The initial parks component of the BC Government’s restart plan begins on May 14, 2020. It applies to “front- and back-country trails, beaches, picnic areas, washroom facilities and boat launches” throughout the Discovery Island Area. Provincial parks open for day use.
Cortes Island Area
All three Cortes Island parks have posted recent wolf sighting alerts and there was a cougar seen near Mansons Landing.
In addition, local biologist Sabina Leader Mense put the most interesting local alert in the Tideline:
“Sometime early April 2020, a black bear woke from hibernation on Cortes Island and wandered down from Green Mountain into Larsen’s Meadow, feeding on a bounty of spring food to appease a mighty appetite. While we have witnessed the increasing presence of black bears on Cortes during the fall months over the last few years, we have not been as aware of their possible year-round presence.”
She asks that Cortes residents access the Black Bear page at Wild Safe BC to learn more about our new neighbours.
Cortes Island
- Háthayim Marine Park [a.k.a. Von Donop Marine Park]
- Mansons Landing Provincial Park
- Smelt Bay Provincial Park
The Mainland
- Copeland Islands Marine Provincial Park
- Desolation Sound Marine Provincial Park
- Malaspina Provincial Park
- Okeover Arm Provincial Park
Mitlenatch Island
West Redonda Island
Quadra Island Area
Maurelle Island
Octopus Islands
Quadra Island
Read Island
Coming: June 1, 2020
“On June 1, BC Parks will re-open most provincial campgrounds and back-country camping.“
“To ensure physical distancing, you may notice some changes in campgrounds, including additional spacing between campsites and limitations on the number of guests in campgrounds.”
“Some communal facilities such as shower buildings will open with enhanced cleaning protocols, while campgrounds that require visitors to use shared cooking facilities and backcountry cabins will remain closed.”
“Parks that attract large crowds will remain closed until it is safe to reopen at a later date. Backcountry campgrounds in some parks with high day use will also remain closed.” – Re–Opening of BC Parks
Top photo credit: Surge Narrows by Meryl Huxham via Flickr (CC By SA, 2.0 License)