If you’re in the Nanaimo area on Vancouver Island and looking for something to do for the day or weekend, take the 20 min ferry ride over to Gabriola! The island is filled with amazing sandstone formations, plenty of beaches to choose from, and hikes of various difficulty levels. Here is an adventure filled guide to Gabriola Island.
There are two main roads on Gabriola that take you on a loop of the island – the North and South Road. It takes about 20 min to drive from one end of the island to the other. Off of the main roads are smaller ones leading to beaches and trails, make sure to pick up a map from the Visitor Centre! We found that surprisingly, Gabriola lacked signs, except for a couple for the Provincial Parks on the island.
Beaches:
If you’re looking for a place to swim, the ocean is your only option. There is one lake on the island but it’s on private land at the golf course. There are plenty of beautiful beaches to choose from along the coastline of the island! You can also find smaller and less populated coves with the Tourist Centre map, but the most popular are:
- Malaspina Galleries
- Gabriola Sands Provincial Park
- Sandwell Provincial Park
- Drumbeg Provincial Park.
Malaspina Galleries
These amazing and hidden sandstone formations are a must see when you’re on the island. From Taylor Bay Rd, turn left onto Malaspina Dr and park at the end of the road where you’ll find a short trail to the beach. Follow the trail to the point, then turn left down the small slope and under the trail. Here you will find an amazing sandstone wave to walk through, but it’s best to visit at low tide!
Gabriola Sands Provincial Park
Nearby the Galleries are two beautiful sandy beaches on either side of the road. Located within a protected and calm bay, it’s the perfect place for a swim or relax on the beach.
Sandwell Provincial Park
A long sandy beach accessed by a short 800m trail through the forest. Turn left off North Shore Rd onto Barrett Rd, following the signs. Petroglyphs can be found here at low tide. Tip: If you head to the other end of the beach on the map down Daniel Way, you’ll come to a hidden trail through ocean front properties onto a secret hidden sandstone beach you’ll have all to yourselves. From here we snorkelled and saw a family of river otters that live nearby!
Drumbeg Provincial Park
At the Southern End of the island is a beach that shouldn’t be missed! A short trail leads you to a pebble beach in a protected cove full of harbour seals. There are 2km worth of trails through Garry Oaks and the shoreline. There are also some neat sandstone formations to explore.
Trails:
On top of the short trails to different beaches, there are also numerous forest trails of various length around the island including:
- Cox Community Park
- Coats Marsh Park
- A large trail system in the very middle of the island
- Loop through Elder Cedar Nature Reserve
- Short walk through Petroglyph Heritage Park
Elder Cedar Nature Reserve
We did this boardwalk loop in the pouring rain and it was still beautiful. We had the whole walk to ourselves through the lush green forest. At the end of the trail is an ancient cedar that you can walk around (and through! The base is hollow). The loop took about 25 min and the trail is located just off of North Shore Rd. There isn’t a sign for the turn off, but there is a large sign for the trail once you’re in the parking lot.
Petroglyph Heritage Park
As there is also no sign for this turn off, turn into the Church parking lot just off of South Shore Rd. From the parking lot you’ll see the sign and short trail for the Petroglyphs. Keep your eyes on the sandstone beneath your feet for various petroglyphs carved into it. Past the petroglyphs is a trail through a beautiful meadow and Garry Oaks that continues through the island in either direction.
Other things not to miss:
- Farmers Market – Awesome little market on Saturdays (May-Oct) from 10-2pm.
- Art Galleries – Gabriola is also known as the Isle of the Arts, with over 200 artists living on the island.
- Woodfire Restaurant – Great pizza!
- Rent a kayak – Explore the beautiful bays on the island spotting wildlife, sandstone formations and petroglyphs.
Camping:
Gabriola has one main campground right by the ferry called Descanso Bay Regional Park. There are 32 sites, and you can book your site online ahead of time. Prices range from $10 per night per site (low season) to $17 per night (high season). The campground is right on the ocean and an amazing spot to watch the sunset in the evening. The sites closest to the ocean fill up quick. The campsite was well maintained, quiet and clean, we would definitely go back. There is also a private campground at the southern end of the island, but prices are more expensive.
Hope you enjoyed this guide to Gabriola Island. Looking for other Gulf Islands to explore? Check out my posts on things to do on Denman and Hornby Island, as well as Texada Island!
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