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DISCOVERY ISLAND MARINE PROVINCIAL PARK IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AS OF APRIL 1st.



In response to the ongoing presence of a wolf on Discovery Island, BC Parks has installed informational signage throughout the park along with 2 food caches in the campground area.



The purpose of these new facilities is to help ensure the well being of the animal and continued public safety for park visitors.



With the re-opening of the park there are some important regulatory changes visitors should be aware of:



    Pets (dogs, cats, etc ...) will no longer be allowed in the park. Pets are a strong attractant for wolves and their presence may lead to outcomes such as habituation of the wolf, injury or loss of life for the pet, and risks to public safety.

    The use of food caches for all foodstuffs and fragrant items while camping in the park is mandatory. Secure storage of foodstuffs and fragrant items will decrease the likelihood of the wolf becoming habituated to human presence.



BC Parks and the Conservation Officer Service will continue to monitor this situation closely. At this time the wolf appears healthy and is displaying characteristics consistent with that of a purely wild animal.

  xcellent kayaking opportunities make Discovery Island Marine Provincial Park a popular destination for visitors and local residents. The area is accessible from Victoria, where paddlers can launch from Cattle Point, just north of the Oak Bay Marina.



Kayakers paddling between Oak Bay and Discovery Island will be delighted by the wildlife along this route, which features a sensitive seabird nesting area and ecological reserve. Sightseeing of seals, sea lions, otters and Bald Eagles are common around the park. Paddlers should be aware that these waters can be treacherous, as strong currents and frequent winds create dangerous conditions, including rip tides. Crossings are best made at slack tide in calm weather.



Discovery Island is a popular kayaking and camping destination for school groups and kayak instruction groups, who have experienced guides on hand. The park features a large, open field, southwest of Pandora Hill, where campers can set up a tent. The only facilities provided are a pit toilet, shelter and picnic tables. Campfires are not allowed on Discovery Island.



A hiking trail runs from the lighthouse on Sea Bird Point to the western shore of the park, where hikers can hike up Pandora Hill for sweeping views of the Olympic Mountains and surrounding area. In the spring, a colorful array of wildflowers blooms in the woodlands and meadows.



Boaters should be aware that there is no safe anchorage and no moorage in the park - the closest safe harbor is in Oak Bay. Mariners should exercise extreme caution, as the main access to the park is via the rock and reef-strewn Rudlin Bay, which is exposed to the elements from the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Haro Strait.



The northern portion of Discovery Island, adjacent Chatham Island and some of the smaller islands nearby are First Nations Reserve lands. Please respect these areas. Several of the nearby islands are parts of the Oak Bay Island’s Ecological Reserve. These habitats are extremely sensitive to human disturbance and vulnerable to the introduction of non-native animal or plant species. Please do not enter into these areas.



Park Size: 61 hectares

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