Thurston Bay Marine Provincial Park is located on the northwest side of Sonora Island in th Johnstone Strait. The park provides sheltered anchorage and recreational opportunities for boaters traveling the popular Inside Passage. Thurston Bay Marine Park has two separate portions – one bordering and taking up part of Thurston Bay and the other bordering Cameleon Harbour.
Access to the park is by boat only. There are no developed facilities at the park, although random camping is allowed. Visitors can go swimming, fishing, hiking or paddling, or explore the small, pretty beaches dotting the rocky shoreline. An unmaintained trail leads to Florence Lake, ideal for peaceful swimming, fishing and paddling.
Established Date: April 23, 1970
Park Size: 531 hectares (320 hectares of upland and 211 hectares of foreshore)
There are no designated campsites at this park, however random wilderness camping is allowed. No facilities are provided and there is no fee. Please practice “ Leave No Trace” camping ethics. This park is accessible year-round; there is no winter camping fee.
Various species of salmon and rock fish can be found in the waters around Thurston Bay. Fishing is permitted as per provincial and federal fishing regulations. 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.
Portions of this park are open to hunting for waterfowl only. Hunters must have valid licences and tags. Please refer to the current Hunting and Trapping Regulations and Synopsis publication for closures and regulations.
Thurston Bay Marine Provincial Park is located on the northwest side of Sonora Island, in Johnstone Strait off the east coast of central Vancouver Island. This park is accessible by boat only. Boaters can reference marine chart #3539 and #3543 from more information on this area.
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.