Marine backcountry camping is allowed. There are three developed boat-access campsites with picnic tables and one pit toilet. These sites are open year-round. 

Registration and camping fees

• Backcountry camping fee: $5 per person per night (age 6+)

The BC Parks backcountry permit registration service allows you to purchase a backcountry camping permit before leaving home. Although this does not reserve a campsite, it provides the convenience of prepaying for your trip and not having to carry cash. We encourage all visitors to register online so we can reduce the need to collect fees in the field.

Camp responsibly

• No campfires are permitted anywhere within the park
• No camping permitted on islands
• Be sensitive to shoreline vegetation
• Use only established campsites
• There are no garbage pick-up services, so pack out what you pack in
• There is a small pocket of private property and development adjacent to the park. Respect their property, including their mooring facilities. 

Marine conditions and hazards

• Good anchorage is available without stern ties. 
• The bay is open to the south. 
• Keep in mind that there are a number of rocks that protrude above the water in the middle of the bay.
• Chief marine hazards are a series of unmarked drying rocks and reefs in the bay’s northwest corner, and an unmarked rock at a depth of less than six feet in mid-fairway near the head. 
• The favoured approach is to the steep eastern shoreline. 
• Nearest marinas are located at Lions Bay and Horseshoe Bay.

The park is open year-round and winter camping is permitted, but campsites have limited services. See marine-accessible camping for details.

This park has pit toilets, no flush toilets. There is one pit toilet available near the information kiosk.

For your own safety and preservation of the park, obey posted signs and keep to designated trails. Shortcutting trails destroys plant life and soil structure.

This park has hiking and walking trails. There is a moderately strenuous 10km (approximately six hours) day hike to Mount Artaban through the Georgia Strait lowland forest with an elevation gain of 610 metres. At the top of Mount Artaban you can view out 360 degrees over Howe Sound and see such features as Black Mountain, Deeks Peak, the Tantalus and Garibaldi Ranges, Bowen Island and the San Juan Islands just to name a few. 

Also located on this site are the remnants of an old forest service lookout. A rough trail also leads to Brigade Bay on Gambier Island’s eastern shore.

There is cold water ocean swimming at this park. The beach area is pebbles and cobbles.

There are opportunities for canoeing and kayaking in this park. Pebble Beach provides good access. Kayak rentals are available in Vancouver. There are three developed boat access only campsites with picnic tables and one pit toilet. 

Please note:

• No campfires are permitted anywhere within the park. 
• No camping permitted on islands. 
• Be sensitive to shoreline vegetation. Utilize only established campsites.
• There are no garbage services. You are responsible to pack out your garbage.
• There is a small pocket of private property and development adjacent to the park. Respect their property including their mooring facilities.

Tidal water fishing is available. Anyone fishing or angling in British Columbia must follow DFO Area 28 fishing regulations.

Glass Sponge Reef Protection

No commercial, recreational or Indigenous bottom-contact fishing activities are allowed in the area of Halkett Point, within Halkett Bay Marine Park. This includes fishing for:

• prawn
• shrimp
• crab
• groundfish (including halibut)

The use of downrigger gear in recreational salmon trolling is also prohibited in these areas due to the potential risk of damage to shallow reefs. Click here for further information, including maps of the closure area.

Pets and domestic animals must be on a leash at all times. You are responsible for their behaviour, and must pack out and 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.

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

Please note that bicycles with electric assist motors (e-bikes) are not allowed on the trails within Halkett Bay Park. E-bikes are restricted to park roads and areas where motorized use is permitted. The only exception to this policy will be for authorized and identified trail maintenance bikes conducting work on behalf of BC Parks.