Desolation Sound Marine Park
BC Parks Limited
Smelt Bay
BC Parks Vancouver Island · British Columbia
what to expect
Smelt Bay boasts 24 creatively placed campsites in a wonderful forest setting. Many of the sites are multi-level tiered sites, with privately located tent pads. A beautiful cook shelter is located in the middle of the campground for all park users to share. This park is ideal for tenters and also works well for small RV’s. Larger RV’s will fit in a few of the sites or can camp in the day-use overflow area. Located on the southern peninsula of Cortes Island, the 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 in 2 to 3 weeks. These small silver-green, sardine-sized fish draw a variety of other marine life to the area, including salmon, seals, sea lions, …
the basics
WaterFlush toiletsPet-friendlyAccessible
what to know
Updated each morning from provincial parks and Environment Canada.
No fire ban active
Last checked from the provincial fire-ban feed. Check at the gate before you light — conditions change.
Pet-friendly
Dogs are allowed on-leash. Pick up after them; some parks have leash-length rules at the trailheads.
what to bring
This list adapts to Smelt Bay. no showers means a travel towel;
common questions about Smelt Bay
- can dogs camp at Smelt Bay?
- Yes. Smelt Bay Provincial Park allows dogs on-leash according to operator policy. Confirm specific site-level restrictions with the operator at booking time.
- does Smelt Bay have electric hookups?
- No. Smelt Bay Provincial Park does not list electric hookups in its amenity profile. Plan for off-grid use.
- how far is Smelt Bay from Vancouver?
- Smelt Bay Provincial Park is 158 km from Vancouver. Use Google Maps for current drive times — they account for terrain, traffic, ferries, and closures we can't.
- do you need reservations at Smelt Bay?
- Yes. Smelt Bay Provincial Park is operated by BC Parks and uses an online reservation system. Book direct via the operator link on this page.
nearby places
Within ~100 km of Smelt Bay.
want to camp at Smelt Bay?
Cancellation alerts are coming. We’ll email when sites open up at this park.
One email. Unsubscribe anytime. We don’t share addresses. — [email protected]
Give back to this place
volunteer at BC Parks
Provincial parks rely on volunteer stewards for trail maintenance, beach clean-ups, and shoulder-season hosting. Most parks run programs through their park association.
See how to help →