Gulf Islands national park reserve of canada visitor guide brochure with map inside! TABLE OF CONTENTS Contact Information 2 Programs 5 Top 10 Experiences 6-7 Enjoy the Park 6-9 Welcome to Gulf Islands National Park Reserve, one of Camping 8 Trails 9 Canada’s newest national parks. Established in 2003, it First Nations 10-11 Species at Risk 12-13 safeguards a portion of British Columbia’s beautiful southern Marine Wildlife Viewing 12-13 Extreme Take-Over 14 Did You Know? 15 Gulf Islands in the Strait of Georgia. A mosaic of open Ecological Integrity 15 Sidney Spit, D’Arcy meadows, forested hills, rocky headlands, quiet coves and Island & Isle-de-Lis 16 Portland, Brackman & Russell Islands 17 sandy beaches, the park is a peaceful refuge just a stone’s Pender Islands 18 Mayne Island 19 throw from the urban clamour of Vancouver and Victoria. Saturna Island 20-21 Tumbo & Cabbage Islands 21 Map 22 Pullout brochure Additional Camping & Hiking Information CONTACT INFORMATION Website information www.pc.gc.ca/gulf Emergency and important phone numbers Emergency call 911 In-Park Emergency or to report an offence 1-877-852-3100 Report a Wildfire 1-800-663-5555 (*5555 on cell phones) Marine Distress VHF Channel 16 Park Offices • Sidney 250-654-4000 Toll Free 1-866-944-1744 • Saturna 250-539-2982 • Pender 250-629-6137 Address & office locations Did this visitor guide meet your needs? Let us know and you might win a $200 gift certificate from Mountain Equipment Sidney Operations Centre Co-op. Log on to www.parkscanadasurveys.ca to participate in an on-line survey. 2220 Harbour Road Your feedback and comments will provide Gulf Islands National Park Reserve staff Sidney, B.C. V8L 2P6 with information to help produce the most informative and useful visitor guide. Saturna Island, adjacent to the Recreation Centre North Pender Island at Want to know more? Hope Bay. The park offers many activities and learning Recreational Boating & Kayaking opportunities. While planning your visit, or to spark your A must-have for boaters and kayakers. This RCMP detachment offices curiosity, look for the following brochures. They are brochure unfolds to a map that highlights located in Sidney, available on-line at www.pc.gc.ca/gulf, by contacting the campgrounds, beach accesses, boat and on the Penders, and on Mayne Island. 1-866-944-1744 or by visiting our offices in Sidney and kayak launches, moorage areas, potable water on Saturna and Pender Islands. locations, emergency numbers and more. ISBN 63-312/2009E 978-100-10932-9 3 Gulf Islands national park reserve Galiano Island Mayne Island Belle Chain Prevost Islets Island North Pender Island Tumbo Island Saturna Salt Spring Island Island South Russell Pender Island Island H Portland C /JOSH Island CULLO DE SPREAD I MC ANADA NS C I S K PAR IMAGE: COVER & IMAGE: Isle-de-Lis STAFF PROFILE Sidney Applying state-of-the-art Spit technologies Tara Sharma, Ecosystem Geomatics Specialist After spending most of my life in urban settings in India and Vancouver Island Vancouver, it was refreshing to reconnect with nature. My background in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and sustainable land use planning turned out to be a valuable asset for Gulf Islands D'Arcy National Park Reserve. I love applying state-of-the-art technologies Island to real-world situations. Studying changes to the park ecosystem, and carrying out spatial analyses, assists in park planning and On the cover: Kayakers heading to Cabbage Island with Mount Baker marking the bearing. management decision-making. My work has also contributed to the maps that help park visitors plan camping or hiking trips. Inside spread: Looking west towards the mouth of Active Pass with Mayne Island in background. Welcome to Sidney Spit Hiking and Camping Remote and yet so close. Spend a few hours or camp The pullout map included in the middle of this visitor for a few days at Sidney Spit. This brochure gives you guide gives you ample information on camping and a snapshot of what Sidney Spit has to offer and useful hiking opportunities. Remember to take it with you information for planning your trip there. on your daily travels in the park. 4 GULF ISLANDS NATIONAL PARK RESERVE Each time you visit the patchwork of lands and waters protected within Why you will love it Gulf Islands National Park Reserve, you will be struck by the amazing beauty of this special place. Each island has its own unique character to discover. No matter how you get here—by ferry, kayak or boat—there’s an island experience that will enchant you. Fuel for the soul Not far from Vancouver or Victoria lies a slow-paced island way of life. Take the time to soak up the less hurried lifestyle of the local communities on Mayne, Saturna and the Pender Islands, and the serenity of surrounding smaller islands. REJUvenate YOURSELF Breathe in the invigorating salt air. Relax to the sound of lapping waves. Dream under the stars. NOURISH YOUR imagination Explore nature’s unexpected art. Fill your inquisitive mind. Uncover the stories of the past. RELEASE YOUR INNER CHILD Wander on the ocean floor. Skip to your next adventure. Have fun in nature’s playground. FREE YOUR SPIRIT Conquer hilltops. Sail down the wind. Lose yourself in the scenery. East Point, Saturna Island WWW.PC.GC.CA/GULF 5 Share... Learn... Inspire A A ANAD ANAD GEORGE C C S S IC K K A/ER PAR PAR ANAD C S K PAR East Point, Saturna Island Bald eagle Princess Bay, Portland Island Interpretive programs Roving Interpreters Interact, laugh and learn in a fun environment Our park interpreters rove the park trails on as park interpreters reveal the amazing stories the Penders and Saturna Island from June to behind the scenery of the Gulf Islands. Special September, so don’t be surprised to run into one events, scheduled programs and guided walks who is eager to share something interesting and take place on Pender and Saturna Islands all answer your questions. summer long. BC Ferries Marine Hosts During the summer months, Parks Canada Volunteer Marine Hosts provide general and BC Ferries present the Coastal Naturalists information to boaters during the summer program onboard BC Ferries vessels travelling months. Members of the Royal Victoria Yacht between Tsawwassen and Victoria and Club are your hosts at Portland Island’s Horseshoe Bay and Nanaimo. Gather on the Princess Bay. The Sidney North Saanich Yacht outer deck to take part in their 30-minute Club greets marine visitors at Beaumont near presentation focusing on BC’s wildlife, marine Bedwell Harbour, South Pender. Look for life, culture, history, geography and coastal the Parks Canada Marine Host floats at these national parks. locations. Our volunteers are waiting to share park information, their local knowledge, friendly tips and advice to make your visit safe and enjoyable. STAFF PROFILE From business owner to interpreter Sue Kronen, Park Interpreter My attraction to the southern Gulf Islands started with a hobby, turned into a business, then brought me to Gulf Islands National Park Reserve. For eight years, I took guests paddling through the gorgeous waters and island scenery; kayaking is one of the best ways to H explore the park. I learned about its natural and cultural features, C embraced its beauty and fragility, and quickly realized I needed to ULLO MCC share this knowledge. I became a park interpreter and now I share OSH J that knowledge and much more with local residents and visitors all / ANADA summer long. C S K PAR 6 GULF ISLANDS NATIONAL PARK RESERVE TOP 10 Camp with your family at Sidney Spit and enjoy stargazing away from city lights. Hear the unique “pouff” from orca whales passing by at East Point on Saturna Island. Snap artistic pictures of the contrasting copper and lime green colours of arbutus trees at Take part in fun Circumnavigate Narvaez Bay. interpretive activities at Portland Island and listen the Saturna and Pender for the whistling “peeps” Celebrate a special markets every Saturday of Black Oystercatchers. event at Georgina Point. during the summer. HEADLE How to fully enjoy the park C S I HR C hiking & explore sleep under S CANADA/ the shore the stars K Go Go PAR Sandals, running shoes, hiking boots… Camping, overnight mooring, lodging… The park offers 13 designated trails ranging from tranquil Why not prolong your adventure with an overnight stay? shoreline strolls to challenging uphill treks. Be sure to plan ahead Explore safely n The pullout brochure provides camping information, including locations, n Island terrain is often hilly and rocky, with steep cliffs dropping abruptly season, fees, facilities and access. to the ocean. Ensure you have proper footwear. n The maximum total overnight stay allowed at any of the camping, n Seaweed-covered rocks are slippery. Take care with each step. mooring and anchorage areas in the national park reserve is 14 days n Keep track of rising tides to be sure that you can return safely to land per calendar year. above the high tide line. n A limited number of private accommodations are available on Saturna, n Don’t go alone. Travel with a friend or let someone know your itinerary. Mayne and Pender Islands; book early. WWW.PC.GC.CA/GULF 7 park experiences Kayak to Russell Island, have a snack and hike to a century-old Isle-de-Lis (Rum Island) Hawaiian homestead. While on board a ferry Soak in the last rays of or your own pleasure the day while enjoying boat, take the challenge of the sunset from Mt.