Pender Harbour : Garden Bay Marine Park
Sunshine Coast, British Columbia, Canada travel, tourism

Sunshine Coast parks, trails

Garden Bay Marine Provincial Park is a protected marine area with 200 metres of shoreline followed up by 163 hectare spread of forests and mountains. The park is easily found located north of the community of Madeira Park on the top end of Pender Harbour. The day use park area includes a secure marine boat area and a floating pier which is a popular draw for people wanting to do some boating, sightseeing, fishing or swimming.

Garden Bay Marine Provincial Park provides the right atmosphere for a day spent exploring the ocean waters of Pender Harbour venturing out to navigate the surrounding islands, islets and rocky coastlines. The park is close to many fuel docks, places to eat, retail shops and boating supply and repair shops

The Garden Bay Marine Provincial Park includes one of the best ocean and island mountain viewpoints in the Pender Harbour area. Mount Daniel Hiking Trail is an uphill climb covering 3-4 km (1.8 - 2.5 mi.) each way. The hike up the steep grade should take (1-2 hr ) to reach the peak. Views from this peak include lakes, mountains, islands, islets, communities and bays. Also Mount Daniel was said to be used by the Sechelt First Nation people long before the arrival of the Europeans as a look out and as a ceremonial ritual of puberty for maidens.

Access to Garden Bay Marine Provincial Park: Follow the Hwy101 past Sechelt, BC and Gibson continuing on north past Pender Harbour (5km (3.4 mi.) north of Madeira Park) turn left off Hwy 101 onto Garden Bay Road. Travel 3.5 km along this road. Turn onto the first dirt road on the left after Oyster Bay Road. For the trip up Mount Daniel stay left for about 200 metres look for trailhead sign which reads "Mount Daniel Trail. Take a Hike!". Here is where the hiking rituals begin.