On this short trip back to my home country, the plan is to visit the places that brought me the most joy while I lived here. I’ll be doing all of these with at least one of my adult children, my favourite people in the whole world. Today we explore a coastal area, that of beautiful Maple Bay Beach on Vancouver Island.
Getting There
Maple Bay Beach is located halfway up the Samsun narrows and across from Saltspring Island. A short 10-minute drive from Duncan on a single road will bring you to its shores. As one crests the hill towards Maple Bay, the deep blue Salish sea opens up before you. Take a left at the ‘T’ intersection and shortly there after find parking on the right-hand side. There is the government dock to park at, or a little further on, a public park.
The Tides
Before your planned visit, google search the tides for this beach. It will impact how much you can see and how far you will be able to walk along the shore. When the tide is high, walkers will be limited in both directions, to a short span on either side of the public dock.
At low tide, is when this beach shines. Turning left, one quite quickly reaches a set of gnarly boulders, perfect for a workout, hiking up and over these barnacle covered rocks. If you turn right at the dock, now you can explore and hike for almost 45 minutes at a good pace. Walk along the shale beaches, extensive oyster beds, past many points and smaller bays.
The Beach
Most visitors and locals will arrive and camp out on the immediate beachy area. The ground is a soft loose black shale, easy to walk on with bare feet. Swimmers will be in the water, in summer time, closer to where the park is and the water is clear. On the right side of the public dock, the water can get quite murky and the ground rough.
Should one want a more secluded spot to sunbathe, more peaceful and less crowded, walk to the right and go around the first point. There find the next little smooth beach area, perfect for a tranquil respite.
The water in this spot is usually crystal clear and has a relatively shallow entry point. What this translates to is that black shale has been absorbing the suns rays, and warming the water a little. Making entry into it, a wee bit easier.
Critters
One of my favourite reasons for coming to this beach, especially at low tide, is the number of fascinating things to see. No matter how many times I have walked and hiked here, I always revel in these beautiful little creatures. Seasonally the starfish will either be plentiful or not. Right now, there are hardly any to be seen, but at times, they are here in numbers. Beautiful deep purple and bright orange, they can get quite large!
Little crabs scurrying around the rocks are always fun to interact with. Sacs of octopus eggs are not uncommon, for these waters are home to the giant pacific octopus. Divers can often be seen in the water, exploring the depths of the kelp beds and all the secrets they hold.
Flora
Hiking up near the tree line, one can admire the gorgeous Arbutus trees, the only broad-leafed evergreen tree native to Canada. Their bark is incredible, constantly shedding sheets of paper in hues of green, chestnut and auburn.
Exploring in the late summer, be sure to keep an eye out for the plump and ripe blackberries. They take on a unique flavour, absorbing the salty sea air and brine all year long. Towering above are the pines, often filled with bird chatter, that of crows, ravens and even eagles.
Facilities
At Maple Bay Beach Park, find public toilets and changing rooms, grassy spaces and picnic tables above the beach area. Beside the public dock is the Rowing Club and Yacht Club.
An extensive marina can be found close by, serviced by float planes that will take visitors to Saltspring Island and even Vancouver. One single large establishment, the Lions Rampart Scottish Pub is situated just past the park and open to those over the age of 19. A gorgeous place to enjoy a crisp local brew while watching the world go by.
Visitors to Vancouver Island will enjoy all Maple Bay beach has to offer. Whether you have rented a kayak, arrived by boat, or stopped in by chance. This is a beautiful stretch of coastline to explore and experience. Summer time is when it shines, and it’s been an absolute pleasure to begin my short visit to Canada, right here.
