Park overview
Access to Echo Bay Marine Park, on the north-western side of Gilford Island, is by boat or floatplane only. This small park provides a sheltered spot for boaters to stop and stretch their legs. A number of kayak transportation companies utilize Echo Bay as a drop-off spot for their kayak operations as it is a good place to start a journey through the adjacent Broughton Archipelago.
A small wharf provides overnight tie-up facilities for vessels less than 7 metres. Larger vessels must anchor or use the neighbouring docks located at one of the two resorts in the community of Echo Bay. Fuel and supplies are also available at these resorts, adjacent to the park. Other amenities available at Echo Bay include a post office, grocery store and arts and crafts stores.
Advisories
Dates of operation
- Winter note
- There is no fee for winter camping.
Safety info
- Bring your own drinking water as potable water is not available in this park.
Camping
There are no designated campsites at this park, although camping is allowed. A small grassy field provides a level camping area. No camping fee is charged. This park is open year-round.
This park is open year-round, there is no fee for winter camping.
Facilities
Echo Bay Marine Park has a small picnic and day-use area, with one picnic table, a level grassy field and one pit toilet. Please be aware that there is no water available at this park.
A dock and ramp provides access to the day-use area. Overnight moorage is prohibited for vessels more than 7 metres long. Large vessels must anchor or use the neighbouring docks located at one of the two resorts in the community of Echo Bay.
A pit toilet is located at the day-use area.
Activities
This area is often visited by kayakers traveling the popular Broughton Archipelago kayak circuit, who stop at Echo Bay to refresh their water supply and camp overnight. A number of kayak transportation companies utilize Echo Bay as a drop-off spot for their kayak operations.
The waters around Echo Bay Park offer ample opportunities for salt water fishing. All anglers should check the current regulations issued by Fisheries and Oceans Canada prior to fishing. Anyone fishing or angling in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence.
Echo Bay Marine Park is located on Gilford Island, between northern Vancouver Island and the mainland of British Columbia. Adjacent to the small community of Echo Bay, the park is located approximately 23 nautical miles northeast of Port McNeill at the junction of Fife Sound and Tribune Channel. Boaters should ensure they have current tide tables and the correct nautical charts: #3546 (Broughton Strait) and #3515 (Knight Inlet).
Learn more about this park
Park details
- Date established: February 26, 1971
- Size: 1.5 hectares (1 ha upland and 0.5 ha foreshore)
Nature and culture
History and Culture
This site has been used by First Nations people for hundreds of years, as evidenced by the many thick midden deposits found within the park. Prior to being established as a provincial park in 1971, this site was a Ministry of Forests ranger station in the 1950s.
Wildlife
Home to a great blue heron rookery, Echo Bay Park is a great place to see this endangered bird.
Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples
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.