Tucked away on Bowen Island, Apodaca Park consists of scenic cliffs and rocky knolls. The park is largely undeveloped and preserves unique plant communities.
Apodaca Park is located on the traditional territories of the Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh, and Musqueam Nations. The park is known in the Squamish language as Estítkw.
How to pronounce Estítkw [M4A], spoken by Victoria Fraser of the Squamish Nation.
This park has no facilities and is only accessible by water. Boat access can be difficult due to the constantly changing marine environment and exposed rocky shoreline. Private property surrounding the park prevents access by land. Please respect these private properties.
Use caution around cliff areas and along shorelines, and watch for large waves created by passing ferries.
Campfires are not permitted anywhere within the park.
Bring your own water. Potable water is not available in the park.
The park is located on the central eastern shoreline of Bowen Island at the mouth of Howe Sound. It is accessible by boat only. Land access is prevented by surrounding private property.
History
Apodaca was designated a provincial park in 1954. The property was donated by Major J.S. Matthews, a noted Vancouver historian, as a memorial to his son who died at age 22. The park bears the name given to the islands at the entrance to Howe Sound by early Spanish navigators.
Conservation
The park lies within the Coastal Western Hemlock biogeoclimatic zone and is home to Douglas fir, lodgepole pine, salal, and arbutus. Slope, drainage, and local weather patterns contribute to the presence of unique, rocky knoll vegetation, which is more typical of the Gulf Islands and Southern Vancouver Island.
Wildlife
Apodaca’s offshore waters support a variety of marine birds and mammals, such as marbled murrelet, harbour seal, and killer whale. Undersea and intertidal life include Pacific octopus, rockfish, and ochre starfish. The park also offers habitat for coast blacktail deer and a variety of birds.
BC Parks honours Indigenous Peoples’ connection to the land and respects the importance of their diverse teachings, traditions, and practices within these territories. This park webpage may not adequately represent the full history of this park and the connection of Indigenous Peoples to this land. We are working in partnership with Indigenous Peoples to update our websites so that they better reflect the history and cultures of these special places.