Ministry of Environment - Gibson 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!

Wolves have been known to frequent camping areas in the park. Please ensure that all food and items smelling of food, as well as any loose objects, are stored out of reach of wildlife. At no time should food be offered or made available to wildlife -to do so is in violation of the Park Act.
No fees are currently collected for either hiking or camping in Flores Island or Gibson Marine Provincial Parks.To make sure of the location of the Provincial Parks, please consult the information shelter maps or the Clayoquot Area brochure (737 KB PDF format).

Park Info:

Located adjacent to Flores Island Provincial Park on Flores Island, Gibson Provincial Marine Park offers sheltered anchorage in Matilda Inlet. The park is home to a natural warm spring, contained in an open concrete tank, located on the shores of Matilda Inlet. A non-maintained historic route connects the warm springs, which are considered to be of therapeutic value, to the broad sandy beaches at Whitesand Cove. This route once provided access to a life-saving telegraph line and an old homestead.

Gibson Marine, immediately south of the Nuu-chah-nulth community of Ahousat, also provides access to the “Walk the Wild Side” route, a rustic route that extends 10 km from Ahousat to Cow Bay. Most of the route follows sandy beaches and trails cut across headlands to join with the next beach. Muddy and slippery sections are present on this route. The trail can be accessed from any of the beaches in Gibson Marine Park.

Visitors come from around the world to explore Clayoquot Sound, and Flores Island is one of the most popular destinations for kayakers, who can find ample opportunities for camping and wildlife viewing from the Island’s beautiful sandy shores.

Park Size: 140 hectares

Special Notes:

Management Planning:

Management Planning Information

The approved Purpose Statement and Zoning Plan is available in pdf format.

Location:

Location Map

Gibson Marine Park is located in the central portion of Clayoquot Sound, north of Tofino on the west coast of Vancouver Island. The park is located on the south side of Flores Island and is accessible only by boat from Tofino. Boaters can reference marine chart #3674 and #3673 for more information on this area. Water taxis from Tofino and Ahousat offer services to the park. Contact the local Chamber of Commerce for details. Nearby communities include: Tofino, Ahousat, Flores Island, Hot Springs Village.

Map/Brochure:

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

Maps
Location Map
Brochure - Provincial Parks of Clayoquot Sound area (737 KB PDF)

Nature & Culture:

History: This park lies in the traditional territory of the Ahoushat First Nations. Gibson Provincial Marine Park contains many Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations heritage sites, including middens and Culturally Modified Trees (CMTs). Much of the park was a gift from the W.F. Gibson family.

Visitor Safety:

Habituated Wolves on Vargas and Flores Islands - Wolves have been known to frequent camping areas in the park. Please ensure that all food and items smelling of food, as well as any loose objects, are stored out of reach of wildlife. At no time should food be offered or made available to wildlife - to do so is in violation of the Park Act. Click here for more information on wolves.

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.

There are no designated campsites at this park. For parks that accept reservations or information on the reservation service, click here.

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

	There are no vehicle accessible camping facilities at this park.
	There are no designated campsites at this park, however random wilderness camping is allowed. No facilities are provided other than a pit toilet at Whitesand Beach. Please practice Leave No Trace camping ethics. Gibson Provincial Marine Park is accessible year round.
	No group campsites.
	No day-use or picnic facilities.
	There are no wheelchair accessible facilities at this park.
	Bring your own drinking water as potable water is not available in the park.
	A pit toilet is located at Whitesand Beach.
	No showers.
	No sani-station/dump facilities.
	While small fires are allowed, we encourage visitors to conserve the environment by minimizing the use of fire and using stoves instead. If you do have a fire use small pieces of wood that will burn completely. Build your fires below the high tide mark. Never build fires next to or near beach logs. Never leave your fire unattended and practice Leave No Trace camping ethics.
	There are no electrical hook-ups in this park.
	There are no regularly scheduled interpretive programs at this park.
	Gibson Marine, immediately south of the Nuu-chah-nulth community of Ahousat, also provides access to the “Walk the Wild Side” route, a rustic route that extends 10 km from Ahousat to Cow Bay. Most of the route follows sandy beaches and trails cut across headlands to join with the next beach. Muddy and slippery sections are present on this route. The trail can be accessed from any of the beaches in Gibson Marine Park. A non-maintained historic route leads from the warm springs on Matilda Inlet to Whitesand Cove. This route once provided access to a life-saving telegraph line and an old homestead.
	This park does not have a playground.
	There is no designated swimming area, however there are opportunities for ocean swimming in this park. There are no lifeguards on duty at provincial parks.
	People come from around the world to kayak and camp in remote Clayoquot Sound, and enjoy the sandy beaches, scenery and wildlife. The beaches of Gibson Marine Park and adjacent Flores Island Provincial Park are very popular kayak/camping spots. International and local tour companies offer trips into this area, and kayak rentals are available in Tofino. Kayakers can launch from the First Street Dock in Tofino.
	This park does not have a boat launch. The nearest boat launch is the Fourth Street Dock in Tofino. Boaters can find sheltered anchorage in Matilda Inlet, adjacent to Gibson Provincial Marine Park.
	The waters of Clayoquot Sound may contain a variety of fish species, including salmon, rockfish, halibut and lingcod. Fishing is permitted as per provincial and federal fishing regulations. 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.
	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 wildlife issues and the potential for problems with wolves, bears and cougars.
	No wildlife viewing opportunities.
	No winter recreation opportunities.
	No SCUBA diving or snorkelling opportunities.
	No windsurfing opportunities.
	No waterskiing opportunities.
	Portions of this park are open to hunting for specific species. Hunters must have valid licences and tags. Please refer to current printed Hunting and Trapping Regulations and Synopsis publication for closures and regulations.
	No climbing or rock climbing opportunities.
	No spelunking or caving opportunities.
	No cabins, yurts or lodges for public use.