Galiano Island
Montague Harbour Provincial Park
POPULATION: 1,100
FERRY TERMINAL: Sturdies Bay TOURIST INFO: 2590 Sturdies Bay Road; 539-2233.
ATM MACHINES: Galiano Garage, Corner Store and Hummingbird Pub
For people taking the Gulf Islands ferry from Tsawwassen, Galiano Island is the first stop on the trip and only 50 minutes away from the Lower Mainland. It's been described as 22 square miles of rainforest ambience, and it's almost the same size as Manhattan Island in New York.
But while Manhattan has a population of over one million permanent residents, Galiano has just over a thousand. This thickly forested splendour is sparsely populated because its inhabitants' supply of fresh water depends largely on an average rainfall of less than 711 millimetres (28 inches) per year. Most houses and cabins are tucked away deep in the woods using deep wells and rainstorage tanks for water supply.
The main arrival points are at the southern end of the island, either at Sturdies Bay dock via B.C. Ferries, or Montague Harbour for private vessels. Sturdies Bay is the commercial centre of the island, where visitors can pick up all kinds of provisions.
Galiano welcomes golfers, campers, kayakers, hikers, horseback riders, fishermen and others who appreciate outdoor adventures or of solitude. Seekers of cultural activities will find a treasure of seasonal entertainment such as theatre shows in the Galiano Community Hall and gratis pop-culture films at the Gulf Islands Film and Television School.
Accommodation options run the gamut from B&Bs to cabins to fine inns and retreats. Like all Gulf Islands, Galiano is home to numerous artists, musicians and writers. Several welcome visitors as part of the Galiano Studio Tour organized by the Trincomali Arts Council.
Galiano Island hosts several popular community events each year, including a wine festival, July 1 North Galiano Jamboree and the annual Lions Club's Fiesta.
Galiano Island hikes
Galiano Island has a number of special places for eager hikers to explore.
- Four kilometres away from Sturdies Bay is a lush undergrowth rainforest overlooking Active Pass. This 130 hectares (321 acres) of land called Bluffs Park is host to moss-covered Douglas fir groves, red cedars and Garry oak habitat. Bear left to the Bluffs viewpoint for a 180-degree picturesque view of Active Pass at 180 metres (590 feet) high, where the lucid blue sky blankets the mountainous curves of the Olympic Peninsula.
- The Mount Galiano hiking trail is an agreeable, get-your-heart-throbbing, 50-minute hike, that brings people to a 341-metre (1,120-foot)-high lookout at the highest point of the island, rewarding them with views of the San Juan Islands, Mount Baker, the other Gulf Islands and Vancouver Island.
- Bodega Ridge Park also offers a dramatic Gulf Islands panorama up to its 292-metre (957-foot) peak located 19.7 km (12.2 miles) from Sturdies Bay, or approximately 25 minutes by vehicle. The entrance to Bodega Ridge Park is found at the end of Cottage Way. A host of salal welcomes people at the start of the hiking trail. Douglas firs, red cedars and sensuous arbutus trees accompany the 30-minute hike until a narrow ridge full of manzanitas is reached. The panorama across Trincomali Channel cuddles most of the Gulf Islands' 225 islands and islets.
- Popular drive-through viewpoints include Bluffs Park viewpoint, Montague Harbour, Montague Marina, Lover's Leap, Vineyard Way and Bodega Beach Drive.
- Montague Harbour Marine Park was the first provincial marine park established in B.C. and it's become a popular camping destination. The 97-hectare (240-acre) park offers both drive-in and walk-in camping areas overlooking the lagoon and Montague Harbour. At the northwest edge of Gray Peninsula, discover the rock ledge that was carved into rippling patterns by ancient glacial movement. A Montague Harbour sunset is the perfect way to conclude the day. Camping reservations are recommended. Phone: 1-800-689-9025, 250-539-2115 or use B.C.'s online provincial campground reservation service at www.discovercamping.ca.