Bodega Ridge Trail Hike

Follow @ihikebc Tweet 

Bodega Ridge Trail is a short and easy hike in Bodega Ridge Provincial Park located on Galiano Island (part of British Columbia Southern Gulf Islands). A ferry from Tsawwassen or Swartz Bay gets you to Galiano Island, and then it's 18.6 km to the trailhead. Final 1.7 km is via Cottage Way, which has several narrow switchbacks.

There are no facilities of any kind in Bodega Ridge Provincial Park, and the only sign is right at the trailhead. The views are mostly overgrown, but there are several spots with almost no obstruction. Just watch out for steep unbarricaded drop-offs along the entire ridge walk.

1. Here is a Google map with directions from Sturdies Bay Ferry Terminal to Bodega Ridge trailhead.

2. We are on Galiano Island's Porlier Pass Drive, heading to Bodega Ridge trailhead. Galiano Island roads have no shoulders and are often narrow and winding. Watch for pedestrians, cyclists, and deer.

Porlier Pass Drive Galiano Island BC

3. Turning right from Porlier Pass Drive onto Cottage Way.

Porlier Pass Drive at Cottage Way - Galiano Island - British Columbia

4. Here is Cottage Way 300 meters from Porlier Pass Drive. Cottage Way has several narrow switchbacks, and any vehicle larger than a full size pickup truck may find it challenging out there.

Cottage Way Galiano Island BC Canada

5. 1.7 km after Porlier Pass Drive, arriving at the end of Cottage Way, where a parking lot is located for Bodega Ridge trailhead. Coordinates: N 48°56.962’ W 123°30.726’ Elevation: 190 meters.

Bodega Ridge Trail Parking Lot

6. Here is the trailhead with a sign to Bodega Ridge Provincial Park. There are no other signs up to this point.

Bodega Ridge Trailhead

7. Bodega Ridge Trail is a short and easy hike, with several fine forest scenes. Here we are 290 meters from the trailhead (all distances are based on a GPS odometer and are approximate).

Galiano Island Hiking - Bodega Ridge Trail

8-9. At 620 meters, there is a very short path to a bench with somewhat obstructed views.

Bodega Ridge Provincial Park

10. But the best views are ahead. Here we are at 1.0 km.

Hike on Galiano Island - Bodega Ridge Trail

11. It's a very pleasant path indeed. At 1.28 km.

Bodega Ridge Hike

12. At 1.34 km, this warning sign signals the arrival of the ridge walk.

Bodega Ridge Provincial Park Galiano Island BC Canada

13. Aside from fine views to the left (when unobstructed), another feature of this hike are several arbutus trees, such as the one seen on the right side below. Galiano Island has many of these fine trees, and their mostly barkless trunks, with colours from light brown to almost burgundy red (sometimes on the same tree), are very pleasant to look at.

Bodega Ridge Trail Hike Galiano Island BC

14.  This is what the ridge walk mostly looks like. At 1.53 km here.

Hiking on Galiano Island in Bodega Ridge Provincial Park

15. Unobstructed views arrive at 1.78 km. The closest thin stretch of land is Wallace Island, behind it is Salt Spring Island, and far away is Vancouver Island.

View from Bodega Ridge Trail British Columbia

16. A bit more to the right.

Wallace Island View from Bodega Ridge on Galiano Island

17. Yet more to the right we see Secretary Islands (yes, plural, there are a few) appearing on the right side, next to Wallace Island.

Secretary Islands British Columbia View from Galiano Island Bodega Ridge

18. A panorama of it all. Looks good, but we did like the view from Mount Galiano better. It's more panoramic and you can see further away.

Panoramic View from Bodega Ridge on Galiano Island BC

19. Speaking of steep unbarricaded drop-offs...

Bodega Ridge Provincial Park British Columbia

20-22. At 1.84 km, there is another good unobstructed view. Left to right.

View from Bodega Ridge on Galiano Island