This BC island with a white shell beach has sandstone caves & lagoons

Galiano Island, British Columbia, is a short ferry ride from Vancouver, and has remarkable sandstone caves, beaches, and ancient forests to explore. Known as the ‘wildest’ Gulf Island, Galiano is home to a slew of provincial parks for visitors to explore. So pack your backpacks and get ready to go on a late-summer island adventure!

Located on the west side of the Strait of Georgia, the island consists of a series of picturesque sandstone caves at Retreat Cove, which visitors can check out via kayak, paddle board, or boat during their visit.

One of the many parks to journey to during your visit is Montague Harbour Marine Park, which sits on a scenic peninsula with rich tidal lagoons, forested trails, and a captivating shoreline.

According to BC Parks, the park starts five metres below sea level, climbing 180 metres to a steep, rocky precipice. Those travelling by boat can moor their boats in the sheltered Montague Harbour, or travel via ferry and camp in one of the vehicle-accessible or walk-in sites.

White shell beach

Gray Peninsula stands as a testament to the area’s history, first inhabited by First Nations peoples before the arrival of Spanish explorers in 1792.

Visitors can see remnants of “shell middens” revealing fossilized arrows, spearheads, and stone carvings dating back to more than 3,000 years ago – predated only by the ancient glaciers carving patterns into the rock’s ledge. All of this history and natural beauty sits at the park’s white shell beach!

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Elsewhere on the island, you’ll find adventure at the tide pools and rugged beaches of Dionisio Point Provincial Park the island’s oldest wilderness park – Bluffs Park – and atop Mount Galiano – the island’s highest point.

For those who want to embark on a scenic hike, head to Bodega Ridge, which overlooks many of the Gulf Islands’ hundreds of islands and islets and the Olympic Peninsula.

So there you have it, BC! The next time you’re up for a quick ferry ride, consider stopping at Galiano Island.

Galiano Island 

Where: Gulf Islands, BC