Recreation on Bowen Island, BC

Bowen Island is a friendly community of arts and nature lovers. It is the heartbeat of culture in the Salish Sea, a natural jewel nestled between the majestic forested slopes of Howe Sound.

Orientation

Snug Cove, the main shopping area on the island, is where the ferry arrives. Here you can find cafés and bars, restaurants, a grocer, a health-food store, a pharmacy, an ATM and knickknack shops.

In Snug Cove you'll also find the Chamber of Commerce and the Historians' tourist information cabins, the library and Canada Post, and down by the ferry dock is where you can rent kayaks to paddle around Howe Sound.

Crippen Park entrances:
One is right off the ferry, one is left off the ferry and one is two minutes from Arbutus B&B!

What to bring

Bowen is an art-loving nature zone. Bring a flash light for the night; your runners or your gum-boots, your camera, a paint brush or a pen; your rain gear/bathing suit, and that book you’ve been wanting to read (or write)…

Within two/three minutes walk from Arbutus B&B

Swim/anchor/float/splash/sit on Pebbly Beach. Walk in Crippen Park. Hike Mount Gardner or Cape Roger Curtis. Paddle: Rent a kayak (on dock 10-minute walk from Arbutus B&B) and visit Apodaca Marine Park, Hood Point, Cape Roger Curtis, or circumnavigate the island. Cycle on our hilly roads and paths and get a real workout!

(for more details/links on all above, see below)

Forest Hikes and walks from Arbutus B&B

Crippen Regional Park is a 2-minute stroll away. Killarney Lake is a leisurely 20 minutes walk through the park. It’s 30 minutes through the horse meadow to the fish hatchery on smooth paths.

Around the lake is a two-hour hike (not appropriate for bikes or strollers).

Swimming in the Salish Sea or local lakes

Pebbly Beach is a 5-minute walk from our garden door.

Sandy Beach/Baby Beach by the lagoon is toddler-perfect, but popular with waterfowl.

Killarney Lake beach (30 min walk) is warm, popular with dogs, kids, ducks, geese… but has some leeches.

Grafton Lake - a nice trail behind it, but it’s our water reservoir; therefore no swimming.

Some Bowen Island coves and beaches are accessible by car and a short walk, some can only be guessed at from the cliff tops of Mount Gardner, a few are reachable only by water at low tide, and then, there’s the crown jewel: Cape Roger Curtis on the southwest corner of the island.

Paddling

Rent a kayak (on the dock, a 10-minute walk from Arbutus B&B). For reservations visit Bowen Island Sea Kayaking.

Apodaca Marine Park - Is cliffy but the small secluded cove is accessible by kayak – about a 30-minute paddle (depending on conditions) from the ferry dock.

Serious hiking/mountain biking

Mount Gardner - The peak of Mount Gardner (727m) is a two-hour hike up from the Killarney Lake trail head (25-minute walk through the park to the base of the mountain, 4-5-hour hike round trip from Arbutus B&B). You can hike up from 3 different directions (Tunstall Bay, Blue Water, or Killarney Lake trail base) and then come down the other side – ask your hosts for advice.

Cape Roger Curtis - 3 km of forested coastline to sit, swim or picnic and watch the waves. It offers wild west-coast seclusion par excellence. Watch seals looking at you or lay back and let your heart soar with the eagles… Sadly, it is destined to be turned into an exclusive, gated development. However, up to the high tide line belongs to you and me and is still legally accessible to swimmers, sailors and kayakers (see more below).

So pack a picnic, rent a kayak, and spend a day on the beaches and under the arbutus trees while serenity survives.

The Cape Roger Curtis Trust Society has been active since 2002 to try and save this last undeveloped yet accessible 3 km of shoreline from the type of high-end real estate development that would take away most public access and all the wonderful serenity to be found along the forested paths and secluded beaches there.

Bowen seasonal events and trends

Check here for scheduled Island events refer to the Bowen Island Arts Council.

Fall
On Hallowe’en our Haunted Houses are hot spots of both horror and humour.

There are many drop-in sports opportunities at BICS community school gym. Check with the Municipality and the Bowen Island Recreation Commission for programs.

Winter resonates with theatre & music, and creativity abounds at ubiquitous Bowen philanthropic fund-raisers, themed fancy dress balls, coffee houses, choirs...

Spring/late Winter: is renowned for performances by the local talent, and thespian youth events (Tir Na Nog Theatre School), which include full Shakespearean productions. Check the theatre listings.

Summer: Enjoy Mother Nature, the Historians’ People Plants and Places tour, visit galleries, studios, coffee shops, events in the park, and look out for garage sales!

Calendar of special events & performances

For more information, check The Undercurrent community newspaper and the Arts Council Web site.

June: The ‘Round Bowen Race – this renowned regatta is now a two-day event (kayaks kept beating sail boats) for un-motorized water craft.

On the last weekend in August:

Bowfest, our yearly dress-up & spoofs featuring music, food, environmental exhibits, talent shows and community parade. While we always ‘run for the ferry’, we do so by taking the long way around on Bowfest day during the ‘Run For The Ferry’- a 10km race).

Local film makers have produced many important, internationally-acclaimed documentaries. Off-islanders come here to produce Hollywood productions such as "The Fog", and local poets regularly recite poetry in the Snug Café. Our churches and retreat centres are used as religious gathering places, for choirs and as cultural performance spaces and our pubs rock with weekly local/off island bands, including Celtic, world, fusion, jazz, folk, and classical.


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		Things To Do On and Around Bowen Island Bowen Island is a friendly community of arts and nature lovers. It is the heartbeat of culture in the Salish Sea, a natural jewel nestled between the majestic forested slopes of Howe Sound. Orientation Snug Cove, the main shopping area on the island, is where the ferry arrives. Here you can find cafés and bars, restaurants, a grocer, a health-food store, a pharmacy, an ATM and knickknack shops. In Snug Cove you'll also find the Chamber of Commerce and the Historians' tourist information cabins, the library and Canada Post, and down by the ferry dock is where you can rent kayaks to paddle around Howe Sound. Crippen Park entrances: One is right off the ferry, one is left off the ferry and one is two minutes from Arbutus B&B! What to bring Bowen is an art-loving nature zone. Bring a flash light for the night; your runners or your gum-boots, your camera, a paint brush or a pen; your rain gear/bathing suit, and that book you’ve been wanting to read (or write)… Within two/three minutes walk from Arbutus B&B Swim/anchor/float/splash/sit on Pebbly Beach. Walk in Crippen Park. Hike Mount Gardner or Cape Roger Curtis. Paddle: Rent a kayak (on dock 10-minute walk from Arbutus B&B) and visit Apodaca Marine Park, Hood Point, Cape Roger Curtis, or circumnavigate the island. Cycle on our hilly roads and paths and get a real workout! (for more details/links on all above, see below) Forest Hikes and walks from Arbutus B&B Crippen Regional Park is a 2-minute stroll away. Killarney Lake is a leisurely 20 minutes walk through the park. It’s 30 minutes through the horse meadow to the fish hatchery on smooth paths. Around the lake is a two-hour hike (not appropriate for bikes or strollers). Swimming in the Salish Sea or local lakes Pebbly Beach is a 5-minute walk from our garden door. Sandy Beach/Baby Beach by the lagoon is toddler-perfect, but popular with waterfowl. Killarney Lake beach (30 min walk) is warm, popular with dogs, kids, ducks, geese… but has some leeches. Grafton Lake - a nice trail behind it, but it’s our water reservoir; therefore no swimming. Some Bowen Island coves and beaches are accessible by car and a short walk, some can only be guessed at from the cliff tops of Mount Gardner, a few are reachable only by water at low tide, and then, there’s the crown jewel: Cape Roger Curtis on the southwest corner of the island. Paddling Rent a kayak (on the dock, a 10-minute walk from Arbutus B&B). For reservations visit Bowen Island Sea Kayaking. Apodaca Marine Park - Is cliffy but the small secluded cove is accessible by kayak – about a 30-minute paddle (depending on conditions) from the ferry dock. Serious hiking/mountain biking Mount Gardner - The peak of Mount Gardner (727m) is a two-hour hike up from the Killarney Lake trail head (25-minute walk through the park to the base of the mountain, 4-5-hour hike round trip from Arbutus B&B). You can hike up from 3 different directions (Tunstall Bay, Blue Water, or Killarney Lake trail base) and then come down the other side – ask your hosts for advice. Cape Roger Curtis - 3 km of forested coastline to sit, swim or picnic and watch the waves. It offers wild west-coast seclusion par excellence. Watch seals looking at you or lay back and let your heart soar with the eagles… Sadly, it is destined to be turned into an exclusive, gated development. However, up to the high tide line belongs to you and me and is still legally accessible to swimmers, sailors and kayakers (see more below). So pack a picnic, rent a kayak, and spend a day on the beaches and under the arbutus trees while serenity survives. The Cape Roger Curtis Trust Society has been active since 2002 to try and save this last undeveloped yet accessible 3 km of shoreline from the type of high-end real estate development that would take away most public access and all the wonderful serenity to be found along the forested paths and secluded beaches there. Bowen seasonal events and trends Check here for scheduled Island events refer to the Bowen Island Arts Council. Fall On Hallowe’en our Haunted Houses are hot spots of both horror and humour. There are many drop-in sports opportunities at BICS community school gym. Check with the Municipality and the Bowen Island Recreation Commission for programs. Winter resonates with theatre & music, and creativity abounds at ubiquitous Bowen philanthropic fund-raisers, themed fancy dress balls, coffee houses, choirs... Spring/late Winter: is renowned for performances by the local talent, and thespian youth events (Tir Na Nog Theatre School), which include full Shakespearean productions. Check the theatre listings. Summer: Enjoy Mother Nature, the Historians’ People Plants and Places tour, visit galleries, studios, coffee shops, events in the park, and look out for garage sales! Calendar of special events & performances For more information, check The Undercurrent community newspaper and the Arts Council Web site. June: The ‘Round Bowen Race – this renowned regatta is now a two-day event (kayaks kept beating sail boats) for un-motorized water craft. On the last weekend in August: Bowfest, our yearly dress-up & spoofs featuring music, food, environmental exhibits, talent shows and community parade. While we always ‘run for the ferry’, we do so by taking the long way around on Bowfest day during the ‘Run For The Ferry’- a 10km race). Local film makers have produced many important, internationally-acclaimed documentaries. Off-islanders come here to produce Hollywood productions such as "The Fog", and local poets regularly recite poetry in the Snug Café. Our churches and retreat centres are used as religious gathering places, for choirs and as cultural performance spaces and our pubs rock with weekly local/off island bands, including Celtic, world, fusion, jazz, folk, and classical.

Things To Do On and Around Bowen Island