Hornby Island Parks

Hornby Island is blessed with beautiful parks, beaches and hiking trails. Available year around and free of cost, these natural gems are here for residents and vistors to enjoy. But take care, and be aware! The unique environment of Hornby Island is both beautiful and fragile. Stay on the trails, respect guidelines and above all, be fire conscious at all times!

HELLIWELL PROVINCIAL PARK

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.

TRIBUNE BAY PROVINCIAL PARK

Tribune Bay Provincial Park boasts one of the most beautiful white sand beaches in the Gulf Islands. The swimming is both warm and safe because of gentle slope of the beach. In the summer, the aquamarine water can reach almost tropical temperatures. Sailboats and pleasure craft often stop over here on their way along the coast. The park contains 95 hectares of meadows, woodlands with trails, a public tennis court, picnic shelter and tables, and public toilets. Tribune Bay is famous for its interesting sandstone formations.

No camping or dogs are allowed on the beach, but the park is located a short walk from a private campground and the Hornby Co-op store. Campfires are permitted in the fire rings provided on the beach, unless there is a fire closure. Access to the main parking lot is from St. John's Point Road just past the Hornby Co-op intersection. A second access is further along St. John's Point Road at the entrance to the Outdoor Education Centre.

MOUNT GEOFFREY ESCARPMENT PROVINCIAL PARK AND MOUNT GEOFFREY NATURE PARK

Together, the Mount Geoffrey Escarpment Provincial Park and the Mount Geoffrey Nature Park encompass 1200 acres of Mount Geoffrey and its west-facing escarpment of mossy arbutus covered bluffs. The park has many well-maintained and marked hiking and mountain biking trails. (Trail maps are available from Hornby Island Outdoor Sports at the Ringside Market.) There are spectacular views to the south from both the higher and lower benches making up the escarpment. There are panoramic views of Denman Island, Tree Island, the Comox Peninsula, Mt. Arrowsmith, Fanny Bay, and the Beaufort Range.

Much of the area of the park is second growth Douglas Fir. However, there are a number of interesting ecosystems such as a moist rainforest type of Sitka spruce and Broadleaf maple forest at the base of the escarpment and along the lower water courses to the very different environment of the dry escarpment face.

The wetlands and seasonal streams in the park are the major groundwater recharge and storage areas for the island. This valuable environmental resource for Hornby should be treated with care and respect by visitors to the park. The mountain area provides habitat for Blacktail deer, small mammals and a variety of birds, reptiles and amphibians. Bald eagles and turkey vultures are frequently seen soaring along the escarpment. At least two nesting pairs of Peregrine Falcons inhabit the steep bluffs.

Public Beach Access Areas

Grassy Point: Pebble beach, grass meadows, boat launch, public outhouses

Clam Shell Place: Access to Whaling Station Bay, sandy beach, dogs allowed on beach

Little Trib: Sand and pebble beach, bathing

Ford's Cove: Public Wharf, boat moorage, gravel bay

The Spit: Boat launching area, gravel beaches