Highlights in this park
Roscoe Bay Park is a small fjord and adjacent upland on the east side of West Redonda Island. It is known for its annual congregations of Moon Jellies (jelly fish).
This park provides excellent opportunities for kayaking, canoeing, fishing, backcountry camping and anchorage in Roscoe Bay as well as fishing, hiking and warm water swimming at Black Lake.
Know before you go
Advisories
Safety information
- Bring your own drinking water as potable water is not available in the park.
- Drinking water from lakes or streams is not recommended, unless the water has been treated or rapid-boiled for five minutes.
Special notes
- Under Federal Regulations, Roscoe Bay is closed to sewage discharge. Vessels are required to keep sewage contained in holding tanks while at anchor.
- Roscoe Bay has poor tidal flushing and high fecal coliform count during summer months in previous years due to dumping of boat holding tanks and grey water. For this reason, swimming in Roscoe Bay is not recommended. Due to recent Federal Regulation prohibiting sewage discharge at Roscoe Bay, the opportunity to swim in the anchorage may come back as the water quality in the bay improves.
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
The park is located northwest of Desolation Sound Marine Park and north of Powell River and Lund on the Sunshine Coast. The nearest community is Lund approximately 20 km by water.
Dates of operation
The park is open year-round
- Facility type
- Marine-accessible camping
- Main operating season
- 2024: May 15 to September 15
- Winter season
- 2024: September 16 to December 31
- 2025: January 1 to May 31
- Booking required
- 2024: June 1 to September 14
- Winter season note
- Off-season; no fees, no services.
Camping
Backcountry Camping fees are in place for Desolation Sound Parks backcountry campgrounds (includes Desolation Sound Marine, Copeland Islands Marine, Malaspina and Roscoe Bay Parks) from June 1 to September 15. Thank you for your support!
Backcountry camping is allowed year-round when accessible, but no facilities are provided. There is space for approximately four to five tents.
Backcountry camping fees are in place for Desolation Sound Parks backcountry campgrounds (includes Desolation Sound Marine, Copeland Islands Marine, Malaspina and Roscoe Bay Parks) from June 1 to September 15.
Backcountry camping fee: $5 per person per night (age 6+)
The BC Parks reservations service allows you to purchase a backcountry camping permit before leaving home. Although the system does not reserve a campsite, the system provides visitors the convenience of prepaying for their 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.
Things to do
Fresh water fishing in Black Lake. There is tidal water fishing adjacent to the park in Waddington Channel.
Anyone fishing in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence. To learn more, see the fishing and hunting guide.
There is a short hiking trail to Black Lake. There is a nice one to two hour hike along the shore of Black Lake. 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 are opportunities for canoeing or kayaking in this park.
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. Backcountry areas are not suitable for dogs or other pets due to wildlife issues and the potential for problems with bears.
There are no lifeguards on duty in BC Parks.
Facilities
Campfires are permitted in the designated fire pit only. No firewood is provided.
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.
This park only has pit toilets, no flush toilets.
About this park
Conservation: The park protects a small inlet with sheltered anchorage.
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
This park proudly operated by:
1312768 BC Ltd
DesolationSound.Camping@outlook.com