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Attention
Visitors - Important Notice!
- There are no park alerts at this time.
Park
Info:
Helliwell Provincial Park sits on a rocky headland forested
with a beautiful stand of old-growth Douglas fir. Located
on St. John’s Point on Hornby Island, the park was
a gift to the people of British Columbia from John Helliwell.
The stunning Helliwell bluffs guard the northern entrance
to Tribune Bay.
Spectacular views of marine life, the Strait of Georgia
and the Coast Mountains can be had from any point along the
bluffs.
As you explore the park's meandering hiking and walking
trails, you will find weather-beaten old-growth Douglas firs
and
gnarled Garry oaks, as well as flora and fauna which may
seem more at home in a desert than in a Northwest rainforest.
The best times to visit are in late April and early May,
when colourful wildflowers carpet the hillside along the
cliffs. Please stay on designated trails to protect these
fragile
areas.
A recent addition to Helliwell Park is Flora Islet, which
sits off the end of St. John's Point. Flora Islet was designated
as part of the park through the Pacific Marine Heritage
Legacy and is one of only two locations in the world where
divers
can see the rare Six-gill shark. This primitive, deep-sea
shark ascends from great depths to the relative shallows
around Flora Islet, attracting scuba divers and marine
biologists from around the world.
Park
Size: 2,872
hectares
Special
Notes:
- Helliwell Bluffs are a fragile ecosystem - please
stay on trails and do not cross the roped off areas that
are being allowed to naturally revegetate.
- The area into
Lambert Channel is part of Helliwell Provincial Park.
In 1997, the park was expanded to include
Flora Islet,
which was acquired as part of the Pacific Heritage Marine
Legacy, and a large marine area. This area is managed
as a marine protected area and has the following commercial
fishery closures: anchovy, surf perch, pile perch, sea
cucumber, octopus, scallop, squid, red urchin, Pacific
oyster and green urchin. There are no recreational restrictions,
although local fishers have implemented a voluntary closure
on all marine life.
Management
Planning:
Location:
Helliwell
Provincial Park is located on Hornby Island, two short
ferry rides from Vancouver Island. To reach Hornby Island
take the Denman Island Ferry from Buckley Bay, off Hwy
#19a. From Hwy #19, take the Buckley Bay exit #101. Once
on the island, follow Denman Road to the Hornby Island
Ferry terminal. Another 10 minute ferry ride will put
you on Hornby Island; from there follow the main road
to the Hornby Island CO-OP then turn left following Central
Road to St. John's Point Road to the park. Nearby communities
include: Hornby Island, Denman Island, Buckley Bay, Fanny
Bay, Courtenay, Comox Valley
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 - Helliwell was donated by John Helliwell and established as a park in 1966.
- Conservation/Wildlife - The primary role of Helliwell Park is to protect rare and endangered terrestrial ecosystem elements, including old-growth Douglas fir and Garry oak meadows, and representative examples of marine ecosystems. The park contains sea bluffs and a rich intertidal zone. Helliwell Park is also an Important Bird Area that serves to identify and conserve a global network of bird habitat areas. It supports significant concentrations of birds that congregate in large numbers such as pelagic cormorants, surf or white winged scoters, glaucous winged gulls, oldsquaws, buffleheads, Barrows and common goldeneye and common mergansers.
The park is nationally significant for the habitat of one of the last known populations of the endangered Taylor’s checkerspot butterfly. A number of other endangered plants and animals can be found in the park, which is also home to the rare Six-gill shark.Many sea birds and marine mammals can be seen from the trail along the bluff in the park.
- General Wildlife, Marine & Outdoor Ethics Information
Visitor
Safety:
- Helliwell Bluffs are high cliffs; please be careful
and stay well back from the edge.
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.
Camping is not permitted 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
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There are no vehicle accessible camping facilities
at this park.
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Wilderness, backcountry or walk-in camping is not
permitted.
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There are no group campsites at this park.
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There are no designated picnic facilities at this
park however benches are located at various spots along
the trail. Pit toilets are also located along the trail
and at the parking lot. An information shelter and
bike racks can be found at the parking lot.
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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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There
are four pit toilets at this park - Three along the trail and one at the parking
lot.. |
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No
showers.
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No sani-station/dump facilities. The nearest sani-stations
are located at the Esso gas station in Cumberland or
the Mohawk gas station in Courtenay on Vancouver Island.
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Campfires are not permitted at this park.
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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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Helliwell Park features a 5 km loop trail leading
along the Helliwell Bluffs and around through the magnificent
mature Douglas fir and Garry oak forest. This trail
affords magnificent views of Georgia Strait and the
Coast Mountains.
Please
stay on trails and do not cross the roped-off areas,
which are being allowed to revegetate naturally.
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.
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This
park does not have a playground. |
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There is no designated swimming area in this park.
There are no lifeguards on duty at provincial parks.
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Kayaks and canoes can be launched along the beach
for paddling around the bluffs.
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This
park does not have a boat launch.
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The high bluffs in this park make it unsuitable for
fishing.
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Cycling is permitted on roadways only. 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 and under control at at all times. They 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.
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A
magnificent panorama of Georgia Strait and the Coast Mountains can be viewed
from the bluffs. Seals, sea lions, Bald eagles, sea and shore birds can
all be observed at this park.
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No
winter recreation opportunities. |
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Jacques
Cousteau rated the waters in this area as the second best cold water
diving destination in the world. The clear waters provide a high level
of visibility and slight fluctuations in water temperature contribute
to a comfortable dive. Flora Islet is one of only two locations in
the world where divers can see the rare Six-gill shark. This primitive,
deep-sea shark ascends from great depths to the relative shallows around
Flora Islet, attracting divers and marine biologists from around the
world. Dive shops are located on Hornby Island, and in Union Bay and
Courtenay on Vancouver Island. |
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No
windsurfing opportunities. |
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No
waterskiing opportunities. |
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Helliwell
Park is closed to hunting. |
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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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