Located in scenic Howe Sound, Halkett Bay is typical of the glaciated coastline found in the sound. The steeply sloped mountains, rugged coastlines, and the scattered islands and waters of the sound offer a breathtaking visual experience.
Howe Sound has long been popular with pleasure boaters because of its close proximity to the Vancouver, Sunshine Coast and Squamish populations. Halkett Bay is currently used by boaters for both day-use and recreational activities such as swimming, wilderness camping, kayaking, picnicking, hiking to Mount Artaban and overnight moorage. The park provides one buoy, one dinghy dock and one pit toilet.
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:
Please note:
Marine backcountry camping is allowed. There are three developed boat access only walk-in campsites with picnic tables and one pit toilet. These sites are open year-round.
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.
The park is open year-round and winter camping is permitted in this park but campsites have limited services.
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 no lifeguards on duty.
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:
Tidal water fishing is available. Anyone fishing or angling in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence and must follow DFO Area 28 fishing regulations.
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:
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.
Halkett Bay Park is located on the southeastern shore of Gambier Island, 15km from Horseshoe Bay. Located 40km from marinas in Vancouver and 10km from Lions Bay, it is well within day-use range of most boaters.
This park proudly operated by:
Swens Contracting
info.scparks@gmail.com
604-885-3714
History
Gambier Island is named after the Admiral of the Fleet James, Lord Gambier (1756–1833). Halkett Bay Park on its southeastern shore was established in June of 1988.
Conservation
This park protects a rocky tidal coastline, a small islet and beaches. It also protects the Halkett Point glass sponge reef. In 2016, a 136 hectare marine foreshore addition was established to protect the rare glass sponge reef southeast of Gambier Island. This glass sponge reef is unique in that it is located in only 30 metres of water, making the park one of the few locations in the world where these reefs are accessible to both scientists and scuba divers.
Wildlife
Bald eagle, western red-backed salamander, northern flying squirrel, black-tailed deer, marten, mink, raccoon, seals, and waterfowl can all be found in the park. The Annapolis artificial reef in the park not only provides habitat opportunities for marine life but also serves as a unique scuba diving opportunity.
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.