Wilderness Landscape & Natural Heritage
Garden Bay Provincial Park is located on the eastern shore of Sechelt Inlet in British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast region. The park protects a saltwater shoreline surrounded by coastal forest, featuring Douglas fir, Western red cedar, and hemlock trees. The terrain includes beach fronts, rocky outcrops, and gently sloping forested areas. As a popular destination for campers and boaters, it provides several marine-accessible camping sites and day-use areas where visitors can explore tide pools, picnic, or launch kayaks and canoes. Established in 1965, the park was created to protect the natural coastal environment and to offer outdoor recreational opportunities for locals and travelers. Visitors often enjoy fishing and crabbing along the shoreline or spotting wildlife such as bald eagles, seals, herons, and diverse intertidal creatures. The hiking options available within the park are short but scenic, leading through coastal forest to viewpoints overlooking Sechelt Inlet and surrounding mountains. Its proximity to the Sunshine Coast trail network makes it an excellent spot to begin or end longer backcountry explorations. Garden Bay Provincial Park appeals to those seeking tranquil camping away from large crowds, as well as paddlers wanting to explore protected inlets and bays. The park’s quiet beaches and calm waters are ideal for families and nature lovers. Overall, it offers an accessible outdoor experience rich in coastal ecology and recreational variety while preserving a pristine shoreline environment.
