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photo of Gordon Bay Provincial Park ' Gordon Bay Provincial Park
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important info, warnings, alerts for park visitors
general overview of park, size, special features safety, park hazards, wildlife information, health risks
park location, parks nearby, how to get to the park history, cultural heritage, conservation, wildlife
maps of park and/or campground, trails, etc. Management Planning
campsite reservations, group and picnic site reservations images of the park
 

vehicle accessible, drive-in campsites wilderness, backcountry, walk-in camping group camping - 15 or more campers picnic, day-use facilities, no camping wheelchair accessiblity drinking water toilets showers sani-stations, sani-dumps firewood, campfires There are no electrical hook-ups in this park interpretive, educational programs
walking, hiking trails playgrounds swimming canoeing, kayaking power boats, boat launch fishing cycling, mountain biking, bicycling horses, horseback riding pets, domestic animals in parks Icon Legend- Green =Available Grey = Unavailable

wildlife viewing
winter recreation, downhill skiing, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, toboganning, ice skating scuba, snorkelling windsurfing waterskiing hunting climbing, rock climbing spelunking, caving cabins, yurts, lodges click on green symbols for more information

 

Attention Visitors - Important Notice!

  • There are no park alerts at this time.

Park Info:

For a great family camping vacation, head to Gordon Bay Provincial Park, located on the shores of Lake Cowichan, north of Duncan on Vancouver Island. In the summer the lake is warm and the sandy beach makes for great family swimming. History buffs find plenty to interest them in the park and the surrounding area, which is home to a second-growth Douglas-fir forest. Set in one of Vancouver Island’s sunniest valleys, this area boasts the highest average annual temperature in Canada.

The lake is known for its spectacular fresh-water fishing in the spring, fall and winter, when anglers can be challenged by rainbow, cutthroat and Dolly Varden trout. Waterskiing and windsurfing are also popular activities on the lake.

This small wilderness area features a number of walking and hiking trails with unparalleled views. Keen-eyed hikers can spot a variety of wildlife and birds, including juncos, Stellar’s jays, chestnut-backed chickadees, mergansers and golden eye ducks. Visit in April when the wildflowers are at their peak.

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Park Size: 51 hectares

Special Notes:

  • A fascinating little museum with history about the area is located at Saywell Park. Teleglobe Canada presents guided tours of the Lake Cowichan Earth Satellite station. The forest industry has a number of displays and demonstration forests throughout the area.

Management Planning:

Location:

Gordon Bay Provincial Park is located 35 km northwest of Duncan on southern Vancouver Island. The park, situated on the shores of Cowichan Lake, is accessed via Hwy #18 off Hwy #1. Travel 26 km west on Hwy #18 to Lake Cowichan, then 14 km on South Shore Road. Nearby communities include: Honeymoon Bay, Cowichan Lake, Youbou, Duncan, Victoria.

Map/Brochure:

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

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Nature & Culture:
  • History - The area is rich in the logging history of the Cowichan Valley, and a number of displays and demonstration forests are located near the park. The forest was one of the first on the island to be logged, probably because of the relative ease with which the felled trees could be skidded to the lake and floated to the mills. The notched stumps supported springboards that allowed old-time loggers to stand above the dense shrubbery so they could cut down the massive trees that dominated the area.
  • Conservation - The forest floor is covered with the same kind of shrubs that made such hard work for the fallers: thimbleberry, salal and salmonberry. You can also see vanilla leaf, foamflower and bunchberry which grow closer to the ground.Dolly Varden, Rainbow and Cutthroat trout live in the lake and chum, coho and Chinook salmon spawn in the lake and its tributaries. Steelhead spawn in the Cowichan River. Rare rocky mountain juniper adds to the uniqueness of the area. Adjacent to Gordon Bay Provincial Park is Honeymoon Bay Ecological Reserve, which protects a variety of rare and endangered plant species.
  • Wildlife - As you walk through the forest, look for deer, raccoons and red squirrels. Birdwatchers often see juncos, Stellar's jays and chestnut-backed chickadees, as well as mergansers and golden eye ducks. Black bears, Roosevelt elk, black-tail deer, beaver, raccoons and cougars can all be spotted in the park.
  • General Wildlife, Marine & Outdoor Ethics Information


Visitor Safety:

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

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

Campsite Reservations:
Campsite reservations are accepted and first-come, first-served sites are also available.

Group Camp/Picnic Reservations:
Group campsite and/or group picnic site reservations are accepted at this park.

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

Contact Information:

R.L.C. Enterprize Ltd.
E-mail address: office@rlcenterprize.com
Phone: (250) 474-1336
Click here to view a non-government web link, for additional information.

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vehicle accessible, drive-in campsites

 

 


winter camping

 

This park offers vehicle accessible, semi private campsites, set in a second-growth Douglas fir stand. Campsite reservations are accepted and first-come, first-served sites are also available. .

Vehicle Accessible Camping Fee: $24.00 per party /night
BC Senior's Rate (Shoulder Season only): $12.00 per senior's couple/night Winter Vehicle Accessible Camping Fee: $10.00 per party / night

Hours of Operation - All dates are subject to change without notice

Opening and Closing Campground Dates: (campground is accessible but may not offer full services such as water, security, etc.)

All year
Campground Dates with Full Services and Fees: March 14 - October 31
Campground Reservable Dates: May 15 - September 8
Total Number of Vehicle Accessible Campsites: 126
Number of Reservable Campsites, if applicable: (all remaining sites are first-come, first-served) 95
Note: The above information is for the campground only. Park users can still walk into the park if conditions such as weather permit. Check the "Attention Visitor Notice" above for park alerts.

wilderness, backcountry,  walk-in camping

 

Wilderness, backcountry or walk-in camping is not permitted..

group camping - 15 or more campers

There is one group campsite at this park. Click here for reservation information.
Group Camping Fee: $24.00 per party / night
Youth Group Camping Fee: $50.00 per group / night

picnic, day-use facilities,  no camping

This park has a large day-use/picnic area with picnic tables, parking lot, adventure playground, amphitheatre and flush toilets. The day-use area is a popular spot for local residents, who come to the park to swim and picnic.
Day-use Area Vehicle Parking Fee: $1.00 per vehicle / hour to a maximum of $3.00 per vehicle per/day. For information about yearly parking passes, or further information about parking fees, click here.
Group Picnicking Fee: $50.00 per group

wheelchair accessibility

A number of facilities at this park are wheelchair accessible, including picnic tables, the main campsites and group campsite, and the shower and flush toilet buildings.

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drinking water

Cold water taps are located throughout the park. Taps are shut off during the off-season. Water should be boiled, filtered or treated prior to consumption.

toilets

Pit toilets are located throughout the park. Flush toilets are located in the campground and day-use area.

showers

There are two separate hot shower facilities in this park, located within the campground.

sani-stations, sani-dumps

No sani-station/dump facilities. The closest sani-station is Tempo Gas, 181 Trans Canada Highway, Duncan.

firewood, campfires

Campfire rings are provided at each campsite. Fire bans may be implemented during extremely hot weather conditions. Be prepared to bring a portable stove for cooking.
Firewood can be purchased from the Park Facility Operator. Fees for firewood are set locally and may vary. To preserve vegetation and ground cover, please don't gather firewood from the area around your campsite or elsewhere in the park (this is a ticketable offence under the Park Act). Dead wood is an important habitat element for many plants and animals and it adds organic matter to the soil.

There are no electrical hook-ups in this park There are no electrical hook-ups in this park.
interpretive,  educational  programs

There are interpretations services available at this park. For more information, please contact the Park Facility Operator.

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walking, hiking trails

Gordon Bay has a number of short, in-park trails that lead to the lake. 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.

playgrounds

There is an adventure playground available at the day-use area of this park.

swimming

Cowichan Lake provides excellent swimming and water-oriented activities. The water is warm in the summer and the sandy beach has a designated swimming area, identified by a log boom. Access to the swimming beach is via the day-use area. There are no lifeguards on duty at provincial parks.

canoeing, kayaking

Canoeing and kayaking can be enjoyed on Cowichan Lake. A boat launch is located northeast of the day-use parking lot.

power boats, boat launch

A boat launch is located northeast of the day-use parking lot.
There is a parking fee of $1.00 per vehicle/hour to a maximum of $3.00 per vehicle/day. For information about yearly parking passes, or further information about parking fees, click here.

fishing

Cowichan Lake is known for its spectacular fresh-water fishing in the spring, fall and winter, when anglers can be challenged by Rainbow, Cutthroat and Dolly Varden trout. 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, mountain biking, bicycling

Bicycles must keep to roadways. Bicycle helmets are mandatory in British Columbia.

horses, horseback riding

Horseback riding is not permitted in this park.

pets, domestic animals in parks Pets/domestic animals must be on a leash and under control 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 bears.

wildlife viewing

No wildlife viewing opportunities.

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winter recreation, downhill skiing, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, toboganning, ice skating

No winter recreation opportunities.

scuba, snorkelling

Opportunities for fresh water diving exist in the lake.

windsurfing

Windsurfing is a popular activity on Cowichan Lake. A boat launch is located near the parking lot. Windsurfers must remain outside of the log boom

waterskiing

Waterskiing is a popular activity on Cowichan Lake. A boat launch is located near the parking lot. Waterskiers must remain outside of the log boom.

hunting

This park is closed to hunting.

climbing, rock climbing

No climbing or rock climbing opportunities.

spelunking, caving

No spelunking or caving opportunities.

cabins, yurts, lodges

No cabins, yurts or lodges for public use.

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