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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.

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.

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)

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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No
vehicle accessible camping facilities at this park.
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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
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Opening
and Closing Campground Dates: (campground
is accessible but may not offer full
services such as water, security, etc.)
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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. |
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No
group campsites. |
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This
park has no day-use or picnic facilities. There
are three picnic tables located within the campsites.
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There
are no wheelchair accessible facilities at this park.
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Bring
your own drinking water as potable water is not available
in the park.
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This
park has pit toilets - no flush toilets. There is
1 pit toilet available near the information kiosk. |
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No
showers.
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No
sani-station/dump facilities.
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Campfires
are not permitted.
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There are no electrical hook-ups in this park. |
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There
are no regularly scheduled interpretive programs at
this park.
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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.
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This
park does not have a playground.
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There
is cold water ocean swimming at this park. The beach
area is pebbles/cobbles. There are no lifeguards
on duty
at provincial parks.
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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.
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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.
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Tidal
water fishing is available. Anyone
fishing or angling in British Columbia must have an
appropriate licence.
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Cycling
is permitted and bicycle helmets are mandatory in
British Columbia..
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No
horseback riding. |
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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. |
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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 camping is permitted in this park but campsites
have limited services.
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There are
SCUBA diving andr snorkelling opportunities at the park but there are
no developed dive facilities.
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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.
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Waterskiing is not
recommended. Floating debris such as logs in the water and changing
tides, may create hazards.
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No
hunting in the park. |
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No
climbing or rock climbing opportunities. |
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No
spelunking or caving opportunities. |
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No
cabins, yurts or lodges for public use. |
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