Read Island Provincial Park is located on the southern tip of Read Island in the Discovery Islands, situated between Vancouver Island and the BC mainland. Read Island is part of the BC Marine Trail Association network, a series of campsites, resting areas and safe havens designed and cared for by recreational boaters and paddlers. Once connected, this marine trail will extend from Vancouver to Prince Rupert in British Columbia, and down into Puget Sound in Washington State.
The 639-hectare Read Island Provincial Park (625 hectares upland and 14 hectares foreshore) encompasses old-growth and second-growth forest, bog and fertile lowlands, and protects important high density Bald eagle habitat. This variety of habitat allows a wide array of wildlife to flourish, including river otters, seals and sea lions along the water’s edge, and black-tailed deer, weasels, mink, beaver, cougars and wolves in the uplands. Although cougars and wolves are there, they are seldom seen. The park is an excellent spot to see Bald eagles, who nest in the tall trees.
Wildlife and nature enthusiasts will enjoy a visit to Read Island, located off the east coast of Quadra Island. Visitors to the park will find plenty to do, including kayaking, wilderness camping, scuba diving, and swimming in the ocean or in fresh water at Rosen Lake. The area is a popular destination for paddlers, who come here to experience paddling in the sheltered waters and see a variety of wildlife. Paddlers should be cautious of the extreme tidal conditions in Surge Narrows to the north of Read Island.
There are no facilities available in the park, and there are no developed hiking trails or designated campsites, although random wilderness camping is allowed. There is no fee for camping in summer or winter. Bring your own drinking water, as potable water is not available in the park.
Read Island Provincial Park is located on the southern tip of Read Island, off the east coast of Quadra Island. Access to this remote and wilderness area is by boat and kayak only. The nearest boat launches are at Whaletown on Cortes Island, and on Quadra Island at Heriot Bay and Hoskyn Channel Landing (kayaks and rooftop boats only). The shoreline of Read Island is mostly steep and rocky, but there are a few locations for landing small boats and hauling kayaks out. Boaters can reference marine chart #3538 and #3539.
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