BC Marine Provincial Parks & Island Camping Guide
From the white sand tidal lagoons of Thormanby Island to the heritage pastures of Jedediah and the warm fiords of Desolation Sound, explore British Columbia’s premier boat-access and ocean kayak campgrounds.
Featured Marine Provincial Parks
6 Verified Island DestinationsPrincess Louisa Marine Provincial Park (Chatterbox Falls)
Glacier-carved granite fjord rising 2,100m straight out of the ocean with 60+ spring waterfalls and the iconic 40m Chatterbox Falls. Features a ranger cabin, picnic shelter, boardwalks, and Macdonald Island loop trail. Navigating the 7–10 knot Malibu Rapids at slack water is required.
Buccaneer Bay Marine Park (North Thormanby)
Famous for expansive white sand tidal flats and warm swimming lagoons. At low tide, a vast sandbar connects North and South Thormanby. Camp directly behind the beach or anchor in Buccaneer Bay.
Simson Provincial Park (South Thormanby)
Encompasses 461 hectares of coastal rainforest and abandoned heritage orchards. Rustic walk-in wilderness camping at South Beach with scenic forest trails crossing the island to Spyglass Hill.
Jedediah Island Marine Provincial Park
The largest and most diverse marine park in the Gulf of Georgia. Historic homestead pastures, feral sheep, old-growth Douglas fir, and exceptionally sheltered all-weather anchorages at Deep Bay.
Desolation Sound Marine Provincial Park
World-renowned warm saltwater fiord featuring 60km of coastline, dramatic coastal mountain peaks, oyster beds, and calm fiord waters that reach 24°C in summer. The pinnacle of Pacific Northwest sea kayaking.
Plumper Cove Marine Park (Keats Island)
One of the oldest marine parks in British Columbia. Easily accessible via a 10-minute water taxi from Gibsons. Forested walk-in tent sites, grassy picnic lawns, and scenic walking trails around Keats Island.
Wallace Island Marine Provincial Park
A narrow, picturesque island sanctuary situated in Trincomali Channel. Offers rustic tent camping at Conover Cove and Chivers Point, an open-air historic cabin, and bluff trails overlooking passing marine traffic.
Marine Camping Essentials
What you need to know before casting off.
Zero Drinking Water
Most marine parks (including Thormanby, Jedediah, and Wallace) have no potable water. You must carry all drinking water (minimum 3–4 litres per person per day).
Water Taxi Transport
No private boat? Water taxis operate from Secret Cove to Thormanby Island, from Gibsons to Keats Island, and passenger ferries run from Nanaimo to Saysutshun.
Tides & Mooring Buoys
Always check CHS tide charts and Marine VHF weather before crossing channels. Mooring buoys ($14/night) and stern-ties are first-come, first-served.
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