Gabriola Island has much to offer with its fantastic beaches, parks, ocean views and incredible sunsets. Located approximately 5 km east of Nanaimo, it's the northernmost island of the Southern Gulf Islands.
A 20-minute BC Ferry ride gets you from the Nanaimo Harbour to Gabriola (Descanso Bay). Depending on the season, ferries run almost every half-hour, from 5:45 a.m. until 11:00 p.m.
You can also arrive by float plane or your private boat.
Is Gabriola Island worth visiting?
Here are a few fun facts about Gabriola that will entice you to visit!
- Gabriola Island is 14.5 km (9 mi) long and 4.5 km (2.8 mi) wide.
- More than 200 artists and artisans reside and work on the Island, which is why Gabriola is also known as the Isle of the Arts.
- The natural and artificial reefs around Gabriola Island boast some of the best marine life diving on British Columbia's coast.
- The earliest archaeological record on Gabriola is a cave burial dating back to around 1500 BC.
- There are several locations on the Island where you can view petroglyphs. Although commonly believed to be thousands of years old, due to being carved in soft sandstone, they are almost impossible to date and eroding rapidly.
- Gabriola has more public beach access points than any other Gulf Island.
Getting Around
Exploring Gabriola is best by vehicle; however, many go over on their bikes. If you bring your bikes, please know the island has no sidewalks or bicycle lanes, so you must ride or walk single file. There are several very narrow roads, a few sections are in poor condition with uneven edges, and tons of deer! E-bikes are welcome and a common sight.
If you are a walk-on passenger, Gabriola does have a community bus service. GERTIE operates daily, except on Sundays and statutory holidays. Please read the rider information clearly before using this service.
Natural Wonders of Gabriola Island
The best part of Gabriola is the beaches and shoreline. You can kayak through beautiful bays, marvel at sandstone creations naturally carved by the wind and waves, search for wildlife and sea life, watch stunning sunsets, or swim in the salty ocean.
And speaking of beaches, Gabriola has more public beach access points than any other Gulf Island! Look for the yellow concrete blocks indicating ‘public access.' If walking trails are your thing, check out this great list created by GaLLT.
The following locations are a few of my favourite spots to visit while exploring Gabriola Island.
Descanso Bay Regional Park
Located only 1.5 km from the ferry terminal, the park is in an ideal location whether driving, walking or biking. This park offers three bays and a small boat launch area that allows one to explore and view the unique sandstone shoreline by kayak or boat. The bays are an incredible spot to watch the sunset over Nanaimo.
There are also 32 camping sites available to accommodate trucks and trailers, motorhomes and tents. The sites are forested, private, and several have ocean views.
Read about Descanso Bay in more detail.
Getting there: Once you leave the ferry terminal, turn left onto Taylor Bay Road and watch for the entrance sign to the Regional Park.
Malaspina Galleries
This is what put Gabriola Island on the map! Over centuries, these sandstone sculptures were naturally eroded and carved by wind, waves and frost, leaving a spectacular sight. You can walk under the “rock waves” when the tide is out for a perfect photo.
Getting there: From Taylor Bay Road, turn left onto Malaspina Drive and park at the very end. On foot, follow the trail until you reach the point. The galleries are found on the left side of that point.
Gabriola Sands Provincial Park
Due to this area having a beach on either side of the road, it is known locally as Twin Beaches. The beach on the left side of the road offers opportunities to explore unique sandstone formations, while the other provides soft white sand. The lovely sandy beach and shallow water make for excellent saltwater swimming, especially for little ones. The large grassy lawn provides a perfect spot to picnic or play group games.
Getting there: Just after Taylor Bay Road turns into Berry Point Road, turn left onto Ricardo Road.
Sandwell Provincial Park
With its long sandy beach and views of the Strait of Georgia, this area is a favourite destination for residents and visitors alike. A short 800-metre hike through the woods leads to the beach and a day-use picnic area. The final portion of the trail is quite steep and can be slippery, so proper footwear is needed. Once at the bottom, it's a beautiful spot to relax or take a refreshing dip in the ocean waters.
Facilities at this park include two picnic tables, pit toilets and an information shelter.
At low tide, visitors can walk down the beach to view a prehistoric petroglyph carved into the sandstone rocks east of the day-use area.
Getting there: Take North Road and turn left on Barrett Road, following park directional signs.
Drumbeg Provincial Park
Overlooking scenic Gabriola Passage, Drumbeg offers excellent views of the Strait of Georgia and the Coast Mountains on the mainland. The park contains a kilometre-long sand and pebble beach with unique sandstone rock formations, best seen at low tide. The area is popular for diving, hiking, nature viewing, sunbathing and picnicking.
Visitors should use caution when swimming in the ocean at this park, as riptides and currents can be dangerous. It is, however, a great place to sit and keep on the lookout for sea life.
There are approximately 2 km of easy, well-maintained walking/hiking trails that meander along the shoreline of this park and through Garry Oaks and open meadows.
Facilities at this day-use-only park include a grassy field, pit toilets, picnic tables, hiking trails and an information shelter.
Getting there: Take South Road to Stalker Road and follow signs to the park.
Food
Skol Pub is conveniently located near the Gabriola ferry terminal. We stopped there for takeout while waiting in line for a ferry. (Yes, the ferry can get extremely busy during the summer, and you may have a few sailing waits). There may also be a food truck near the terminal during the summer.
Just up the main road going through town (North Road), you can find several other great places, such as Mad Rona's Coffee Bar and Woodfire Restaurant.
Need a Place to Stay?
These are our favourite natural areas to explore while on Gabriola Island. What are yours? Let us know in the comments below.
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You didn’t mention that there is local bus service on the island . Some mention of restaurants would be helpful especially the food truck at Silva bay.
You are quite right! I will look into adding a few things. Thank you!
Would you say it is a good one to bike around for a recreational bike rider?
Hi Marilyn, I’m not a recreational bike rider, so I may be the wrong person to ask. I just did a quick search, and it’s a 40 km loop around the whole of Gabriola island. If you are interested, I have two island cycling books listed on our Vancouver Island Authors and Books article. They will most likely be able to provide you with a wealth of information.
I have to visit Gabriola Is. It is on my to do list. I love the picture of Malaspina Galleries Sandstone sculpture (The View) Can you tell me who the photographer/artist is and how to get in touch? Thank you
Hi Claudia, yes, you should visit Gabriola – it’s a beautiful place! As for the photo of Malaspina Galleries, that’s my own photo taken from when we were there a few years ago.