In This Park

Visitor Information

Park Contact

Sea to Sky Park Services Ltd.
604 986-9371
info@seatoskyparks.com
seatoskyparks.com

Fire Restrictions in Effect for this Park

During a campfire ban, smoking is restricted in all public areas of a park or protected area. Please read this Information Bulletin.

Possible Fire Restriction in Effect for this Park

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» Porteau Cove Provincial Park

Porteau Cove Provincial Park

About This Park

Situated on the most southerly fjord in North America, Porteau Cove Provincial Park features waterfront campsites with a view over Howe Sound to the mountains beyond. An old ship has been sunk to provide interest for scuba divers and to attract marine life. There are special facilities for divers. Adjacent train tracks are active and occasional noise disturbance may occur.

Date Established: July 24, 1981
Park Size: 56 hectares (4 hectares of upland and 52 hectares of foreshore)

Know Before You Go

Stay Safe

Tide, wind and weather conditions can change suddenly in Howe Sound. Use caution while swimming and boating in this area.
Please ensure children are supervised while on the emergency ferry pier.
Scuba divers are not permitted to use the boat launch.
The BC Rail train track skirts the boundary of the park. Entering the park requires crossing the train track. This is a controlled train crossing, use caution and obey all signs.
There are 2 low tide markers near the floating dock which are not mooring buoys and mark very shallow water. Anchoring is prohibited within the park boundary.

Special Notes

Due to popularity and size of the campground, BC Parks has implemented a maximum stay policy of 7 nights (applies year-round). Reservations are made through BC Parks’ Reservation System.
Leave No Trace: Exploring the rocky beach at Porteau Cove can be an exciting and rewarding experience, but fishing, shellfish harvesting or removal of other marine life is not allowed. Please minimize your disturbance by leaving everything as you find it.
Public Pay Phones: The public pay phones are no longer available. They have been removed during the adjacent highway construction and there is no information available as to when this service will be reinstated.

Septic System: Porteau Cove is on a septic system, including the sani-station and washroom buildings. Antibacterial soaps and harsh chemicals destroy the health and functionality of the system. Please help protect the septic system and the water quality by using only biodegradable soaps during your stay
Sani-Station – Winter Service: The sani station will remain open unless freezing temperatures are forecasted. During periods of freezing weather, the sani station will be closed until the temperatures remain above freezing over a 24 hour period.
Marine Conservation: Exploring the beach and diving/snorkelling can be a rewarding experience at Porteau Cove. Please practise leave no trace ethics when observing marine life at the park by leaving everything as you find it and by not removing or handling the wildlife. Beach fires are not permitted. Please see gatehouse at the campground for upcoming interpretive demonstrations and events!
Stargazing and Aurora Borealis viewing is becoming increasingly popular at Porteau Cove. Please note that the day use area closes at 11 pm and access to the campground is not permitted at any time for the purposes of viewing.
Due to the close proximately of campsites at this park, please ensure music and loud voices are kept within your campsite at all times to provide visitors with the opportunity to experience the sounds of nature, and to protect and enhance the soundscape of the park.
Plan ahead/carpool: Due to high volumes of traffic and the small size of the park, there is limited parking available. One additional vehicle is permitted per campsite for an additional fee. There is a maximum of 2 vehicles per campsite at any time. Walk-in campsites have only 1 vehicle space per site at anytime. Drop-offs cannot be accommodated due to safety hazard of park road becoming restricted. Additional parking is available in the day-use parking lot, but extra spaces may not be available on weekends. Visitors must register if they stay in the park past 11pm and display a valid permit on their vehicle. Non-registered guests are not permitted in the park past 11pm.
Please note: Quiet Hours are 10 pm to 7 am: Music, generators, etc. must be shut off completely between these hours.
Generator use is only permitted between the hours of 9am – 11am, and from 6pm – 8pm. View the generator policy

Reservations

This park is reservable year-round and is usually full during good weather. All campsite reservations must be made the BC Parks reservations system. When reservations are not available, campsites are first come, first served.

Location

38 km north of Vancouver on Hwy 99, 20 km south of Squamish, 8.5 km south of Britannia Beach. Other nearby communities include Brackendale and Lions Bay.

Maps and Brochures

Nature and Culture

History: When “Porteau” (porte d’eau) is translated from French into English it means “Water’s Gate”. This name dates from 1908 when John F. Deeks began mining the extensive sand and gravel deposits here to supply Vancouver. A small community of employees lived here until the beginning of the Depression, enjoying good housing, a schoolhouse, tennis courts, and daily ferry service from the Union Steamship Company. These ferries, Lady Cynthia and Lady Cecilia, operated between Vancouver and Squamish until the railway (then the Pacific Great Eastern) was extended from Squamish into North Vancouver.
Conservation: You are visiting the intertidal home of hundreds of living plants and animals. Please protect your marine resources by leaving them as you find them.

Management Planning

Activities Available at this Park

Canoeing

Canoeing and kayaking are available in ocean area; know the ocean currents. The nearest kayak/canoe rentals are in Squamish.

Cycling

Bicycles must keep to roadways and trails. Bicycle helmets are mandatory in British Columbia.

Fishing

Outside the park boundary, fish for salmon. It is illegal to fish for cod, rockfish and other finfish in Howe Sound, area 28-4. http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/rec/tidal-maree/a-s28-eng.html

Harvesting or collection of marine life within the park foreshore boundary is prohibited. Anyone fishing or angling in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence.

Hiking

There is an easy walking trail to a lookout that overlooks Porteau Cove and Howe Sound. There is a slight elevation gain with a series of rock and wooden steps. The walk to the lookout is approximately 300 metres. 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.

Pets on Leash

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

Scuba Diving

A series of man-made reefs and two sunken vessels provide excellent scuba diving opportunities. Depths vary from 6m to 18m (20’ to 60’). Be cautious of changing tides and strong in and outflow winds. Penetration of vessels is not recommended. The diving area is marked by a series of marker buoys. Various fascinating marine life has established itself throughout the dive area. Harvesting or harassment of marine life is prohibited within the park’s marine foreshore. Diving from a boat is prohibited within the park boundary.

There is an outdoor shower available in the day-use area from March 1 to November 12.

There are steps that lead down to the water’s edge that are located in the main parking lot. Please use proper etiquette when changing into and out dive gear in the parking lots, and avoid gear sprawl that inhibits vehicular traffic. Commercial diving such as providing instruction and guiding is prohibited unless authorized by a Park Use Permit.

Swimming

The park has a rock and pebble beach for ocean swimming; sneakers or beach shoes are recommended. A series of man-made reefs and two sunken vessels provide excellent scuba diving opportunities. There are no lifeguards on duty at provincial parks.

Wildlife Viewing

A short walking trail leads to a lookout which provides a spectacular view of Howe Sound and Porteau Cove. There are also good views of marine waterfowl and harbour seals, harbour porpoises, river otters, mink, coyotes, racoons, and from spring to fall: orcas, gray whales and humpback whales. Every two years, pink salmon spawn in the estuary in the park.

Windsurfing

The strong winds of Howe Sound can create excellent windsurfing opportunities. A very popular windsurfing area known as the “Spit” is located in Squamish at the confluence of the Squamish River and Howe Sound.

Winter Recreation

Day-use is open with limited facilities. Winter camping is permitted, but services are limited. Only portions of the campground may be vehicle accessible; access may be restricted due to snow fall.

Facilities Available at this Park

Accessibility

There are both flush and pit toilets for disabled visitors. No sites are designated specifically for the disabled, however, most sites are comprised of small crushed gravel which does allow for wheelchair mobility. The BC Ferries Emergency Ferry Pier located within the main day-use area provides a paved walkway to provide viewing opportunities of Howe Sound. There are disabled parking stalls. A few of the picnic tables are on paved table pads.

Boat Launch

There are 2 paved double-wide boat launches. It may not be possible to launch during low tide. It may be difficult to launch during the winter months due to the high volumes of driftwood that accumulate on the boat launches. There is parking available for vehicles and trailers in the day-use area. Boats are prohibited in the Dive Area. There is also one mooring buoy and a float available for moorage in the small cove.

Please note: There are 2 low tide markers near the floating dock which are not mooring buoys and mark very shallow water. Anchoring is prohibited within the park boundary.

Mooring and docking are available on a First Come, First Served basis. Self-registration envelopes are available on the dock.

Mooring (to buoy) Fee: $12.00 per vessel / night

Dock Facilities Use Fee: $2.00 per metre / night

Cabins / Huts

Porteau Cove Olympic Legacy Cabins

The Olympic Legacy cabins were built by Pioneer Log Homes of Williams Lake, BC and used during the 2010 Winter Olympic Games at Simon Fraser University and the British Columbia Institute of Technology as information kiosks and a showcase of BC Parks.

Each cabin has one bedroom and a loft, a private kitchen and a bathroom. All linens will be supplied. Occupancy for the cabins has been set at a maximum of 4 people.

For further information and rates, please visit www.seatoskyparks.com
Reservations for the cabins at Porteau Cove Provincial Park can be made by calling 604-986-9371.

Campfires

Campfires are permitted in designated fire rings only. Beach fires are not permitted. Firewood is available for sale, or park visitors may opt to bring their own. Collection and burning of driftwood is prohibited. Beach wood is an essential component of the inter-tidal zone. Collection and burning of woody debris such as leaves, branches etc. is also prohibited. Trees and woody debris provide critical habitat for wildlife and put important nutrients back into the soil. Winds off the ocean blow campfire smoke into adjacent campsites, so please respect your neighbours and their air quality.

Drinking Water

Cold water taps are located in both the day-use and campground areas. Park visitors are requested not to wash dishes at the water taps. Taps are shut off during the low season.

Electrical Hookups

Each site provides 30 amp service with one standard RV receptacle (NEMA TT-30) and one 15 amp standard household receptacle (NEMA 5). There is an additional electrical service charge of $8/night for these sites (whether the power is in use or not).

Picnic Areas

This park has a day-use/picnic area. There is a beach that is mostly pebbled and rocky with large driftwood. There are several picnic tables located along the ocean front of Howe Sound. There can be quite strong in and out flow winds along the Howe Sound. Garbage bins are provided. There are no covered shelters or change houses in the day-use area. Flush toilets are available. There are no fire pits. Some picnic tables have barbeque attachments. Pets must be on a leash at all times. The gate is locked between the hours of 11pm and 7 am.

Pit or Flush Toilets

There are pit and flush toilets located in the campground, and only flush toilets in the day-use area. During low-season, only pit toilets are available for use in the campground. The day-use area is open year-round and has flush toilets available which are located in the small upper parking located adjacent to Highway 99.

Sani-Station/Dump

A sani-station/dump is available in this park all year, although, due to freezing, the water may be shut off during low season. It is located just past the gatehouse at the entrance to the campground. There are hose hook-ups for campers and trailers located at the sani-station. There are also sani-stations located in Squamish and Brackendale area.

Sani-station Use Fee: $5.00 per discharge

Showers

There is a shower building located in the campground that provides hot water and electrical outlets for hair dryers, razors etc.

Vehicle Accessible Camping

This park offers forty-four (44) vehicle accessible campsites, 5 of which are double sites and 2 are pull-through sites. There are also walk-in campsites. There is extra parking in the day-use lot available for a fee. The closest store is in Britannia Beach, approximately 10 minutes north by car. Campsite reservations are accepted during the summer months and first-come, first-serve sites are available in the off-season.

Please note: This park is extremely popular and busy during peak-season months (beginning the May long weekend through to Thanksgiving weekend). Reservations are highly recommended as drop-in sites are usually difficult to acquire.

Vehicle Accessible Camping Fee: $35.00/party/night camping fee plus $8.00 electrical/night = $43.00/party/night

BC Senior’s Rate (day after Labour Day to June 14 only): $17.50 per senior party/night plus $8.00 electrical/night = $25.50/party/night. Read the User Fees Policy for information on Senior Camping Discounts.

Walk-In/Wilderness Camping

There are 16 walk-in campsites are available. There is a flat path to the camping area, approximately 5 minutes from the parking lot. The majority of these campsites are small, ocean front sites, due to their small size the maximum occupancy per walk in site is 4 people and a limit of 1 tent per site. There are no picnic tables at these campsites, only sitting benches. There are communal fire rings. These sites are located adjacent to a popular grassy, marine cove day-use area. Garbage bins are provided. There are no flush toilets located within this campground area, however there are two pit toilets.

Walk/Cycle-in Frontcountry Camping Fee: $20.00 per party / night. Max party size of 4.

BC Senior’s Rate (day after Labour Day to June 14 only): $10.00 per senior party/night. Read the User Fees Policy for information on Senior Camping Discounts.

Winter Camping

Sites 1-44 are available for camping during the winter season. Walk-in sites 1-6 are also avaialble for winter camping – see Dates of Operation table above for specific dates. The washroom/shower buildings are closed during the winter season. Potable water is available at one standpipe outside the campground washroom, and the sani-station is open unless temperatures drop below freezing.

Winter Vehicle Accessible Camping Fee: $18.00/party/night camping fee plus $8.00 electrical/night = $26.00/party/night

BC Senior’s Winter Rate: $17.50 per senior party/night plus $8.00 electrical/night = $25.50/party/night. See User Fees Policy for information on Senior Camping Discounts.