Descanso Bay is a scenic location on Gabriola Island. It is known for its natural beauty and outdoor recreational opportunities.
Access: You can reach Descanso Bay by ferry from Nanaimo on Vancouver Island. The bay is accessible by road once you arrive on Gabriola Island.
Located only 1.5 km from the ferry terminal and 2 km from the village centre, the park is in an ideal location whether driving, walking or biking on the ferry.
Overview of Park Features
- Natural Beauty: Descanso Bay is known for its natural beauty, with stunning coastal scenery, including rocky shores, driftwood-strewn beaches, and lush forests.
- Beach: The bay features a sandy beach area popular for beachcombing, picnicking, and sunbathing. It's a tranquil spot to relax and enjoy the coastal ambiance.
- Recreation: Descanso Bay and its surroundings offer opportunities for outdoor activities such as kayaking, paddleboarding, and swimming during the warmer months. The calm waters make it a suitable spot for water-based adventures.
- Wildlife: The bay and the island are home to various wildlife species. Birdwatchers may spot eagles, herons, and other coastal birds. Seals are also known to frequent the waters in this area.
- Camping: Camping facilities are nearby for those who want to experience the island's natural beauty overnight.
- Sunsets: The bay is known for its spectacular sunsets, making it a popular spot for photographers and anyone who appreciates breathtaking evening views over the water.
Within the park, there are three bays, as well as a small boat launch area, allowing you to explore and view the unique sandstone shoreline by kayak or boat.
Camping at Descanso Bay
Head to Descanso Bay Regional Park on Gabriola Island for rustic camping in a beautiful setting.
The park has 32 camping sites and can accommodate trucks, trailers, motorhomes, and tents. All the sites are forested and quite private, and several have ocean views!
Campground Amenities
- No services provided
- The park has standard pit toilets
- There are no public showers in the park
- Potable water is available; however, it should not be used for filling up your RV or trailer as there is a water shortage on the island.
- There is no sani dump on the island. If you bring over a camper or RV, arriving at the campground with an empty tank is advised.
Wild Animals: Gabriola has no large predators (bears or cougars). However, there are plenty of birds, mice and other small animals. So food should be stored in sealed containers.
The rocky shoreline provides great hiding places for sea stars and other creatures.
Conservation: Park flora and fauna are protected. Please leave the trees, plants, flowers, seaweed, shells, and all sea life (starfish, crabs, etc.) where you find them.
Park Trails
The Regional Park is adjacent to the 113-acre Cox Community Park, which offers a network of trails through a well-established forest setting. Also nearby are the famous Malaspina Galleries (2.1 km from the campground).
Current Rates
Camping at Descanso Bay is extremely reasonable. For current rates, please head to the RDN website.
The high season is from April 1 to October 15. Within that period, it's highly recommended that you make a reservation.
Descanso Bay Regional Park is a wonderful place to camp. Our children spent hours playing on the beach within view of our campsite. The large sandstone creations in the bay became animals of all sorts, great hiding spots, castles and forts. And, of course, then there's always the endless hunt to spot sea treasures.
If you want a true getaway, that's only a hop, skip, and puddle jump away from Vancouver Island, I highly recommend Descanso Bay on Gabriola!
Have you been? Tell us all about it in the comments below.
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