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Attention
Visitors - Important Notice!
- There
are no park alerts at this time.
Park
Info:
Big Bunsby Marine Provincial Park was established to
focus recreation use away from the adjacent Checleset
Bay Ecological Reserve, located on the west side of Gay
Passage. Accessible only by boat, this marine park offers
sheltered anchorages and excellent sea kayaking opportunities.
Big Bunsby, the largest of the Bunsby group of islands,
is also a good place for nature viewing—gray whales,
Bald eagles and the endangered sea otter all reside in
the area.
Low tides create
tide pools that offer great opportunities for visitors
to observe the local inter-tidal marine life.
Please look but do not touch when viewing this sensitive
environment.
Although there are no developed campsites at
this park, boaters and kayakers seeking a wilderness experience
will
find plenty
of places to set up camp on Big Bunsby.
Park
Size: 658 ha (269 ha upland, 389 ha foreshore)
Management
Planning:
Management
Planning Information
Location:
The park is situated on the west coast of northern Vancouver
Island, about 30 km southwest of Port Alice. Access is by
boat only. The most popular way to reach this park is via
Kyuquot Sound. The nearest boat launches are at Fair Harbour,
approximately 1 hour past Zeballos, and Artlish, approximately
1.5 hours past the Zeballos turnoff on Hwy 19. Boaters can
reference marine chart #3682 (Kyuquot Sound) and #3683 (Checleset
Bay) for more information on this area.
Map/Brochure:
Any maps listed are for
information only - they may not represent legal boundaries and should not be
used for navigation.
Nature
& Culture:
Cultural
Heritage
Wildlife
Visitor
Safety:
Visitor
Safety Information (park
safety, hazards, wildlife safety information, health risks)
Reservations:If
reservable campsites are available at this park, all vehicle
accessible campsites (with the exception of group sites)
must be reserved through Discover
Camping.
Explore
Parks: Fees, park listings, what
you should know before you go and other useful links.
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No
vehicle accessible camping facilities at this park.
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There
are no developed campsites at this time, however
visitors will be able to find user-created areas
to camp throughout the park. There is no fee for
wilderness camping. This park is accessible year
round; there is no fee for winter camping.
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There
are no
group campsites at this park.
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There
are no
day-use or picnic facilities at this park.
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There
are no wheelchair accessible facilities at this park.
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There is no drinking water available on Big Bunsby,
so be sure to bring enough for your needs.
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No
toilets. |
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No
showers.
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No
sani-station/dump facilities.
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While small
fires are allowed, we encourage visitors to conserve
the environment by minimizing the use of
fire and using stoves instead. If you do have a fire,
please utilize previously constructed fire rings and
use small pieces of wood that will burn completely.
If you can’t find a previously used site, try
to construct your fire rings below the high tide mark.
Never leave your fire unattended and practice Leave
No Trace camping ethics.
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BC
Parks do not have electrical hook-ups. |
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There
are no regularly scheduled interpretive programs at
this park.
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There
are no developed trails at this park.
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This
park does not have a playground.
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There
is no designated swimming area at Big Bunsby Provincial
Park. There are no lifeguards on duty at
provincial parks. Any
ocean swimming will be cold.
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World-class
kayaking and canoeing opportunities exist around
the Bunsby Islands in the Checleset Bay Area.
Brooks Peninsula Provincial Park is within a day’s
paddle of Big Bunsby. The sheltered waters around the
park make the area an excellent place to sea kayak
or canoe.
Sea otters, gray whales, sea lions, seals and marine
birds are common sights for kayakers paddling around
this unspoiled wilderness. Although the Bunsby Islands
are relatively sheltered, the access from Kyuquot to
the Islands is exposed to rough seas and extreme weather
conditions at times. Kayakers should be aware that
winds can pick up quickly in this area, as can rough
water, and should always practice caution. Kayakers
should always take the ebb and flow of tides into consideration
and be prepared for heavy fog at any time.
Most
kayakers launch from Fair Harbour, although the use
of water taxis is becoming more and more popular
as a method of quickly reaching the park. Water taxis
can be found in Kyuquot and Zeballos.
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There
is no boat launch in the park. The nearest boat launches
are at Fair Harbour and Artlish.
Boaters
should be aware of exposed and submerged rocks,
which make navigation a challenge in the Checleset
Bay area.
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Salt water fishing is extremely popular in this
marine park, particularly for salmon, although rock
fish and halibut can also be caught. All anglers should
check the current regulations issued by Fisheries and
Oceans Canada prior to fishing. Anyone fishing or angling
in British Columbia must
have an appropriate
licence.
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Cycling
is not permitted.
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No
horseback riding.
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Pets/domestic
animals must be on a leash at all times. You are responsible for their behaviour
and must dispose of their excrement. Backcountry areas are not suitable for dogs
or other pets due to wildlife issues and the potential for problems with bears
Backcountry areas are not suitable for dogs or
other pets due to wildlife issues and the potential
for problems with bears.
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No
wildlife viewing opportunities.
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No
winter recreation opportunities. |
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No
SCUBA diving or snorkelling opportunities. |
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No
windsurfing opportunities. |
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No
waterskiing opportunities. |
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No
hunting in the park. |
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No
climbing or rock climbing opportunities. |
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No
spelunking or caving opportunities. |
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No
cabins, yurts or lodges for public use. |
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