Sea to Sky. 
Know before you go
Advisories
Special notes
The marine park is managed by BC Parks with the cooperation of the Princess Louisa International Society. The Princess Louisa International Society raises funds to maintain and develop the Princess Louisa Inlet Marine Park:
- To provide additional and enhanced facilities.
- To acquire additional lands within Princess Louisa Inlet for dedication as Park
- To preserve and protect the unique marine and upland environment of the Inlet for the benefit of all. Memberships and tax receipts for donations are available from the Society.
- To help preserve the natural values in this park, please do not discharge sewage at docks or in anchorages, but keep sewage contained in holding tanks while at anchor.
- Maximum vessel length allowed on the docks is less than 18 metres (55 feet).
- Slow down to less than five knots and keep your wake to a minimum when approaching the dock.
- Minimize exhaust and noise from generators and limit their use to 9am to 11am and 6pm to 8pm.
- Please consider your neighbours and observe the quiet time from 11pm to 7am.
- Dock use may be limited to 72 hours during the high-use season.
- Rockfish Conservation Areas occur within this park. Fishing activities are limited in Rockfish Conservation Areas. Before you go fishing please refer to the Rockfish Conservation Area descriptions available from Fisheries and Oceans Canada DFO. Anyone fishing or angling in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence.
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
Getting there
This marine park is located in the Princess Louisa Inlet and is only accessible by boat or plane. There are no public roads. The only entrance to the marine park is through the Straight of Georgia by way of Jervis Inlet, 90km north of Skookumchuck Narrows.
Things to do
There are 800 metres of trails and boardwalks located at Chatterbox Falls.
A new trail adjacent to Macdonald Island was completed in 2015. It is a 1km easy to moderate loop trail that winds thru the forest to a rock out cropping where two benches are placed overlooking the inlet. Access is from dingy dock and past the campsites.
Outside the park is a nearby hiking trail to Trappers Cabin that takes approximately two hours and is somewhat dangerous and difficult. It is approximately seven hours to the alpine and another half day to the icefield. These trails are recommended for experienced mountaineers only.
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.
There is no designated swimming area in the park. All swimming is ocean swimming but some people like to swim where the creek from Chatterbox Fall enters the ocean.
There are no lifeguards on duty in BC Parks.
There are opportunities for canoeing or kayaking at this park.
There are opportunities for canoeing or kayaking at this park.
Princess Louisa Inlet has been designated a Rockfish Conservation Area. All fishing is prohibited within the inlet.
There is a year-round shellfish closure, harvesting is prohibited within the inlet (this includes, clams, mussels, oysters and other bivalve mollusks).
Please refer to the Rockfish Conservation Area descriptions available from Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO).
Anyone fishing in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence. To learn more, see the fishing and hunting guide.
A viewing platform is located at the bottom of Chatterbox Falls. The entire Princess Louisa Inlet provides an outstanding viewscape. Numerous waterfalls ribbon the walls of the gorge as snow melts, including the magnificent Chatterbox Falls.
Pets and 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.
There are scuba diving and snorkelling opportunities. There are no facilities provided. Scuba parties must be self-sufficient.
About this park
Princess Louisa Inlet referred to as Suivoolot or “sunny and warm” by indigenous peoples, served as an active part of indigenous lore for such groups as the sh¡sh lh Nation.
The park was created in June 24, 1965. The area surrounding Chatterbox Falls was originally purchased by James F. Macdonald until it was passed on to the non-profit Princess Louisa International Society in 1953. After years of guardianship by the Society, the park’s administration was given over to the Government of the Province of BC for all to enjoy. Learn more about this park’s fascinating history.
The marine park is managed by BC Parks with the cooperation of the Princess Louisa International Society. The Princess Louisa International Society actively supports the park with capital investments to provide additional and enhanced facilities. Memberships and tax receipts (Revenue Canada only) for donations are available from the Society.
The park offers a unique setting with tranquil waters surrounded by a granite-walled gorge. Cut by a glacier, the walls rise to heights in excess of 2,100 metres. Numerous waterfalls ribbon the walls of the gorge as snow melts, including the magnificent Chatterbox Falls.
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
| General questions and feedback for BC Parks | We answer emails weekdays from 9 am to 5 pm Pacific Time. |
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