Marzena & Richard’s guidebook

5 minutes down from the Coachhouse you will be on peaceful trail to Killarney Lake. The 4km Killarney Lake loop is among the most popular hiking routes on Bowen Island, with flat and steep sections. It takes around 1 – 1.5 hours to walk around the lake and around 30-45 minutes to walk from Killarney Lake picnic area to Snug Cove. You will walk through beautiful forest, on a boardwalk through the wetlands , by waterfall and fish ladder, a meadow with beaver dams! Watch out for great blue herons, black-tailed deer and owls . Non-motorized boats or kayaks are allowed.

Mount Gardner is Bowen Island’s tallest mountain with an elevation of 719m on this hike. The challenging 10km roundtrip culminates with a panoramic view of Port Mellon to the north on the Sunshine Coast and Vancouver Island to the west. There are different routes to get to the top, where viewing platforms await. Budget five or six hours to get the full experience.

The 2.5km/1.5mi hike takes about 1.5 hours return. While there are some steep climbs, reaching the summit of this arbutus tree-strewn plateau offers a striking view of Whytecliffe Park in West Vancouver across the Queen Charlotte Channel. Also visible to the southwest is the University of British Columbia (UBC). Dorman Point is a lovely spot for a picnic.

Opa' the 1,000-year-old Douglas fir towers over the surrounding second-growth timber.....also visit Labyrinth....both located at the Xenia Creative Development Centre

Bowen Island has a total of 48 municipal beaches and coastal access points that range from sandy beaches that are frequently visited by the community, to rocky coasts that disappear at high tide, to steep cliffs with ocean views.

Have fun and find the secret location of giant driftwood mastodon! Created by an artist Guthrie Gloag and placed in the secret forest location on Bowen Island. As written in a CBC article," Gloag created this sculpture as a symbol of conservation, something to prompt viewers to reflect on how species are threatened — sometimes into extinction — by humans. In his work with driftwood animals, Gloag points to dangerous conditions from climate change and environmental destruction to unsustainable consumerism and production practices."...good luck!..many tried but only s few found it!:)

Bowen Island Sea Kayaking guides are trained in safety and well-versed in island history. While navigating the shoreline, they will share their knowledge of the geological forces that created Howe Sound, how First Nations figure into Bowen Island’s history, the Union Steamship era, industrialization, and the rebirth of the region’s marine ecosystem. Highly recommended by many visitors.