If you’re lucky enough to snag one of the few campsites in the provincial park, you¹ll be well placed indeed to enjoy this agricultural island. The parks on Denman are small but allow the visitor access to a curving and expansive beach, a steep headland and remote beaches and a pristine off-shore island teaming with bird and wildlife.
The parks and recreational areas have been preserved through the Provincial Government, joint Federal and Provincial initiatives, and through regional and community parks.
Provincial Parks:
Fillongley Provincial Park – this small campsite near the beach makes finding a spot here a gold mine, but there are only ten camping/RV sites in this postage sized campground.
The sand and pebble beach here is everyone¹s favourite and it stretches on forever in one direction. Forested walks are also popular. Be sure to visit the site of the old homestead, with its ancient moss encrusted fruit trees and spacious lawns. Well marked paths in the forest will lead you there.
CRD and Community Parks:
Boyle Point Regional Park – Located at the south end of East Rd. this 1.6 kilometer uphill excursion rewards you with views of Hornby Island and a nearby light house on Chrome Island, just off shore. The only facilities here are outhouses and a parking lot, but the dusty drive down is worth it.
Marine Parks:
Sandy Island Provincial Marine Park – is an ideal overnight stop for kayakers or even those with dinghies or other portable boats. You can launch them from the ferry dock for a 10 kilometer paddle, or take your kayaks further north and launch them from a public access beach on Gladstone in order to cut off 7 kilometers! Or, alternatively, you can wait until low tide and actually wade to the island from North Denman’s Longbeak Point. A few rustic campsites will be your reward, and bird watching here is legendary.
