|
Hardy Island Marine Provincial Park consists of Musket Island and
Hardy Island in Jervis Inlet on the BC Sunshine Coast. The area is
popular with boaters for swimming, diving, fishing, canoeing and kayaking.
Wilderness camping is allowed, but there are no formalized campsites.
The park was
previously called the Musket Island Marine Provincial Park, but
as the anchorage is known as the Hardy Island Anchorage, the name
of the park was officially changed to Hardy Island Marine Provincial Park.
The 17-hectare
Hardy Island Marine Provincial Park provides a small protected anchorage
for boaters, but mariners should use caution when anchoring, as
there is a rocky bottom. For boaters from the BC Lower Mainland,
the park is conveniently situated as a good staging point midway
between Vancouver and Princess Louisa Marine
Provincial Park, and Vancouver to Desolation
Sound Marine Provincial Park, although the popular anchorage
can be fairly busy during the peak summer months.
Hardy Island
and Musket Island are only islands at high tide. A park bench located
on Hardy Island provides an excellent spot to sit and take in the
beautiful scenery of the area. The warm, clean and green waters
surrounding the area are reminiscent of a more tropical place. This
park is subject to southeast winds during the winter; use caution
when anchoring.
Musket Island
in Blind Bay is located just off the south shore of Hardy Island,
northwest of Fox Island. The undeveloped island is the epitome of
peace and tranquility, where wildlife like eagles and seals abound,
the warm water encourages swimming, and wilderness camping is permitted
for overnight campers. Visitors should be cautious of slippery rocks
and occasional large waves on the windward, western shore of Musket
Island.
Boaters approaching
Musket Island should enter Blind Bay from the west, via Malaspina
Channel near the entrance to Jervis Inlet, or from the north via
Jervis Inlet through Telescope Passage. Skippers should anchor with
care, over rock in depths of 30 to 50 feet.
There are no
developed trails on Hardy Island or Musket Island. Visitors should
bring their own drinking water, as potable water is not available
in the park.
Hardy Island
Marine Provincial Park is located in Jervis Inlet on British Columbia's
Sunshine Coast, between the Sechelt Peninsula and Malaspina Peninsula.
The park can be approached from either Malaspina Strait or Jervis
Inlet via Telescope Passage. Closest access to the park is from
Saltery Bay across Jervis Inlet.
|