Porteau Cove Provincial Park Visit

Trip 002 - June 29, 2009 (Monday)

Porteau Cove Provincial Park Visit

(Near Squamish BC)

Distance from Vancouver: About 40-45 km on Highway 1 West, and then on Highway 99 Sea-to-Sky.

Liked: Views, relatively few people on a weekday.

Of note: Very strong wind, Highway 99 nearby, CN rail line nearby, bears (apparently) in the area, can't stay overnight in a day use area, campground was full.

Vancouver, Coast & Mountains Backroad Mapbook (2010 edition) Coordinates: Page 11 (North Vancouver) B3.

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Having taken Highway 99 (Sea-to-Sky) from West Vancouver, we arrived to Porteau Cove Provincial Park at around 3 PM. The park has nice views of water and mountains, a day parking lot, where overnight parking is prohibited, and a campground, where overnight parking is welcome for a fee. Note that there is definitely enforcement in place to ensure no overnight parking on the day lot. The wind was quite strong, and an information plaque advised that it is a common occurrence due to the shape of Howe Sound, on which shore Porteau Cove Provincial Park is located.

The wind was so strong that my vehicle door hit me in the head pretty good when I was getting inside - so watch out! At the day use parking lot there are a few tables with benches for people to sit around or enjoy a meal. The experience may be affected by the traffic on Highway 99, located about 200 metres away. However, the noise from the traffic is bearable, aside from occasional roaring motorcycles. A substantially noisier neighbour is a CN rail line, located even closer to the parking area than Highway 99. Every now and then we would hear loud rail traffic in the background.

1. We are on Highway 99 (Sea-to-sky), approaching Porteau Cove Provincial Park, which is 400 metres ahead on the left side, as the road sign shows.

Highway 99 Sea-to-Sky near Porteau Cove Provincial Park BC Canada

2. This is a turnoff from Highway 99 to Porteau Cove.

Photo of BC Highway 99 by Porteau Cove Park

3. A nice-looking park sign.

Porteau Cove Park sign picture - British Columbia Canada

4. View of the day use parking lot. The photo was taken Wednesday morning.

Porteau Cove Provincial Park - Canada

5. CN rail line runs very close to the park. This train engine was making noises for quite some time before moving on.

CN train by Porteau Cove Provincial Park

6. View of a mountain from the parking lot.

View from Porteau Cove Provincial Park - British Columbia

7. View of the pier from the parking lot.

Pier at Porteau Cove Provincial Park

8. The pier at Porteau Cove Provincial Park. There are about eight information plaques along the railings, talking about the marine life, Howe Sound, and so on.

Porteau Cove Park Pier

9. Some sort of a structure at the end of the pier.

Photo of Porteau Cove Park Pier - BC

10. Looking back from the pier towards the parking lot.

Pier of Porteau Cove Provincial Park

11. Porteau Cove Provincial Park offers diving opportunities, with several underwater objects to explore.

Diver at Porteau Cove Provincial Park - BC Canada

12. Looking North from the parking lot.

View from Porteau Cove Provincial Park

13. If you follow a path South, very soon you get to the Porteau Cove campground. This sign states that it costs $24 per a camping party per day. A sign below the stop sign warns about the bears in the area.