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Halkett Bay, a marine park located near the southeast corner of Gambier Island, offers sheltered anchorage during summer months. ' Halkett 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:

Located in scenic Howe Sound, Halkett Bay is typical of the glaciated coastline found in the sound. The steeply sloped mountains, rugged coastlines, and the scattered islands and waters of the sound offer a breathtaking visual experience.

Howe Sound has long been popular with pleasure boaters because of its close proximity to Vancouver, Sunshine Coast and Squamish population. Halkett Bay is currently used by boaters for both day-use and recreational activities such as swimming, wilderness camping, kayaking, picnicking, hiking to Mount Artaban and overnight moorage. The park provides one buoy, one dinghy dock and one pit toilet.

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Park Size: 309 hectares (290 upland, 19 foreshore)

Special Notes:

  • Only dinghys are permitted to tie up at the float.

Management Planning:

Location:

Halkett Bay Provincial Park is located on the southeastern shore of Gambier Island, 15 km from Horseshoe Bay. Located 40 km from marinas in Vancouver and 10 km from Lions Bay, it is well within day-use range of most boaters.

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 - Gambier Island is named after the Admiral of the Fleet James, Lord Gambier (1756-1833). Halkett Bay Provincial Park on its southeastern shore was established in June of 1988.
  • Conservation - This park protects a rocky tidal coastline, a small islet and beaches.
  • Wildlife - Bald eagle, western red-backed salamander, northern flying squirrel, black-tailed deer, marten, mink and raccoon can all be found in the park.
  • General Wildlife, Marine & Outdoor Ethics Information


Visitor Safety:

  • Tying up at any log booms in the bay is not recommended as the booms can be towed away at any time.

    General 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.

Reservations are not accepted at this park, all campsites are on a first-come, first-served basis. 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.

Contact Information:

Sea to Sky Park Services Ltd
Email address: info@seatoskyparks.com
Phone: (604) 986-9371

Click here to view a non-government web link, for additional information.

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vehicle accessible, drive-in campsites

No vehicle accessible camping facilities at this park.

wilderness, backcountry,  walk-in camping

Wilderness, backcountry or walk-in camping is allowed. There are 3 developed boat access only campsites with picnic tables and 1 pit toilet. These walk-in sites are boat accessible all year. No campfires are permitted anywhere within the park. No camping permitted on islands. Be sensitive to shoreline vegetation. Utilize only established campsites. There are no garbage services – You are responsible to pack out your garbage. There is a small pocket of private property and development adjacent to the park - respect their property including their mooring facilities. The park is open year round and winter camping is permitted in this park but campsites have limited services.
Backcountry Camping Fee: $5.00 per person / night, for all persons 13 years of age or older; no fee for those 12 years of age or younger.
Mooring (to buoy) Fee: $10.00 per vessel / 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.)

Year round
Campground Dates with Full Services and Fees: May 15 - September 25th
Campground Reservable Dates: Not applicable
Total Number of Walk-in Campsites: 3 walk-in sites
Number of Reservable Campsites, if applicable: (all remaining sites are first-come, first-served) Not applicable
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.

 

group camping - 15 or more campers

No group campsites.
picnic, day-use facilities,  no camping

This park has no day-use or picnic facilities. There are three picnic tables located within the campsites.

wheelchair accessibility

There are no wheelchair accessible facilities at this park.

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drinking water

Bring your own drinking water as potable water is not available in the park.

toilets

This park has pit toilets - no flush toilets. There is 1 pit toilet available near the information kiosk.

showers

No showers.

sani-stations, sani-dumps

No sani-station/dump facilities.

firewood, campfires

Campfires are not permitted.

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

There are no regularly scheduled interpretive programs at this park.

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walking, hiking trails

For your own safety and preservation of the park, obey posted signs and keep to designated trails. Shortcutting trails destroys plant life and soil structure.

This park has hiking and/or walking trails. There is a moderately strenuous 10 km (approx 6 hr) day hike to Mount Artaban through the Georgia Strait lowland forest with an elevation gain of 610 metres. At the top of Mount Artaban you can view out 360 degrees over Howe Sound and see such features as Black Mountain, Deeks Peak, the Tantalus and Garibaldi Ranges, Bowen Island and the San Juan Islands just to name a few. Also located on this site are the remnants of an old forest service lookout. A rough trail also leads to Brigade Bay on Gambier Island’s eastern shore.

playgrounds

This park does not have a playground.

swimming

There is cold water ocean swimming at this park. The beach area is pebbles/cobbles. There are no lifeguards on duty at provincial parks.

canoeing, kayaking

There are opportunities for canoeing and kayaking in this park. Pebble Beach provides good access. There are 3 developed boat access only campsites with picnic tables and 1 pit toilet. No campfires are permitted anywhere within the park. No camping permitted on islands. Be sensitive to shoreline vegetation. Utilize only established campsites. There are no garbage services – You are responsible to pack out your garbage. There is a small pocket of private property and development adjacent to the park. Respect their property including their mooring facilities. Kayak rentals are available in Vancouver.

power boats, boat launch

This park does not have a boat launch.

Marine facilites include one (1) mooring buoy and dingy float. Good anchorage is available without stern ties. The bay is open to the south. The mooring buoy is on the left hand side as your heading in. The buoy is large, yellow (fades in off-season), square and made out of wood and stands quite tall. Keep in mind that there are a number of rocks that protrude above the water, in the middle of the bay. The buoy is before those rocks on the left side.

Chief marine hazards are a series of unmarked drying rocks and reefs in the bay’s northwest corner, and an unmarked rock at a depth of less than six (6’) feet in mid-fairway near the head. The favoured approach is to the steep eastern shoreline. Nearest marinas are located at Lions Bay and Horseshoe Bay.

fishing

Tidal water fishing is available. Anyone fishing or angling in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence.

cycling, mountain biking, bicycling

Cycling is permitted and bicycle helmets are mandatory in British Columbia..

horses, horseback riding

No horseback riding.
pets, domestic animals in parks Pets/domestic animals must be on a leash at all times. You are responsible for their behaviour, and must pack out and 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

There is no viewing platform but Mount Artaban offers spectacular views of the Howe Sound area and nice views of marine foreshores. Deer frequent this park and you may see the occasional seal and marine waterfowl.

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

Winter camping is permitted in this park but campsites have limited services.

scuba, snorkelling

There are SCUBA diving andr snorkelling opportunities at the park but there are no developed dive facilities.

windsurfing

There are no windsurfing opportunities at the park but the area called The “Spit” at the head of Howe Sound near Squamish provides good windsailing.

waterskiing

Waterskiing is not recommended. Floating debris such as logs in the water and changing tides, may create hazards.

hunting

No hunting in the park.

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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