Resources: BC Parks Camping // Parks Canada Camping // Discover Parks // Summer Bike Bus
Nearly every TransLink bus will have two bike racks. West Coast Express allows two bikes per car. On SkyTrain: Canada Line limits one bike per car; Millennium Line and Expo Line allow two bikes per car, but not during rush hours (weekdays westbound 07:00-09:00, eastbound 16:00-18:00). SeaBus has a limit of 6 bikes during rush hours (07:00-09:30 & 15:00-18:30). The Summer Bike Bus fits 10 bikes.
#TODO: research bikes & transit on the island, Sแธตwxฬฑwรบ7mesh and Whistler.
๐๐ oTENTik (May 15 to Sept 15) Reserve
The tent has heating and outlets, includes a mini fridge and even an electric kettle. The fort has flush toilets and WiFi but no showers. There are barbecue stoves in a shared area and each cabin has a propane stove. Alcohol permitted after 5 pm within camping area. The ~150 CAD fee hits hard, though each cabin fits 6 people.
Routes to the Islands:
Round trip from Tsawwassen (Swartz Bay, Otter Bay, Village Bay, Lyall Harbour) with bicycles costs about $20 per person. Bike Bus usually runs July through August, double check exact dates.
โบ๐ฒ frontcountry primitive campsites (May 15 to Sept 30) Reserve
The most accessible campground is SMONEฤTEN. It's just 3 km away from Swartz Bay and has easy access to the Lochside Cycling Trail (Swartz Bay to Downtown Victoria). The campground is primitive (pit toilets, no electricity, no showers). No campsite escapes from ferry and airplane noises during the day and most campsites campsites are too close to the highway (road noise). Panorama Recreation Center is relatively close (~8 km), offering showers for 2 CAD.
Prior Centennial is a smaller campground, not as close to an airport or harbour so less noisy than SMONEฤTEN, but still pretty close to a local road and a lodge. It's a primitive campground (pit toilets, no electricity, no showers), but the lodge nearby has restaurant and looks quite fancy.
The most reserved campground is Sidney Spit. Also primitive (pit toilets, no electricity, no showers), and there's no potable water available on the island. It's not accessible by car so it tends to be easier to book, though it's necessary to time the Sidney Ferry (book round-trip!) and Parks Canada does not allow bikes on Sidney Spit, the ferry won't take them. There is no garbage bin on the island so you have to take your trash back with you, along a 1 km walk to the ferry harbour. Despite all challenges, it's a stunning place and the whole island can be explored.
๐๏ธ backcountry campsites (all year round) Reserve
Between Narvaez Bay and Shingle Bay, the former is more bike friendly (short trail to get there and has bike racks) and the latter is more car accessible (only a short walk from the parking lot). All campgrounds are primitive (pit/compost toilets, no electricity, no showers) and have no potable water.
๐ oTENTik available ๐ซ closed in 2024 for restorations Reserve
โบ frontcountry campsites available (May 15 to Sept 30) Reserve
๐ oTENTik available at Green Point (May through October)
๐ Discovery Pass Applies
Mainland
Island
Routes to Swartz Bay:
Round trip BC Ferries tickets for this route with bicycles costs about $20 per person. Bike Bus usually runs July through August, double check exact dates.
Another campsite in Pender Island.
Changelog: