Ministry of Environment - Pirate's Cove Marine Provincial Park

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Attention Visitors - Important Notice!

Campfires are not permitted in this park

Park Info:

Beautiful and serene Pirates Cove Marine Provincial Park on De Courcy Island is a popular destination for boaters exploring the southern Gulf Islands. Located off Nanaimo on south Vancouver Island, the park protects a natural environment perfect for a variety of recreational activities, including kayaking, camping, picnicking, swimming, hiking, beach exploration and wildlife viewing. Pirates Cove Marine offers a sheltered anchorage for boaters, as well as two dinghy docks – one on either side of the cove.

This scenic marine park has a colourful natural and cultural history. Its settlement history ranges from extensive First Nations use to a homestead for the Aquarian Foundation, a religious cult led by Brother XII, who convinced 8,000 followers to give up their worldly possessions and follow him to De Courcy Island in the 1920s and early 30s. Several middens in the park indicate First Nations use of the land dating back more than 3,000 years. The largest of these shell refuse heaps underlies the present campground. Today, this intertidal area is still abundant with a variety of shellfish and marine life.

Pirates Cove Marine offers a variety of excellent wildlife viewing opportunities. Common marine mammals include harbour seals (year-round) and Steller’s and California sea lions (common from late August through the mid-May). The fortunate may catch glimpses of harbour porpoises or orcas, as well as Gray and Humpback whales in the summer. River otters also frequent the park and are most easily seen in the early morning. A stroll around the Pylades Trail in the park will likely result in a sighting or two. Watch for areas of flattened grass that otters have used for slides or sun-bathing.

Birdwatchers will find Wilson’s warblers, Pacific-slope flycatchers, Black oystercatchers, White crowned sparrows and other species breeding in the park. Bald eagles, Great blue herons and scores of others use the park for foraging and resting.

Special Features: Unusual sandstone rock formations line the shoreline at Pirates Cove. Poison oak can also be found along steep rock outcroppings in the cove.

Park Size: 31 hectares

Special Notes:

All shell middens are protected under the BC Archaeological and Historic Sites Protection Act - Do Not Disturb Them.
Park regulations prohibit the discharge of sewage or grey water while moored in Pirates Cove.
Fires are not permitted in the park or on the beach at any time.
There is a mooring fee in place in Pirates Cove.
- There are only two dingy docks -Dock Facilities Use Fee: $2.00 per metre / night
- There are mooring rings only - Mooring (to buoy) Fee: $10.00 per vessel / night

Management Planning:

Management Planning Information

Approved Management Plan (1,116 kb pdf)

Location:

Location Map

This park is marine accessible only. Adjacent to Pylades Channel on the southeast tip of DeCourcy Island. Beach area on Ruxton Passage-16 km southeast of Nanaimo on south Vancouver Island. It is accessible by boat through Dodd Narrows from Nanaimo up through the Gulf Islands from Victoria and Vancouver boaters would come through the Gabriola Passage. Boaters can reference marine chart #3475 for more information on this area. The closest communities are De Courcy Island, Nanaimo, Gabriola Island and Ladysmith.

Map/Brochure:

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

Location Map
Park Map (69kb pdf)
Park Brochure (919 kb pdf)

Nature & Culture:

History

Conservation

Wildlife

Visitor Safety:

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.

Campsite reservations are not accepted. 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:

K2 Park Services Ltd.
E-mail address: k2parks@shaw.ca
Phone/Fax: (250) 539-2115

There are no vehicle accessible camping facilities at this park.

There are designated walk-in campsites with tent pads in Pirates Cove, located just above the beach. Some of these sites have ocean views and facilities include a cold water hand pump (this water should be boiled, filtered or treated prior to consumption) and composting toilets. A backcountry camping fee is in place; self registration vaults are located near the water pump. Pirates Cove is accessible year round; there is no winter camping fee, however no services are provided.
Backcountry Camping Fee: $5.00 per person / night, for all persons 13 years of age or older

Campground 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 15 Off-season: no fee, no services
Campground Reservable Dates:	Not applicable
Total Number of Walk-in Campsites:	6 walk-in sites; marine access only
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.

There are no group campsites at this park.

This park has a day-use/picnic area, located adjacent to the camping area. Facilities include a cold water hand pump (this water should be boiled, filtered or treated prior to consumption) information shelter and composting toilets. Five kilometers of hiking trails are accessible from the day-use area.

There are no wheelchair accessible facilities at this park.

A cold water hand pump is located on the south beach.

This park has two composting toilets, located at the north end of the park and the south end of the park near the camping and day-use areas.

No showers.

No sani-station/dump facilities.

Campfires are not permitted in this park due to lack of firefighting equipment available on the island. Be prepared to bring a portable stove for cooking.

There are no electrical hook-ups in this park.

There are no regularly scheduled interpretive programs at this park.

There are 5 km of easy hiking trails that weave around and through the park, passing through mature second-growth Douglas fir as well as, arbutus and Garry oak.
Brother XII Trail: Length 800 meters. Approximate walking time: 15 minutes. This trail is a shortcut of the Darkwoods Trail through the interior of the park leading to the camping area.
Darkwoods Trail: Length 1 km. Approximate walking time: 20 minutes. This trail cuts through the middle of the park through a Douglas fir ecosystem with mossy sandstone outcroppings. This trail links up to the Pylades Trail and the camping area.
Pylades Trail: Length 3 km. Approximate walking time: 1 hour. The Pylades trail circumnavigates the shoreline around the park, offering spectacular views of Valdes Island and Pylades Channel.
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.

This park does not have a playground.

There is no designated swimming area at this park, however swimming occurs on the sandy south beach. There are no lifeguards on duty at provincial parks.

This park is a popular destination for ocean kayakers, who use Pirates Cove as a destination area or a rest stop prior to traveling further north or south through the Gulf Islands. The sheltered waters around the Gulf Islands make it a good spot for paddlers of all abilities. The waters around the park also offer excellent wildlife viewing opportunities. Several commercial kayak operations on Vancouver Island offers rentals and tours to this area.

This park does not have a boat launch. The nearest boat launch is at Boat Harbour in Cedar, approximately 12 km south of Nanaimo.
Pirates Cove is a very popular anchorage. Mooring rings for stern tying vessels are located along the shoreline in the cove. Two dinghy docks are located in Pirates Cove – one on the north side and one on the south side. These docks allow access to the park’s day-use and camping areas. There is no overnight tie-up to the dinghy docks. There is a mooring fee in Pirates Cove.
Mooring (to buoy) Fee: $10.00 per vessel / night - There are mooring rings only.
Dock Facilities Use Fee: $2.00 per metre / night - There are only two dingy docks.

Anyone fishing or angling in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence.

Bikes are not permitted on trails.

No horseback riding.

Pets/domestic animals must be on a leash and under control at all times. 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.

Pirates Cove offers a variety of excellent wildlife viewing opportunities. Common marine mammals include harbour seals (year-round) and Steller’s and California sea lions (common from late August through the mid-May). The fortunate may catch glimpses of harbour porpoises or orcas, as well as Gray and Humpback whales in the summer. River otters also frequent the park and are most easily seen in the early morning. A stroll around the Pylades Trail in the park will likely result in a sighting or two. Watch for areas of flattened grass that otters have used for slides or sun-bathing.
Birdwatchers will find Wilson’s warblers, Pacific-slope flycatchers, Black oystercatchers, White crowned sparrows and other species breeding in the park. Bald eagles, Great blue herons and scores of others use the park for foraging and resting.

No winter recreation opportunities.

No SCUBA diving or snorkelling opportunities.

No windsurfing opportunities.

No waterskiing opportunities.

No hunting in the park.

No climbing or rock climbing opportunities.

No spelunking or caving opportunities.

No cabins, yurts or lodges for public use.