We are back at Bowen Island but this time around I was with friends travelling in a car. Unlike my day trip to Bowen where I only stayed in the snug cove area,this trip we went father than that. Travelling with a car always gives more freedom to explore places in such a short period of time. In this trip, we were able to visit the Artisan Vilage Square and had lunch at Artisan Eats Cafe and an ice cream at Cocoa West.
We also did 3 short and easy hikes, the first one being this Wild Coast Nature Reserve. This was not part of the plan. We ended up here when we were looking for the lighthouse trail. Since we were already in teh area, we decided to explore the place to see what they have here. This reserve was quite new and was only made a reality after the purchase of the 32 acres land last December 2020. Read their story HERE.
How to buy ferry ticket
To get to Bowen Island, you will need to take a 20 minutes ferry ride and would costs 11.70CAD round trip. You can buy the ticket at the Horshoe Bay Ferry Terminal. Unlike other busier BC route where you can buy the ticket online, this one is an exception. Because this is a short and less busy route, tickets are sold onsite. It is a short cheap ferry ride which makes Bowen Island a great day trip get away. Have a look at this video here to get an idea how to get to the Horshoe Bay Ferry Terminal and what the ferry ride looks like.
What is there to see and do?
Bowen is a small island but there’s more than enough activity that you can do for the whole day. If you plan to do more hiking and exploration of the place, I suggest doing an overnight trip so as not to rush the trip.
Aside from hiking, you can do kayaking, biking, walking in the park and promenade, snacks and meals in the cafes and restaurants and shopping in the quaint shops in the island. This is definitely a more quiet island as compared to other Vancouver island, like Victoria.
How long do you need to allocate for the visit?
Probably just for this hike, 30 -45 minutes depending on how much area you want to cover. We did not go far and only stopped at the 3 look our points close to each other. This hiking trail is not as busy and known to most people. We stumbled in this place while looking for the lighthouse trail which we eventually found later on.
How to get there?
As I mentioned earlier, you will need to take a ferry ride. BC ferries operate a route to take you to Bowen. Have a look at this video to get an idea how to get to Bowen Island.
From Ferry Termnal to Wild Coast Nature Refuge
Once you are at Bowen Island, you would need a car to be able to go to this area. I saw a bus stop along the way but even with a bus you will still need to walk a lot just to get to the starting point. This is definitely something that you should only consider if you have your own transportation while in the Island. Consider it an add on to other activities that you can do. I suggest if you are doing this, do this along with the lighthouse and sea walk trail.
Where is the Wild Coast Nature Refuge Located?
Right there! The exact location of Nature Refuge is shown on the map below. You can also see the Lighthouse in the map.
Highlights of the Visit
Even if it is just a day trip, I suggest coming early on a Summer day. End of Summer, around September are better are the weather is cooler but still sunny. This makes walking around and exploring the place more enjoyable. Although these 2 hikes are inside a forest, there are some areas that are open. July to September are great time, but I prefer the month of September. You can still get lucky and have a nice day on October but the chances of rain as more as Fall is starting.
The Wild Coast Nature Refuge is a huge area but not as popular for visitors to explore. That is because you will need a car to be able to go to this area easily.
We ended up to this place by accident when we were looking for the lighthouse and sea walk trail. Since we were already there, we decided to explore the area to see what’s in there.
There are hiking trails in this area that leads to 3 view points. The 3 view points are not that far from each other and they all offer stunning view of water and mountain. The path is not paved, a lot of sharp rocks and big tree roots on the ground. It really looks like not a lot of people visit this place.
In the map, you can see the 3 look out point which are not that far from each other. There are trail that are quite easy and there are rough trail. We stayed in the eay trail for an easy hike. This is a very short hike but the path are not quite paved, so be careful.
Look Out Point 1
This is the first look out. Nice view of the water and Vancouver.
Lookout Point 2
Look out point 2 is just few minutes away from lookout 1. This just give a different angle but you will be seeing a similar water view.
Lookout Point 3
Lookout point 3 is my favorite among the 3. You can go down a bit more to be on the top of the slope. Be careful though as the way downhill is a bit rocky, but it is a very short walk.
Nearby Trails
If you are still up for exploring, there are trails by the area. We only did the light house and the sea walk trail and it was really a nice easy hike.
Source: bowenislandconservancy.org
Tips for the Trip
- Plan Ahead – Weather you are driving or walking when you get to Bowen, it is always good to plan ahead. Weekdays are better time to visit as it is not as busy, but if weekend is all you have alloted then that is good as well. Bowen Island is not as busy as other Vancouver Island which makes it a great option for a quite and more relax get away.
- Check the weather– Always check the weather before you go especially if you are visitng early Spring or Fall. Here in BC, we get more rain during Fall so just be prepared, it won’t hurt to bring an umbrella or poncho with you.
- Wear proper clothes for the weather: Whatever season you visit, dress for that season. Summer could be hot, do not forget to bring sunscreen or wear a head covering. Early Spring could still be cold and wet, same with Fall. Bring your cold and rain gears with you. Lastly, Winter is definitely going to be cold, mitten, toque and warm jacket are advisable. I personally recommend visitng Bowen during Summer for better experience.
- Bring Snacks – There are quite a few places to eat in the island but when you do the hikes, there are no food or drinks places inside or even close to the trail. I highly recommend to bring drink or light snac with you just in case you get hungry while doing the hike.
- Come in Early – Bowen Island is a small p lace, but if you are only doing a day trip it is a good idea to take the earlier ferry. This will give you enough time to check the island and stop for a meal or snack.
Other Easy Hiking Trails
Looking for other easy hiking trail? Check out those two videos. Dormant Point and Kilarney Lake Loop are the 2 most common hiking trail in Bowen. The great thing about these trails, you don’t need a car to access them. They’re both close to the ferry terminal by the snug cove.
Kilarney Lake Loop Trail
Bowen Island Videos:
- A Ferry ride from Vancouver to Bowen Island
- Easy 45 mins Hike to Dormat Point
- Good hike close to the ferry terminal – Kilarney Lake Loop Trail
- Quick stop for snack at Tell Your Friends Cafe
- A lovely promenade to relax at Lady Alexandra Promenade
- The BEST brunch place, The Artisan Eats Cafe
- A stroll at the Artisan Village Square
- A short hike away from the crowd at Wild Coast Nature Conservatory
- Cannot miss the Lighthouse at Cape Roger Curtis
- No effort hike at Sea Walk
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