Helliwell Provincial Park

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Helliwell Provincial Park is one of the most outstanding parks in the Gulf Islands! Located on a 69-hectare headland at the end of St. John’s Point on Hornby Island, it has magnificent rock bluffs, grassy meadows, hidden gravel beaches and one of the few intact stands of old growth Douglas Fir forests left on our islands. Hiking trails will take you past wind shaped arbutus and fir trees, Gerry oak trees, and many wildflowers and rare plants, including patches of tiny cactus, the most northern cactus to grow in B.C.

Offshore, you can often see and hear sea lions on tiny Flora Islet, especially in the spring when the herring are coming in to spawn. The bald eagles gather in the tops of the fir trees and seals patrol the shoreline. An easy five-kilometer hiking path meanders through the forest and passes small beaches and cliff areas, giving spectacular views of Vancouver Island and the mainland. Bird enthusiasts will enjoy the many sea ducks, gulls and cormorants that can be seen.

Public outhouses are available at the parking lot and along the loop path. Dogs should be kept on leash at all times, as the cliff areas are a danger to them. No bicycles or horses are allowed on the trails and the public is requested to stay on the path at all times to protect the fragile environment of the bluff areas. Fire is a real hazard in the summertime because of the dry grass. Extreme care should be exercised and no camping or fires are permitted. The main parking lot for Helliwell Provincial Park can be found by following St. John’s Point Road to Helliwell Drive. The Park entrance is well marked.

Hang a right at this intersection just before Whaling Station Bay.