Photo: BC Parks Smelt Bay Provincial Park
BC Parks inside Smelt Bay Parkwhat to expect
Located on the southern peninsula of Cortes Island, Smelt Bay Park is named for the capelin fish that spawn ashore by the tens of thousands. Females lay up to 65,000 eggs on the shore in late September and early October, which hatch within three weeks. These small, silver fish draw a variety of other marine life to the area. The park features a beautiful beach that extends from the south end of Smelt Bay around the shoreline to Sutil Point. It is a great place for marine exploration at low tide. The beach is backed by mounds which are believed to have been built by Coast Salish First Nations as a form of defense. This is the only provincial campground on remote Cortes Island. It offers 22 spacious campsites laid out in a delightful setting in the woods, overlooking Smelt Bay.
Description: BC Parks
the basics
The campsites
Things to do nearby
Within 5 km — trails, viewpoints, beaches, boat launches you can reach without packing up camp.
- Hague lake day use area
- Beach
- Mansons Landing
What's around
Smelt Bay Provincial Park plus 3 named places to see and do nearby — trails, beaches, viewpoints, water, and services.
Water + services
- Nearest dump station — Sanistation
- Nearest potable water
what to know
Updated each morning from provincial parks and Environment Canada.
what to bring
This list adapts to Smelt Bay Provincial Park. no showers means a travel towel;
If Smelt Bay Provincial Park is full
Other places to stay within 25 km.
- Mays Garden Glamping
- Gorge Harbour Marina Resort
- Sarah Point Campsite
- Sarah Point Campsite
- Sarah Point Hut
- North Copeland Campsite
- Middle Copeland Campsite
- Feather Cove Campsite
Plus 8 user-tagged dispersed sites on OpenStreetMap — often genuine wild-pitches; check access rights before relying on one.