Bowen Island

Things to do on the rock

Bowen Island vacations begin with a scenic ride on a small ferry or water taxi across Howe Sound from Horseshoe Bay. Many people simply leave their car on the mainland and walk on. From the ferry one can see a wide panorama of mountains and islands. The ferry lands in Snug Cove (at right, second photo from top).

Snug Cove is the town centre of the island, featuring cafés, a quaint library, a general store, a pharmacy, two pubs, a toy and photography store, organic food store and several crafts shops. Just up the hill from the Cove is Artisan Square, which features a rich variety of stores offering flowers, fine chocolates, fashions and galleries.

From Snug, you can walk on forest paths to Killarney Lake (at right, bottom photo). For longer hikes you can continue from the lake and ascend Mount Gardner.

Bowen Island features a brand new golf course, a golf camp, kayaks for rental and a water taxi for travel to outlying islands. There are several beaches, including Tunstall Bay and Bowen Bay. Crafters cottages dot the island, giving an excellent reason to explore.

One of the best reasons to visit Bowen is the peace and quiet, which you can enjoy right outside your kitchen at Maureithly on Bowen.

For more information about Bowen Island, take a look at the Web site of the Bowen Island Chamber of Commerce.