7 Ways to Get Outdoors on Bowen Island

April 12, 2023

4 min read

White daisies growing by a calm blue sea with boats floating and distant islands under a clear sky.

Bowen Island is a short ferry ride from Vancouver, so it makes a great nature escape. Leave the car behind and walk or bike onto the ferry. Once you arrive, go for a hike, paddle a kayak, hit the beach, or have a picnic.

Paddle a Kayak

Explore the shoreline and the nearby islands of Howe Sound by kayak. Sign up for a tour or rental at Bowen Island Sea Kayaking, located right next to the ferry terminal. They have stand-up paddleboards too.

Two kayaks, one orange and one red, resting on a rocky beach with calm blue water and several boats in the distance.

Go for a Bike Ride

Ride your bike onto the ferry or rent one on the island at Bowen eBikes. The quiet roads of Bowen Island are perfect for a bike ride, although they have quite a few hills. Most of the trails in Crippen Regional Park are shared use and open to bikes, including the Killarney Creek Trail that leads to Killarney Lake.

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Have a Picnic at Snug Cove

From the ferry terminal, stroll the Lady Alexandra Promenade along the shoreline, past Davies Orchard to Snug Cove Picnic Ground. The wooden walkway was built in the 1920s when the Union Steamship Company offered popular cruises to Bowen Island that featured picnics and dances. Bring a lunch so you can carry on the century-old picnic tradition.

A ferry boat sailing on calm water between forested shores with mountains in the background under a clear sky.

Hike to Dorman Point

The 1.5-hour hike to Dorman Point from the ferry terminal may be short, but it’s far from flat as you climb steeply up to a spectacular viewpoint. Look down into Queen Charlotte Channel and watch the BC Ferries come and go from Horseshoe Bay.

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Summit Mount Gardner

At 719 m above sea level, Mount Gardner is the highest point on Bowen Island. A popular 17 kilometre-long hike leads from the ferry terminal to the summit. Along the way, it makes a loop around the upper part of the mountain, passing several incredible viewpoints over Howe Sound and back towards Vancouver.

Boat sailing on a large body of water with forested islands and mountains in the background under a cloudy sky.

Explore the Trails Around Killarney Lake

The 4-kilometre hike around the perimeter of Killarney Lake is a great easy hike. You’ll enjoy beautiful forests, cross creeks on small bridges, and visit several different viewpoints along the shoreline. You can hike there directly from the ferry terminal, but this will add another 2.5 km each way.

Lake covered with green lily pads and some red flowers, surrounded by forest under a blue sky with clouds.

Hit the Beach

Bowen Island has 48 beaches and coastal access points to explore. Pebbly Beach is an easy 15-minute walk from the Snug Cove ferry terminal. Or check out Tunstall Bay on the west side of the island.