2024: Bowen Island - Best Hiking Trails

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Snug Cove on Bowen Island offers good protection form blustery weather outside.  It is located in the mouth of  Howe Inlet, just north of Vancouver.  From False Creek it was a 12 mile run.  From our slip at Union Steamship Company Marina, we had a spectacular view
 of the mountains rimming Howe sound.  I'm sure the scenic nature of this area contributed to it's selection as a filming location for the TV series "Virgin River".

We docked on "A" dock near the marina office.  It was very convenient to the onshore attractions.  We particularly liked Tippy's Cookhouse and The Snug Cafe.



Adjacent to the marina is a nice collection of restaurants, shops, pubs, a distillery, and a grocery store.



We stayed at the Union Steamship Company Marina in Snug Cove



Snug Cove offers good protection from the prevailing winds



Our first day the clouds swirled around the mountain peaks that line Howe Inlet



The ferry from Horseshoe Cove make an early evening arrival in Snug Cove.



Hiking on Bowen Island



Hiking Trails near Snug Cove on Bowen Island.
The Killarney Lake Trail starts on the north side of the street across from the Union Steamship Company Marina and Store.  It was about 6 miles of excellent trails.



The Bowen Island Public Library is across the street from the marina.  




The trails are well maintained and the forest is lush and full of ferns, deciduous & fir trees, salmon berry bushes, and wildflowers.


We hiked through a meadow which was adored by the occasional Foxglove flower.



Killarney Lake had a swampy shoreline and we saw two beaver lodges and a dam on a small creek.  The Beaver first appeared on Bowen Island in the 1990's and it is thought that they migrated from the Fraser River watershed.  They have no trouble navigating distances in salt water



Killarney Lake was larger than we expected.
We also saw deer as we hiked along the creek.



The Killarney Lake trail was wide and easy to walk



At the North end of Killarney Lake boardwalks take the trail over swampy areas


Big Tides in Snug Cove


Bowen Island has some healthy tides.  Here the ramp from shore to the dock is almost level.



Six hours later the tide has dropped 16 feet and it is a steep ramp incline to get from the dock to shore.


Union Steamship Company Marina Boater Lounge


Located above the Marina office is a spectacular Boater's Lounge.
This room was very busy the night of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals.



The restrooms and showers are down the hallway in the distance.



The restrooms were very clean and nicely decorated.



We were reluctant to leave Snug Cove as there was much that we were unable to see during our two day visit.  We know that a return trip is in our future.  We look forward to hiking more of the extensive island trail network and also visiting more of the island's many attractions.  

Our next stop will be Gibsons, the setting for one of the most popular Canadian TV shows of the 70's & 80's, The Beachcombers.


References


Voyage Log




Location: Snug Cove, BC V0N 1G1, Canada

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