and then reforested through a combination of planted seedlings and naturally-regenerated trees; becoming one of the first operational plantations in B.C.  In recognition of the binding obligation of the gift for forestry purposes, Bill 52, the Beaver Lodge Forest Trust Renewal Act resulted in the first experimental forest protected under its own provincial legislation.  Since then, the land has been administrated by the Province and accessible for public use.