Discovery Island Marine Provincial Park facts for kids
Discovery Island Marine Provincial Park is a beautiful park in British Columbia. It's located near Oak Bay, about 2 nautical miles (3.7 km or 2.3 miles) to the east. This island park is about 1 mile (1.6 km) long and 0.5 miles (0.8 km) wide. It offers amazing views of the Juan de Fuca Strait.
You can only reach Discovery Island Marine Provincial Park by boat. It's a favorite spot for people who love kayaking. The closest place to dock your boat is in Oak Bay. You can launch your boat from Cattle Point. On the east side of the island, on Pandora Hill, stands the Discovery Island Lighthouse. This lighthouse works automatically now. Pandora Hill is also an important spot for marking the Canada–United States border. The northern part of Discovery Island is a special area for First Nations people.
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Camping at Discovery Island Park
You can enjoy camping in the park. The camping area is southwest of Pandora Hill. Setting up a tent costs $5 per person each night.
What to Expect When Camping
The campground has a pit toilet. There are also picnic tables for you to use. Remember, there is no drinking water on the island. You must bring all your water with you. This is a "pack-in-pack-out" campsite. This means you must take all your trash with you when you leave.
Boat Access to Campground
Rudlin Bay is the main way to get to the campground by boat. Be careful, as this bay has many dangerous rocks. It is also open to strong winds from the southeast. Small boats can anchor here for a short time. However, it is not safe to anchor overnight. Campfires are not allowed anywhere in the park.
History of Discovery Island Park
Discovery Island Marine Provincial Park was created in 1972. Before it became a park, the land had a few different owners.
Early Owners of the Island
In 1867, George Jay and James Chestney Bales bought the land. They bought it from the Crown, which means the government. In 1871, their partnership ended. James Chestney Bales then became the sole owner.
Later Owners and Park Creation
Bales sold the land to William James Palmer in 1901. Palmer then sold it to Warburton Pike in 1912. After Pike passed away in 1917, his bank took over the property. The bank then sold the land to Captain E.G. Beaumont in 1918. Captain Beaumont later left the land to the province of British Columbia in his will. This kind gift helped create the park we enjoy today.
Images for kids
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The map on display at the campground.
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The view from the campground.
