Malaspina Galleries, Gabriola Island, British Columbia
Three provincial parks and a smattering of community recreational areas service the frequent visitors to this most accessible of all Gulf Islands. Visitors can hike the coast trails, hunt down ancient petroglyphs, stand under the marvellous formations of Malaspina Gallery, learn a little of the island’s history, or just lay back and enjoy the beaches or savour a picnic with a view.
Provincial Parks:
Gabriola Sands – six hectares of prime swimming, picnicking and paddling can be enjoyed at Gabriola Sands, which also boasts a baseball diamond and children¹s play area. The park is located on a narrow spit between Taylor and Pilot Bays on the northwest side of the island. This is the spot to bring hot and restless children. The beach tapers gently into warmish waters, and there are changing rooms, toilets and a few picnic tables for supervising adults to relax at. More picnic tables and toilets can be found across the road where locals will probably be hard at it at the baseball diamond. The play area is located here as well as that rare sight on the arid Gulf islands – a water pump!
Drumbeg Provincial Park, Gabriola Island, British Columbia
Sandwell Provincial Park – offers 750 meters of hiking trails, petroglyphs, beach combing and picnicking. Located on Lock Bay, the small but popular park faces the Gulf of Georgia. Take the trail from the parking lot on Strand Road, where you’ll see a gated service road. The petroglyphs are located on sandstone outcrops at the middle of the east end of the park beach, but be warned, these massive formations are only accessible at minus tides.
Drumbeg Provincial Park – (Drumbeg Provincial Park Photos) twenty hectares of recreational area can be enjoyed at this perfect day use park, with short hiking trails, beach access, picnic tables, and stunning views. The tide pools are wonderful for exploring, and the picnic tables overlook a cove at the east entrance to Gabriola Passage. If you want a little vicarious excitement in your life, take one of the paths at maximum flood or ebb tide, and watch cocky captains attempting to navigate notorious Gabriola passage, a narrow passage of rushing water.
Malaspina Gallery – (Malaspina Gallery Photos) although without services, this important part of Gabriola protects a geographical splendor marveled at since the Spanish explorers charted the area, and revered by indigenous peoples long before that. The overhanging sandstone gallery is accessed 100 meters up South Road from the ferry landing, on Taylor Bay Rd. Go north for about 1 kilometer and walk from the end of the road to the community park at Malaspina Point.
Orlebar Point – offers a few picnic tables and benches for secluded relaxing or watching the sea lions on the rocks below the lighthouse on Entrance Island. The picnic spot on Forwood Channel features a bronze plaque commemorating a scuba diver who lost his life in this popular scuba diving spot.
Brickyard Beach – serves up a little history with its other salty attractions. Beach combing, picnicking, historical interpretations and relaxation are available at this recreational spot just southeast of False Narrows on the south shore. The shattered bricks that make up most of the beach are left over from a flourishing brick making industry in the 1930′s. False Narrows is named for its scanty depth. Although it looks deep enough, there is in fact less than 30 centimeters of water here at minus tides!