Sea to Sky. 
Know before you go
Advisories
Safety information
- The rocks along the shoreline can be slippery at low tide. Please use caution while on these rocks.
Special notes
- Generator use is only permitted between the hours of 9am to 11am, and from 6pm to 8pm. View the generator policy
- Scuba divers will find a 3 m bronze mermaid at ten fathoms in front of Mermaid Cove. There is also a change room and shower facilities. A disabled access ramp for scuba divers is best used during high tide.
- There is an accessible change room, shower and toilet.
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 campground is approximately 1 km north of Saltery Bay ferry terminal on Hwy 101, 27 km south of Powell River.
The day-use area is located 1.5 km north of the Saltery Bay campground on Hwy 101. From there you can launch your boat or have a picnic and enjoy the beautiful view.
Camping
Frontcountry camping
This park offers 42 vehicle-accessible campsites. Campsite reservations are accepted and first come, first served sites are also available.
There are two double sites and no pull-through sites. Campsites are located under mature forest canopy. There is no gatehouse or locked gate. There is room for two vehicles at each site and extra parking is available for a fee of $10 per night.
If no staff is available to help find a site, find an unoccupied site that has no camping receipt posted at the site. Pay for camping by self-registration. The closest store is in Black Point enroute to Powell River approximately 6km away.
| Vehicle-accessible camping fee | $20 per party per night |
| BC seniors’ rate (day after Labour Day to June 14 only) | $10 per senior party per night |
For information on the BC seniors’ rate, see the camping fees page.
Frontcountry campgrounds
Things to do
The Mermaid Cove Trail starts at the bridge over Park Creek near the entrance to the campground. It is an easy 1 km hike through 90 year old second growth stand of forest.
Some sections of the trail traverse short sections of rocky out crops where footing may be slippery. The trail is for hiking only and is not suitable for wheelchairs. It takes approximately 30 minutes to walk its length.
For your own safety and the preservation of the park, please obey posted signs and keep to designated trails. Shortcutting trails destroys plant life and soil structure.
Good summer swimming in the ocean is available. There is no designated or roped-off swimming area.
The beach is quite rocky with some sandy areas at high tide at the day-use site. Please use caution as the beaches are rocky and subject to tidal action and sudden changes in weather. Mermaid Cove is best suited for experienced scuba divers.
There are no lifeguards on duty in BC Parks.
Canoeing and kayaking can be done in the ocean. Please be cautious and aware of the ocean currents. Contact the Powell River Chamber of Commerce 604-485-4051 for information on kayak and canoe rental companies.
There is good tidal fishing at this park.
Anyone fishing in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence. To learn more, see the fishing and hunting guide.
Saltery Bay Park offers a typical marine shoreline environment with opportunities to view seals, otters, mink, seabirds and bald eagles.
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 the potential for problems with bears and other wildlife.
Bicycles must keep to roadways. There are no specific bicycle trails. Bicycle helmets are mandatory in British Columbia.
Please note that bicycles with electric assist motors (e-bikes) are not allowed on the trails within Saltery 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.
There are excellent scuba diving opportunities. Scuba diving provides a close up look at the abundant marine life and a 3 m bronze mermaid statue. The Emerald Princess statue and wheelchair access ramp were placed in the park through efforts of local scuba enthusiasts. There is a diver change house and cold showers are available. Scuba rentals are available in Powell River approximately 27 km north.
Facilities
Accessibility information is available for this park.
There is a concrete boat launch in the day-use area 1.5 km north of the campground. It is a double ramp with a tie up groin. There are no closures or parking for trailers available. No commercial activity is permitted at boat launches in BC Parks. Overnight parking is available at the owner’s risk. Boats cannot be left in the water or beached overnight. There is a marina 1 km south by boat or car to moor boats over night.
Campfires are permitted in designated fire rings only. There is a fire ring in each campsite.
To preserve vegetation and ground cover, please don’t gather firewood from the area around your campsite or elsewhere in the park. Dead wood is an important habitat element for many plants and animals and it adds organic matter to the soil.
You can conserve firewood and air quality by keeping your campfire small. Be prepared to bring a portable stove for cooking.
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.
There are five water taps located throughout the campground. Taps are shut off during the off-season.
This park has a day-use and picnic area. There are no covered shelters available. The day-use area is located 1 km from the campgrounds. There is a concrete boat ramp, hand pump for water, grassy area, large paved parking lot and two wheelchair-accessible pit toilets. The beach is mostly rocky with some sandy areas at high tide. Fires are not permitted in the day-use area.
This park only has pit toilets, no flush toilets. There are six pit toilets in the campground, two of which are wheelchair-accessible. There is one at Mermaid Cove and two at the day-use area which are all wheelchair-accessible.
About this park
First Nations people played a significant cultural role in the history of the Powell River area. Mounds of seashells called “middens” indicate that this was a traditional gathering area for First Nations.
Saltery Bay Park was named for the fish saltery that was nearby in the early 1900’s. The shallow offshore waters in the vicinity of this park offer an assortment of marine life, underwater caves and shipwrecks which attract divers from all over the world.
An abundance of marine life is found in the ocean area around the park. At low tide you will often find tidal pools that harbour urchins, star fish, small fish, and small crabs. Please do not disturb their habitat.
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 RLC Park Services. |
| General questions and feedback for BC Parks | We answer emails weekdays from 9 am to 5 pm Pacific Time. |
