Electoral Area B – Cortes Island Parks

Area B Recreation Opportunities

Cortes Island is a magical place where residents and visitors enjoy a spectacular selection of marine, lake and forest parks and trails. Cortes Island parks users can experience being enveloped in dense forests highlighted by old growth cedars, or exposed in expansive marine areas. Recreational opportunities include superb hiking, mountain biking, swimming, and kayaking. Find out more about the many outdoor recreational activities available here:

Blind Creek Boat Launch

Location:	Cortes Island (Area B) Cortes Bay Road
Category:	Public boat launch
Amenities:	Boat ramp, waterfront
History:	In 1989, when the site of an unauthorized boat ramp was included in a License of Occupation for a logsort facility, local residents expressed a need for a public boat launch on Cortes Island. This became a reality when the then CSRD was granted a license.
Natural Features:	The license area encompasses a productive clam bed (south of the ramp location).
Links:	Map

Carrington Bay Park

Location:	Cortes Island (Area B) Carrington Bay
Category:	Nature Park
Amenities:	Trail, day use area
History:	In 2005, the regional district obtained a License of Occupation over the Crown Land that makes up Carrington Bay Park. Historically an informal trail network existed.
Natural Features:	Tidal lagoon, shoreline, riparian areas and streams, second growth forest, sensitive bluff ecosystems

Cortes Skate Park

Location:	Cortes Island (Area B) Manson’s Landing
Category:	Skate Park
Amenities:	Skate park, fenced basketball court
Links:	Map

Hank’s Beach Forest Conservation Park

Location:	Cortes Island (Area B) Batholomew Road
Category:	Nature Park
Amenities:	Trails, waterfront, beach
Natural Features:	The park is ecologically significant in that its inland and coastal bluffs form important habitat and a wildlife corridor for many species including black-tailed deer, grey wolf and cougar. The property contains an active great blue heron rookery and several sensitive ecosystems where rare species and plant communities are also represented.
History:	Hanks Beach Forest Conservation Park was gifted to the SRD in 2011. The Park is held under a conservation covenant that protects the natural features of the park in perpetuity.

Hayes Park

Location:	Cortes Island (Area B) Hayes Road
Category:	Beach Access
Amenities:	Trail to beach
History:	In 2007, the regional district obtained a permit over the road right-of-way to provide public beach access at the end of Hayes Road. Historically an informal trail existed.
Natural Features:	Sandy/rocky beach

Gnat Park

Location:	Cortes Island (Area B) Gnat Road
Category:	Beach Access
Natural Features:	Second growth forest, rocky beach
History:	In 2007, the regional district obtained a permit over the road right-of-way to provide public beach access at the end of Gnat Road. Historically an informal trail existed.

Kw’as Park

Location:	Cortes Island, (Area B) Between Hague and Gunflink Lake
Category:	Park
Amenities:	Trails, foot bridges, viewpoints
History:	Kw’as Park is a 250ha park with numerous interconnecting trails. A remnant steam donkey used to log the area in the early 1900’s can still be found in the park. The SRD has been managing this area as a park since the late 1990’s.
Natural Features:	Small patches of old growth and veteran trees remain in the park along with sensitive bluff ecosystems. The Park is located along the shores of Hague Lake and Gunflint Lake which contain a population of cutthroat trout.
Links:	Map, Park Guide

Moon Park

Location:	Cortes Island (Area B) Moon Road
Category:	Beach Access
Natural Features	Second growth forest, sandy beach
History:	In 2007, the regional district obtained a permit over the road right-of-way to provide public beach access at the end of Moon Road. Historically an informal trail existed.

Seascape Park

Location:	Cortes Island (Area B) Seascape Road
Category:	Beach Access
Amenities:	Trail to beach
History:	In 2007, the regional district obtained a permit over the road right-of-way to provide public beach access at the end of Seascape Road. Historically an informal trail existed.
Natural Features:	Second growth forest, rocky beach

Siskin Forest Park

Location:	Cortes Island (Area B) Cemetery Road
Category:	Nature Park
Natural Features:	Second growth forest, wetland
History:	In 2006, the park was dedicated to the regional district during subdivision of the surrounding neighbourhood. The park in held under a conservation covenant, protecting the natural features of the park. The parks trails, including Siskin Forest trails, link various local roads in the neighbourhood.

Siskin Forest Trails

Location:	Cortes Island (Area B) Siskin Lane
Category:	Nature trails
History:	In 2006, the trails were obtained by the regional district during subdivision of the surrounding neighbourhood. The trails are held under a statutory-right-of-way. The trail network is comprised of nearly 4 kilometres of trails that link various roads in the neighbourhood.
Natural Features:	Second growth forest

Whaletown Commons

Location:	Cortes Island (Area B) Whaletown Community
Category:	Community Park
Amenities:	Park Space, Trails
History:	For more than 20 years, Regional District Board of Directors and Cortes Island residents have worked to protect this 70-acre green space and its unique elements. In 2014 the Regional District purchased the property and it now serves the community as a designated park space.
Natural Features:	Riparian area and salmon bearing stream, second growth forest, veteran trees, wildlife corridor.

Whale’s Rest

Location:	Cortes Island (Area B) Harbour Rd, Byers Point Rd.
Category:	Community Park, Beach Access
Natural Features:	Sandy/rocky beach
Amenities:	Trails to beach, picnic tables
History:	In 2014, the regional district obtained a permit over the road right-of-way to provide public beach access, trails and picnic benches near the Whaletown Ferry Terminal, between Byers Point Rd and Harbour Rd.