The recent acquisition of recreational land on Saturna gives this island more park land per size and population than any other Gulf Island. The parks and recreational areas have been preserved through the Provincial Government, joint Federal and Provincial initiative, and through regional and community parks. Almost half the island is now protected as part of the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve of Canada. Here’s a sampling of what awaits you:
Gulf Islands National Park Reserve of Canada:Narvaez Bay (A whooping 645 hectares and the largest acquisition to date) as well as Taylor Point (50.6 hectares), protect a huge and beautiful area of Saturna Island. Narvaez Bay is a pristine headland with 7 new campsites. Hiking is good here as is calm weather anchorage for boaters off the shoreline.
Winter Cove. This is now the site of the annual Lamb Barbecue. A gem of a park located in a beautiful area of Saturna, this is a great day use area, with picnic tables, toilet, playgrounds, swimming, boat launching and short hikes to view the Strait of Georgia and the narrow Boat Passage, where sometimes all of the Strait of Georgia seems to be crowding through between Saturna and Samuel Islands.
Mount Warburton Pike at 397 metres (1,303 ft.) provides amazing views of the surrounding islands and Washington State. Excellent hiking and a heard of feral goats make this area a must see.
East Point Lighthouse protects 2.5 hectares of special importance. Visitors can view the unmanned lighthouse and if they’re lucky, also see killer whales from this southernmost point of British Columbia. The tidal activity off this point makes it a great vantage point for sea life watching.
CRD and Community Parks:
Taylor Point (Thompson Park) and Saturna Beach encompass fields, beaches and headlands as well as the previous site of Saturna’s famous annual Lamb Barbecue. A dock for shallow draft boats is available as is a toilet that drew raves from a recent Pacific Yachting Magazine writer!
