Amy Marie visits: Sidney Spit

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Sidney Spit is a curving fine grained sand beach on the north end of Sidney Island.  It is maintained by Parks Canada and offers mooring balls, a dock and campsites on land.  The town of Sidney is two miles to the west.  This closeness to Sidney makes it a popular destination for a all watercraft.  It is enjoyed on both daytrips as well as overnight stays.  On summer weekends, a ferry provides access to the island.  We chose a mooring ball, $14/night, and dinghied to shore to hike the perimeter of the park.  We also saw many boats on anchor.  Anchoring is free but is discouraged to preserve the eel grass habitat on the sea floor.  Travelers must be self-contained as there is no water, pump-out, or power available.


The public dock at Sidney Spit



Amy Marie tie to a mooring ball with the sandy beach in the background
 

The views from our mooring were wonderful.  We watched a Norwegian Cruise ship transit the channel on the far side of the spit as it carried its load of passengers on to Alaska.  Seas were calm for our visit, but we were rocked by passing boat wakes.  If you have a deep draft boat, it would be best to approach the anchorage on a high tide as there are sand bars in the area.


The harbor as seen from the campground



We enjoyed the park trails



We enjoyed the transition to evening as the sun set to the west over Vancouver Island and the town of Sidney.  This far north, sunrise occurred at 5:11am and sunset was at 9:13pm.  Both morning and evening twilight are also extended due to the sun’s trajectory.

Sunset at Sidney Spit


Sidney Spit was a nice tranquil stop.  I would compare it to a nice road side rest area. If you are traveling by and need a place to relax and catch your breath prior to moving on, this would be a good choice.  It is not a "must see" location.  The beach is ideal for kids as it is gently sloping with nice sand.  We enjoyed our mid-week visit and realize summer weekends are certain to bring larger crowds and a higher level of activity. 


June 7-8, 2023

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