Mitlenatch Island Nature Provincial Park
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A campfire ban is currently in effect for this park. For more information about campfire bans and about provincial parks with park closures and campfire bans in effect, visit the BC Parks campfire ban webpage.
Park Info
Mitlenatch Island Nature Provincial Park is home to the largest seabird colony in the Strait of Georgia. All sedentary marine life, including abalones, scallops and sea cucumbers, are fully protected within the park’s boundaries, which extend 300 meters out from the shore. This nature reserve is an important nesting colony for thousands of Glaucous-winged Gulls, as well as pelagic cormorants, pigeon guillemots, black oystercatchers, rhinoceros auklets and many other species of birds. Marine life around the island includes river otters and harbour seals throughout the year, and Steller's and California sea lions from late fall to May.
Mitlenatch, which means ‘calm waters all around' in the Coast Salish language, is a small rocky island that features semi-arid conditions caused by the island’s location in the ‘rain shadow’ of Vancouver Island. The park receives less than 75 cm (30 inches) of rain each year - about half the Campbell River average. Rain-bearing clouds pass eastward from the Pacific Ocean and drop much of their moisture on Vancouver Island. As they descend across the Strait of Georgia, they warm and pick up new moisture, which will be dropped on the Coast Mountains of mainland British Columbia
Accessible by boat only, Mitlenatch Island Nature Provincial Park offers excellent opportunities to observe and photograph wildflowers and birds. Birders should approach observation blinds slowly and quietly – the island is a very sensitive ecosystem that is extremely prone to damage by visitors who venture off the designated trails. Pets are not permitted on the island. Visit in May when the island's meadows of spring wildflowers are in bloom, or in July when the harvest brodia and coastal cactus bloom.
Collecting of any kind is NOT permitted at Mitlenatch Island, including all shellfish.
Park Size: 155 hectares
General Visitor Information
Interpretive signage along the trails provides details about the flora and fauna on the Island. Bring your own drinking water as potable water is not available in the park.Location
Mitlenatch Island Nature Provincial Park is located east of Black Creek in the Strait of Georgia off central Vancouver Island. The park is accessible by boat only. Boaters can reference marine chart #3513 and #3538 for more information about this area. The park is usually accessed from Northwest Bay and East Bay. The closest communities are Comox Valley and Campbell River.
Management Planning
Management Planning Information
- The approved Purpose Statement and Zoning Plan is available in pdf format.
Map / Brochure
Any maps listed are for information only - they may not represent legal boundaries and should not be used for navigation.
- Maps
- Brochure (64 kb pdf)
- Brochure Map (36 kb pdf)
Activities Available At This Park
Canoeing | ||
Fishing | ||
Rockfish Conservation Areas occur within this park. Fishing activities are limited in Rockfish Conservation Areas. Before you go fishing please refer to the Rockfish Conservation Area descriptions available from Fisheries and Oceans Canada DFO.
Hiking | ||
Swimming | ||
Wildlife Viewing | ||
Facilities Available At This Park
Pit or Flush Toilets | ||




