Bowen Island is a popular vacation home location for British Columbians and serves as a great escape from the city life for Vancouver’s lower mainland.
Known as a haven for rest and relaxation away from the city, Bowen Island is just 12 kilometres long and 6 kilometres wide.
Bowen Island has a surprisingly wide range of activities to enjoy; outdoors there are nature hikes and walks, road and mountain biking, kayaking, swimming and beachcombing, picnics, golf, even horseback riding and scuba diving – a destination for all types of travellers.
We gathered a list of things to do on Bowen Island including where to grab a bite to secret hiking trails on Bowen Island that may include finding a mastodon in the middle of the forest.
How to get to Bowen Island
Bowen Island is an idyllic destination in the middle of Howe Sound, just a short trip over from West Vancouver.
BC Ferries
The Queen of Capilano, the Bowen Island ferry, leaves Horseshoe Bay every hour or so, earliest departure at 5:50 am and latest at 10:00 pm. The ferry ride crossing the channel is only 20 minutes, enjoy the views of Howe Sound and watch for marine and birdlife!
Water Taxi
The Cormorant Water Taxi provides both scheduled and charter service throughout the area, they operate year-round with a capacity of 1-100 passengers from Vancouver, for more information, check them out here.
Getting to Horseshoe Bay
We recommend leaving your car behind for this trip if you can. There is limited parking in Horseshoe Bay and tends to fill up quickly on weekends and during the summer. Not to mention, you’ll be saving yourself car fare when bringing it on the ferry!
Taking public transit to Horseshoe Bay is relatively simple and fuss-free. The West Vancouver Blue Bus numbers 250 Horseshoe Bay and 257 Horseshoe Bay Express provide regular daily service between Downtown Vancouver and Horseshoe Bay.
Things to do on Bowen Island
As we mentioned earlier, Bowen Island may be small but packed with lots of activities for locals and tourists. So when planning your Bowen Island day trip, here are some activities to consider for your next visit.
Take a Scenic Cycle on a Bowen eBike
Rent an electric bike from Snug Cove ahead of time or in person at their store. This is a great alternative if you don’t want to take your car around town and worry about parking. These bikes are great for exploring the hilly Bowen Island and an electric-assisted bike is capable of making the most of your visit. You’ll be able to cycle to lots of remote viewpoints, hiking trails, remote beaches, visit artists and farmsteads around the island and so many other places.
Artisan Square
In the mood to do a little shopping? Artisan Square is located just 10-15 minutes uphill from the ferries (did we mention that Bowen is a hilly place?). Artisan Square is the place to be if you’re in the market for some handcrafted souvenirs, hand-crafted chocolates, eco-friendly soaps, fine cashmere, and other artisanally made goods.
Kayaking – Bowen Island Sea Kayaking
Take your explorations off the land and on to the sea! Sea kayaking is another popular activity for those wanting to explore the natural wonderland that is Bowen Island.
Bowen Island Sea Kayaking offers kayak and paddleboard rentals, tours, and lessons for anyone wishing to explore the inlets, islands, beaches around Bowen Island. Tours are recommended as guides are trained in safety and well-versed in island history. While navigating the shoreline, you’ll be able to take a deep dive into the geological forces that created the Howe Sound, the Union Steamship era, the First Nation’s impact on Bowen Island history, industrialization and the rebirth of the region’s marine ecosystem.
Hiking Trails on Bowen Island
If you planning on a day trip of outdoor activities, the hiking trails on Bowen Island are close in proximity and are easily accessible from the ferry terminal. There are 3 hiking trails on Bowen Island – well… possibly 4, if you count the secret trail to the mastodon…more on that in just a bit.
Dorman Point
Located within Crippen Regional Park, the trail to Dorman Point is one of the 2 easier hiking trails on Bowen island consisting of only 1 hour and an elevation gain of 105 meters. At the top, you’ll be rewarded with a view of the cove, if you walk down the trail to your right when you reach the top, you’ll be able to access a better viewpoint unobstructed by trees. Dorman Point trail is a short one and best if you pair this with another hike like Killarney Lake or a longer hike up Mount Gardner.
Killarney Lake
Killarney Lake is one of the easier hiking trails on Bowen Island. The scenic hiking trail that wraps around Killarney Lake offers the perfect reason to make a day trip out to peaceful Bowen Island. The Killarney Lake trail is an easy 2-hour hike with very minimal elevation gain.
The scenic trail around Killarney Lake is worth doing as scenery changes with every turn. Make sure to pack some snacks, there are plenty of great picnic opportunities as you wander this trail!
Mount Gardner
For the intermediate hikers, Mount Gardner is essentially Bowen’s Everest. Except, not nearly as tall.
With an elevation of 719 meters, the challenging hike culminates with panoramic views – Vancouver to the south, Sunshine Coast to the north and Vancouver Island to the West. There are different trailheads and a variety of different routes you can take to the north of the summit.
Secret Bowen Island Mastodon
Feeling a little adventurous?
Artist Guthrie Gloag created a sculpture of a mastodon made out of driftwood at a secret location on Bowen Island. The sculpture, titled “The Mastodon Project“, was created to mimic the mastodons that have been extinct ten to twelve thousand years ago, likely because of human pressures. Gloag, who was trained as a biologist, asks the public to “mourn” the mastodon and reflect on the animals living today that could be lost due to human impacts.
We can’t tell you the exact location of this sculpture because that would just take away the fun. But do know that this hike is on the intermediate side.
A Well Deserved Treat
Need a break to refuel from crushing the near by hiking trails? Check out some of these places for a bite.
Doc Morgan’s
On our way to Dorman Point hiking trail, we walked by Doc Morgan’s and admired the patio loungers sipping on their cold pints of beer. We decided that this was the spot to go after our quick hike to the top.
Doc Morgan’s is a gastropub serving pub classics like burgers and fries, fish and chips, and various types of share plates to choose from. Not to mention that the patio is the place to be during the summer months.
The upstairs and downstairs patio have views of the shore and nearby fun and games at the Doc Morgan’s lawn.
Branch on Bowen
After enjoying a few cold beers at Doc Morgan’s, head on over to Branch on Bowen for some ice cream before boarding the ferry back to Vancouver.
Branch on Bowen is an ice cream parlour, taco shack and boutique gift shop on Bowen Island’s marina Pier. Didn’t have enough time at Artisan Square for souvenirs and shopping? No problem, Branch on Bowen sort of has it all to end your visit, whether you’re seeking a well-deserved ice cream or want to pick up an artisanally hand-crafted gift minutes before boarding your ferry back to the lower mainland.
Looking for more travel ideas in British Columbia? Check out our list of 8 interesting things to do in and around Vancouver for more inspiration!
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