Ministry of Environment - Discovery Island Marine Provincial Park

Parks Listed Alphabetically: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Attention Visitors - Important Notice!

Campfires are not permitted in this park.

Park Info:

Excellent kayaking opportunities make Discovery Island Marine Provincial Park a popular destination for visitors and local residents. The area is accessible from Victoria, where paddlers can launch from Cattle Point, just north of the Oak Bay Marina.

Kayakers paddling between Oak Bay and Discovery Island will be delighted by the wildlife along this route, which features a sensitive seabird nesting area and ecological reserve. Sightings of seals, sea lions, otters and Bald eagles are common around the park. Paddlers should be aware that these waters can be treacherous, as strong currents and frequent winds create dangerous conditions, including rip tides. Crossings are best made at slack tide in calm weather.

Discovery Island is a popular kayaking and camping destination for school groups and kayak instruction groups, who have experienced guides on hand. The park features a large, open field, southwest of Pandora Hill, where campers can set up a tent. The only facilities provided are a pit toilet, information shelter and picnic tables. Campfires are not permitted on Discovery Island.

A hiking trail system runs from the lighthouse on Sea Bird Point to the western shore of the park, where hikers can hike up Pandora Hill for sweeping views of the Olympic Mountains and surrounding area. In the spring, a colourful array of wildflowers blooms in the woodlands and meadows.

Boaters should be aware that there is no safe anchorage and no moorage in the park - the closest safe harbour is in Oak Bay. Mariners should exercise extreme caution, as the main access to the park is via the rock and reef-strewn Rudlin Bay, which is exposed to the elements from the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Haro Strait.

The northern portion of Discovery Island, adjacent Chatham Island and some of the smaller islands nearby are First Nations Reserve lands. Please respect these areas. Several of the nearby islands constitute parts of the Oak Bay Island's Ecological Reserve. These habitats are extremely sensitive to human disturbance and vulnerable to the introduction of non-native animal or plant species. Please do no enter into these areas.

Park Size: 61 hectares

Special Notes:

There is no vehicle access to this park. Access is by water only.
A mooring buoy in the park is for BC Parks staff use only.
There is no safe anchorage in the park area. Mariners should exercise extreme caution, as the main access to the park is via the rock and reef-strewn Rudlin Bay, which is exposed to the elements from the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Haro Strait.
Sensitive meadows areas. Stay on designated trails and camp only in the designated campground.

Management Planning:

Management Planning Information

Online Management planning information for this park is not available at this time.

Location:

Discovery Island Marine Provincial Park is located two nautical miles east of Victoria on southern Vancouver Island. Access to the park is by boat only; the nearest boat launch is located at Cattle Point in Oak Bay, Victoria. Boaters can reference marine chart #3424, #3440 and #3461 for more information on this area.

Map/Brochure:

Any maps listed are for information only - they may not represent legal boundaries and should not be used for navigation.

Park map (77kb pdf)
Location Map

Nature & Culture:

History - Discovery Island takes its name from Captain George Vancouver’s ship, the HMS Discovery. However it was the late Captain E.G. Beaumont who made the park a reality when he donated the land he lived on to the province. The property, encompassing the southern half of the island, was designated as a park in 1972. The lighthouse at Sea Bird Point on the eastern end of Discovery Island marks the junction of Haro and Juan De Fuca Straits. These two straits form the border between Canada and the United States. The lighthouse was built in 1886 and manned for 110 years before being fully automated in 1996. Sea Bird Point was named after an American paddle steamer which caught fire and was run aground in 1858 to save the lives of the crew.
Cultural Heritage - The Northern portion of Discovery Island, adjacent Chatham Island and some of the smaller islands nearby are Indian Reserve lands. Please respect these areas.
Conservation - The shoreline vegetation consists of grasses, native wildflowers and red and blue listed species. Beyond the fields is thick forest vegetation. These woodland and coastal bluff ecosystems represent the dry Gulf Island sub zone characterized by the Coastal Douglas fir biogeoclimatic zone.
General Wildlife, Marine & Outdoor Ethics Information

Visitor Safety:

Visitor Safety Information (park safety, hazards, wildlife safety information, health risks)

Reservations:For parks that accept reservations, all vehicle accessible campsites (with the exception of
group sites) must be reserved through Discover Camping.

Explore Parks: Fees, park listings, what you should know before you go and other useful links.

Contact Information:

K2 Park Services Ltd.
E-mail address: k2parks@shaw.ca
Phone/Fax: (250) 539-2115

	There are no vehicle accessible camping facilities at this park.
	Discovery Island Marine Provincial Park has one designated camping area that offers open field camping. No facilities are provided other than a pit toilet. Fees apply for overnight camping and are payable at self registration vaults, located at the information shelter. The camping area is located just southwest of Pandora Hill. Protect foodstuffs in tight containers to prevent raccoons and crows from stealing your provisions. Please practice Leave No Trace camping ethics. Garbage facilities are not provided; visitors must pack out all of their garbage. Discovery Island Marine Provincial Park is open year round. There is a camping fee and services provided from May 1 - September 30. During the off-season, there is no fee and no services. Backcountry Camping Fee: $5.00 per person / night, for all persons 13 years of age or older
	There are no group campsites at this park.
	This park has a day-use/picnic area within the designated camping area.
	There are no wheelchair accessible facilities at this park.
	Bring your own drinking water as potable water is not available in the park.
	This park has one pit toilet, located near the day use and camping area.
	No showers.
	No sani-station/dump facilities.
	Campfires are not permitted at this park due to lack of firefighting equipment available on the island. Be prepared to bring a portable stove for cooking.
	There are no electrical hook-ups in this park
	There are no regularly scheduled interpretive programs at this park.
	One main trail provides a junction to reach various points in the park – head east to visit the area around the lighthouse; head west to visit the open grass fields and rocky shoreline. Designated trails provide access to the area around the lighthouse to the east and to the open grass fields to the west of the park. Please remain within the park boundary – the area to the north of the boundary is private First Nations land and is not open to the public. Wildflowers and open grassy areas are very sensitive to human impacts. For your own safety and the preservation of the park, obey posted signs and keep to designated trails. Shortcutting trails destroys plant life and soil structure.
	This park does not have a playground.
	There is no designated swimming area at this park. There are no lifeguards on duty at provincial parks.
	Discovery Island is accessible from Victoria by canoe or kayak. Paddlers can launch at Cattle Point in Oak Bay (Victoria). Be prepared for potentially strong currents and unpredictable weather in this area. A number of operators offer tours or rentals in Victoria.
	This park does not have a boat launch. The nearest boat launch is located at Cattle Point in Oak Bay, Victoria.
	The waters around Discovery Island are home to a variety of salt water species of fish. Seasonal or year round closures on specific species may be in place. All anglers should check the current regulations issued by Fisheries and Oceans Canada prior to fishing. Anyone fishing or angling in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence. Rockfish Conservation Areas occur within this park. Fishing activities are limited in Rockfish Conservation Areas. Before you go fishing please refer to the Rockfish Conservation Area descriptions available from Fisheries and Oceans Canada DFO.
	Cycling is not permitted.
	No horseback riding.
	Pets/domestic animals must be on a leash at all times and are not allowed in beach areas or park buildings. You are responsible for their behaviour and must dispose of their excrement.Backcountry areas are not suitable for dogs or other pets due to the potential for encounters with wildlife.
	No wildlife viewing opportunities.
	No winter recreation opportunities.
	No SCUBA diving or snorkelling opportunities.
	No windsurfing opportunities.
	No waterskiing opportunities.
	This park is closed to hunting.
	No climbing or rock climbing opportunities.
	No spelunking or caving opportunities.
	No cabins, yurts or lodges for public use.