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Princess Louisa Marine Park

Advisories

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Marine-accessible camping

Boat-in camping is allowed. There are eight walk-in tent sites available at McDonald Island and at Chatterbox Falls. The sites are available year-round, when accessible.

MacDonald Island: There are four bare ground tent sites at MacDonald Island, of which only two have tables with 1 pit toilet for all. There is no communal fire ring at MacDonald island sites: Fires are prohibited at this site. The campsite is located on the mainland adjacent to Macdonald Island with a dinghy dock for access. The campsites are located in the forest behind a small grassy area. This site is particularly suited for small boats or kayaks. Surface water is available from a spring at the rear of the camping area. The water should be boiled prior to consumption.

Chatterbox Falls: There are 4 bare ground tent sites with a picnic table at each. These are located just above the high tide line along the edge of the forest. There is 1 communal fire pit for the tent sites. Water is available from taps at the main dock and from 1 tap behind the MacDonald Memorial Shelter.

Marine-accessible camping

Boat-in or walk-in camping is allowed. There are eight walk-in tent sites available at Mcdonald Island and at Chatterbox Falls. The sites are available year-round when accessible.

MacDonald Island: There are four bare ground tent sites at Macdonald Island, of which only two have tables with 1 pit toilet for all. There is no communal fire ring at MacDonald island sites: Fires are prohibited at this site. The campsite is located on the mainland adjacent to Macdonald Island with a dinghy dock for access. The campsites are located in the forest behind a small grassy area. This site is particularly suited for small boats or kayaks. Surface water is available from a spring at the rear of the camping area. The water should be boiled prior to consumption.

Chatterbox Falls: There are 4 bare ground tent sites with a picnic table at each. These are located just above the high tide line along the edge of the forest. There is 1 communal fire pit for the tent sites. Water is available from taps at the main dock and from 1 tap behind the Macdonald Memorial Shelter.

Picnic areas

The MacDonald Memorial Shelter is available at Chatterbox Falls. The Macdonald Memorial Shelter is a teepee style structure with 3 large openings around the perimeter and a large fire pit at its centre. There are 2 picnic tables at the shelter. 2 pit toilets, located centrally in the park, are used by campers and boaters from the main dock as well.

Pit or flush toilets

There are three pit toilets in this park: two are at the main Chatterbox Falls area and one is at the campsite near MacDonald Island.

Boat launch

This park does not have a boat launch. However, there is a 200 metre mooring float at Chatterbox falls and 5 mooring bouys located at Macdonald Island. Vessels travelling in Princess Louisa Inlet are asked to keep vessel speed below 4 knots. To help preserve the natural values in this park, please do not discharge sewage in anchorages, but keep sewage contained in holding tanks while at anchor. Maximum vessel length allowed on the dock is less than 18 metres (55 feet).

A new Airplane Float was added in 2015 at the end of the 200 metre mooring float.

Campfires

Campfires are permitted in designated fire rings only. No firewood is provided; please bring your own firewood. While campfires are allowed and communal fire pits are provided, we encourage visitors to conserve wood and protect the environment by minimizing the use of fire and using campstoves instead.

Limited burning hours or campfire bans may be implemented. To preserve vegetation and ground cover, please don’t gather firewood from the area around your campsite or elsewhere in the park (this is a ticketable offence under the Park Act ). Dead wood is an important habitat element for many plants and animals and it adds organic matter to the soil.

Hiking

There are 800 metres of trails/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 2 hours and is somewhat dangerous and difficult. It is approximately 7 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.

Swimming

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 at provincial parks.

Canoeing

There are opportunities for canoeing or kayaking at this park.

Kayaking
Fishing

Princess Louisa Inlet has been designated a Rock Fish 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 molluscs).

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.

Wildlife viewing

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 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.

Scuba diving

There are scuba diving/snorkelling opportunities. There are no facilities provided. Scuba parties must be self-sufficient.