Backcountry camping

Narvaez Bay is one of the most beautiful and undisturbed bays in the southern Gulf Islands. This area includes regenerating Douglas fir forest and Garry oak-arbutus ecosystems. This campground is easily accessed from land or water, and is a popular spot for paddlers and overnight anchorage.

Campground info:

• Walk-In access: 1.7 km from trailhead to backcountry campsites
• 7 reservable campsites
• Bike racks at the campground
• Pit toilets
• No potable water

The Penders—North and South—were once one island connected by a narrow strip of land. A canal between the islands was dredged in 1903 to allow boats to make a speedier passage to the outer Gulf Islands. Rejoined again with the building of a one-lane bridge in 1957, the two islands are now home to a combined population of around 2,000 permanent residents, the majority of whom live on North Pender.

Shingle Bay Campground

GPS Coordinates:
48.7841064747264, -123.31095284505

Campground info

• Accessible by water or walk-in trail
• 10 reservable primitive campsites
• Pit toilets
• No potable water
• Nearby: Prior Centennial campground;
  Pender Island Trails

Getting here

The camping area is walk-in only.

From the parking area you will descend 0.24 km down a steep hill.

Overnight parking available for campers at the end of Shingle Bay Rd.

Getting here by car:

From the Otter Bay Ferry Terminal, head north towards MacKinnon Rd, after 350 m merge and make a slight right onto MacKinnon Rd. Follow for 600 m, then continue straight onto Otter Bay Rd. In 1.5 km, turn right onto S Otter Bay Rd. In 2.6 km, turn left onto Shingle Bay Rd. Follow for 500m and you will arrive in the parking area for the campground.

Reservations

Book your campsite online at reservation.pc.gc.ca or by calling +1 (877) 737-3783

Campground map

Download Shingle Bay Campground map (PDF, 755 kb)

With numerous coves, cobble beaches and a forest of arbutus and Douglas fir, D'Arcy Island's beauty belies its past history as a leper colony for Chinese immigrants in the late 1800s and early 1900s. To avoid damaging sensitive habitats or disturbing cultural features, please camp only in the designated campsites.

Campground info:

• Accessible by water only
• 7 primitive campsites
• Pit toilets
• No potable water

This small island features a Douglas fir/arbutus forest and coastal bluffs, as well as vegetation that reflects the warm Mediterranean-like climate of the southern Gulf Islands.

The island is popular with kayakers who stop overnight on multi-day paddling trips, but plan to arrive early in the day as there are a limited number of campsites (three sites). Marine access only, pit toilets and no drinking water.

Rum Island is connected to neighbouring Gooch Island by a gravel beach that is the best place to put a kayak ashore. Gooch Island is private property: please do not trespass.

Campground info:

• Accessible by water only
• 3 primitive campsites
• Pit toilets
• No potable water

Portland Island features three backcountry campgrounds linked by hiking trails. During the summer months, the Royal Victoria Yacht Club provides information to boaters at a float in Princess Bay, through the park's Marine Host program.

Portland Island features cliffs, protected coves and sand beaches. 

Settled by Kanaka (Hawaiian) immigrants in the 1880s, Portland Island's recent history is primarily agricultural. The island was presented as a gift to Princess Margaret in 1958 to commemorate her visit to the province. In turn, she returned the island to British Columbia as a provincial park in 1967.

The marshes and stands of Garry oak, arbutus and coastal Douglas fir on Cabbage and nearby Tumbo and Saturna Islands are some of the most intact wetland and vegetation communities remaining on the Gulf Islands. Cabbage Island is an important nesting site for Black Oystercatchers and Bald Eagles. Oystercatchers are particularly sensitive to disturbance by dogs and people walking along the shoreline: use an alternate route or landing area if you spot Oystercatchers on the beach.

Campground info:

• Accessible by water only
• 5 primitive campsites
• No designated tent pads, please setup your camp in a low impact area. Review Leave No Trace principles.
• Compost toilets
• No potable water
• Food cache
• Nearby: Cabbage Island mooring buoys

James Bay Campground on Prevost Island is only accessible by water, and is popular with kayakers. There are no tent pads in this open field style camping area.

National park reserve lands are located on both the north and south shores of Prevost Island. The majority of the island, however, remains privately owned by the descendants of Digby de Burgh—the man who bought the island in the 1920s. They continue to farm and raise sheep on the island. The island is largely unchanged from what would have existed a century ago, and contains large cedar and arbutus groves.

Campground info:

• Accessible by water only
• 10 primitive campsites (no picnic tables or tent pads)
• Pit toilets
• No potable water