Plan Porteau Cove Park on Howe Sound with waterfront camping, scuba reefs and wrecks, kayaking, swimming, lookout trail, wildlife, rail safety, and marine rules.
Porteau Cove Park is on Howe Sound, 38 kilometres north of Vancouver on Highway 99 and 20 kilometres south of Squamish. BC Parks describes it as being on the most southerly fjord in North America.
The park is known for waterfront campsites, mountain views, scuba diving features, and active train tracks beside the boundary.
Why Visit Porteau Cove Park
Porteau Cove is a compact Sea to Sky campground for ocean camping, kayaking, swimming, scuba diving, wildlife viewing, and a short lookout walk. An old ship has been sunk offshore to interest scuba divers and attract marine life, and the diving area also includes man-made reefs and two sunken vessels in depths from about six to 18 metres.
An easy 300-metre walking trail climbs by rock and wooden steps to a lookout over Porteau Cove and Howe Sound. The rock and pebble beach is used for ocean swimming, while paddlers can explore the ocean area if they understand currents. Wildlife viewing can include marine waterfowl, harbour seals, harbour porpoises, river otters, mink, coyotes, and seasonal whale sightings.
Things To Do
Camp, swim without lifeguards, wear beach shoes on the rocky shore, kayak or canoe with current awareness, walk the lookout trail, join summer Discover Parks programs, watch wildlife, windsurf in Howe Sound, and scuba dive the reefs and wrecks.
Planning Notes
Cross the controlled train track carefully and obey signs. Howe Sound tide, wind, and weather can change suddenly. Anchoring is prohibited within the park boundary. Marine life harvesting or collection is prohibited in the foreshore. Scuba divers cannot use the boat launch, and vessel penetration is not recommended.