Plan Kitty Coleman Beach Park near Courtenay with oceanfront camping, rocky-beach swimming, boat launches, nature trails, creek habitat, angling, and wildlife.
Kitty Coleman Beach Park is six kilometres northwest of Courtenay on central Vancouver Island. BC Parks describes it as a popular Strait of Georgia destination for swimming, boating, fishing, and oceanfront camping.
Facilities include a picnic shelter, two boat launches, and several nature trails.
Why Visit Kitty Coleman Beach Park
Kitty Coleman Beach Park combines oceanfront camping with mature forest, shoreline, and creek habitat. The park protects Western hemlock, western red cedar, and Douglas fir in the upland forest, the estuary of Kitty Coleman Creek, and 900 metres of shoreline. BC Parks also notes a single old-growth Douglas fir in the eastern portion, estimated at more than 500 years old.
The activity mix is broad. Nature trails run through mature forest and alongside a stream, and visitors are asked to stay on trails and out of the creek bed to protect sensitive creek habitat. Swimming is available along the rocky beach, with no lifeguards. Canoes and kayaks can launch at the boat launch.
The waters are popular for salmon, rockfish, and shellfish, with provincial and federal regulations required. Wildlife viewing may include seals, sea lions, whales, Dall’s porpoises, seabirds, and bald eagles.
Things To Do
Plan around oceanfront camping, group camping, nature-trail walks, rocky-beach swimming, canoeing, kayaking, boating, regulated angling, shoreline wildlife viewing, creek-habitat awareness, and Strait of Georgia photography.
Planning Notes
Group camping is reserved through the park caretaker. Keep pets leashed and out of beach areas and park buildings, and follow fishing regulations before harvesting fish or shellfish.