Sea to Sky. 
Know before you go
Advisories
Safety information
- Please keep a safe, respectful distance when viewing wildlife. Keep dogs leashed.
- Backcountry areas are not suitable for dogs or other pets due to the potential for problems with bears and other wildlife.
- For your own safety and for the preservation of the park, obey posted signs and keep to designated trails. Taking shortcuts destroys plant life and soil structure.
Special notes
- Generator use is only allowed between 9am and 11am, and from 6pm to 8pm. View the generator policy.
- Domestic animals must be leashed at all times and they are not allowed in beach areas or park buildings. You are responsible for the behaviour of your pets and must dispose of their excrement.
- A clean air policy is in effect at this park. Campfires are restricted to three communal sites. Campfires are not allowed at individual campsites.
- It is recommended that you make a reservation to stay at this park during the months of July and August.
- Cyclists can always be accommodated at the cyclists’ campsite.
Review the detailed guides under visit responsibly for more information on staying safe and preserving our natural spaces.
Visit responsibly
Follow these guides to ensure your activities are safe, respectful, and ecologically friendly:
Maps and location
Any maps provided on this page are for information only. They may not represent legal boundaries and should not be used for navigation.
Getting there
Located at the southern end of Sechelt Inlet on the Sunshine Coast, Porpoise Bay Park is four kilometres north of Sechelt off Highway 101. Vehicle access is via Sechelt Inlet Road northeast of Sechelt.
Camping
Frontcountry camping
This park offers vehicle-accessible campsites. Campsite reservations are accepted and first come, first served sites are also available. For information on making a reservation, see the frontcountry camping page.
Fees
| Vehicle-accessible camping fee | $29 per party per night |
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Frontcountry campgrounds
Group camping
There is one group campsite, which can accommodate 15 to 50 people. For information on reserving a groupsite, see the group camping page.
Fees
| Group camping base fee | $80 per groupsite per night |
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| Group picnicking fee | $50 per picnic site per day |
Groupsites
Walk-in camping
Porpoise Bay Park features a camping area that is only for cyclists or for backpackers who arrive at the park without a vehicle. This is an open area with no designated campsites, but with room for approximately 10 small tents. Camping in this area is offered on a first come, first served basis and reservations are not available. The site has a communal fire pit and shared picnic tables. There is a shower building with flush toilets nearby.
Fees
| Walk-in camping fee | $15 per party per night |
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Walk-in campgrounds
Things to do
Enjoy the coolness of the lush forests along the trails beside Angus Creek. A bridge over the creek leads to the mudflats of the estuary where a variety of waterfowl and shorebirds can be observed. Harbour seals and bald eagles may be seen year-round.
Please keep a safe, respectful distance when viewing wildlife, and keep dogs on a leash. For your own safety and the preservation of the park, obey posted signs and keep to designated trails. Taking shortcuts destroys plant life and soil structure.
There are swimming opportunities in this park.
There are no lifeguards on duty in BC Parks.
Canoeing and kayaking opportunities are available near Porpoise Bay Park. Kayakers can use the cyclist campsite. There are rentals available outside the park in Tuwanek. Calmer conditions often prevail in early morning and late afternoon.
Kayaking opportunities are available at this park. For more information, see the ‘canoeing’ section, above. Kayakers can use the cyclist campsite.
Fishing is permitted, but it is hard to fish from shore as the water is shallow. For information on shellfish harvesting, visit the BC Centre for Disease Control website.
Anyone fishing in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence. To learn more, see the fishing and hunting guide.
Pets must be leashed 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 the potential for problems with bears and other wildlife.
Bicycles must keep to roadways. Bicycle helmets are mandatory in British Columbia.
Facilities
Accessibility information is available for this park, as well as these areas:
Fires are only permitted in the three communal fire pits. No fires are allowed at individual sites due to a clean-air policy within the park. Please conserve firewood and air quality by keeping your campfire small. Bring a portable stove for cooking.
To preserve vegetation and ground cover, please do not gather firewood from the area around your campsite or anywhere else in the park. Dead wood is an important habitat element for many plants and animals, and it adds valuable organic matter to the soil.
Campfire bans may be in place. Before lighting a fire, check for bans or restrictions on BC Wildfire Service and on local or Indigenous government websites.
Cold-water taps are located in the day-use and campground areas. Taps are shut off during the off season.
Porpoise Bay group picnic area 1 (beach)
Porpoise Bay group picnic area 2
Porpoise Bay Park has a day-use and picnicking area with two picnic shelters, which can be reserved. For information on reserving a shelter, see the picnic shelters page.
The day-use area can still be accessed if the gate is locked. It includes a sandy beach and changing facilities. There are flush and pit toilets.
Pit and flush toilets are located in the day-use and campground areas.
There is a playground area at the beach, less than five minutes walk from the day-use parking lot. This includes an adventure playground and a grassy area.
There are hot showers and changing facilities located in the day-use and campground areas.
About this park
Historically, the shíshálh Nation frequented this area, with a major village at Sechelt. Today, the shíshálh Nation plays an important role in the community of Sechelt.
The park was purchased from the Crowston family in 1966. On January 29, 1971, Porpoise Bay Park was established.
Porpoise Bay Park is characterized by second-growth forest of Douglas fir, western cedar, western hemlock, maple, and alder. The area contains a waterway used by chum and coho salmon for spawning. There is an estuary in the park that is home to many shore birds.
Please keep a safe, respectful distance when viewing wildlife. Keep dogs leashed at all times, and stay out of the creek.
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.
Contact
| Reservations, changes, and cancellations | Our call centre is open from 7 am to 7 pm Pacific Time. There is a $5 fee for reservations, changes, or cancellations made by phone.
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| Park operator | This park is operated by Swens Contracting. |
| General questions and feedback for BC Parks | We answer emails weekdays from 9 am to 5 pm Pacific Time. |
