Mayne Island is one of British Columbia's Southern Gulf
islands, located just to the South of Galiano Island, which we have
previously explored. The visit to Mayne Island took less than a day, so
we did not see everything there was to see, but saw enough to make it a
very worthwhile trip.
A ferry from Tsawassen or Swartz Bay goes to Mayne
Island. Also, inter-island ferries connect some Southern Gulf islands
with each other. Today, we took a bicycle on a ferry heading from
Galiano Island to Mayne Island, and returned the same way.
This trip report has random Mayne Island photos, and also
covers Horton Bay and nearby Saint John Point Regional Park Reserve with
its two short trails. Two following trips are
dedicated to Mount Parke Regional Park, and Campbell Point Trail Hike.
All distances in this trip report
are based on a GPS odometer and are approximate.
34. Just 140 meters past Horton Bay
Dock is the entrance to Saint John Point Regional Park Reserve - on the
right side. The main road becomes private past the park entrance.
Mayne Island British Columbia Canada
35. It's a pretty secluded area, and
we have not seen a single person in the park. Also, there are no
facilities here.
Saint John Point Regional Park Reserve Entrance - Mayne Island BC
36. Saint John Point Regional Park
Reserve parking area a few hundred meters past the park entrance.
Mayne Island BC - Saint John Point Regional Park - Parking Lot
37. First, we hiked Tawen Trail to the left of the
parking lot.
Tawen Trailhead - Mayne Island BC Canada
38. It's an easy trail of 1.2 km, leading to a stony
beach. At 45 meters here.
Tawen Trail - Saint John Point Regional Park - Mayne Island BC Canada
39. The main attraction of Tawen Trail is this arbutus
tree. A view at 630 meters.
Tawen Trail - Hiking on Mayne Island BC
40. And now at 680 meters. There are many arbutus trees
on Southern Gulf islands, and these are unusual, easily identifiable
trees, as they lack half the bark most of the time, and the trunk has a
very pleasant light brown to dark red (in rare cases, in some spots)
colour.
Arbutus Tree
41. Tawen Trail in Saint John Point
Regional Park Reserve on Mayne Island, British Columbia, Canada. At 1.04
km from the start of the park off Horton Bay Road.
Mayne Island Trail - Tawen Trail Hike
42. Approaching the water.
Saint
John Point Regional Park Reserve Tawen Trail Mayne Island BC Canada
43-44. And here is the beach, at 1.2 km. Nothing great
views-wise, but decent enough. Left to right.
Mayne Island BC Canada
Mayne Island British Columbia
45. And now a much shorter Sasaki Trail, which starts
just past the parking lot.
Sasaki Trail - Saint
John Point Regional Park Reserve - Mayne Island BC Canada
4
6.
It only takes about 270 meters to get to pretty much the same view as
after hiking Tawen Trail for 1.2 kilometers.
Mayne Island BC
47. After about 6 hours, it's time to head back to
Galiano Island. Here is a ticket booth at Village Bay BC Ferry Terminal
on Mayne Island.
Village Bay Ferry Terminal Ticket Booth - Mayne Island BC
48. A fine flower arrangement at the terminal.
Mayne Island Village Bay Ferry Terminal
49. Vehicles waiting to board. Unlike
terminals on Galiano and Pender islands, Mayne's terminal has two berths, so two ferries may
dock at the same time, and simultaneous ferry transfers may thus take place.
Vehicles at Village Bay Ferry Terminal
50. We will be sailing back to Galiano Island on Queen of
Cumberland. Here it comes.
BC Ferry Queen of Cumberland approaching Village Bay Ferry Terminal on
Mayne Island BC
51. Almost there.
Queen of Cumberland docking at Mayne Island Village Bay Ferry Terminal
52. Foot passengers (and cyclists)
always exit first, followed by vehicles.
Foot passengers disembarking BC Ferry Queen of Cumberland at Village Bay
Ferry Terminal on Mayne Island
53.
BC Ferry Queen of Cumberland docked at Village Bay Terminal on Mayne
Island.
BC Ferry Queen of Cumberland Docked at
Mayne Island Village Bay Ferry Terminal
54.
Boarding is also done first by foot passengers and cyclists, followed by
vehicles.
Foot passengers board BC Ferry Queen of
Cumberland
55. A quick look inside Queen of Cumberland.
Inside Queen of Cumberland BC Ferry
66.
Built in 1992 in North Vancouver.
Queen of Cumberland Built in 1992 in North
Vancouver
67. Vehicles boarding Queen of
Cumberland.
Vehicles Boarding BC Ferry Queen of Cumberland
68. Salish Eagle came too and docked
next door.
BC Ferry Salish Eagle docked at Village Bay Ferry Terminal on Mayne
Island BC Canada
69. The bridge of Queen of Cumberland.
Bridge of BC Ferry Queen of Cumberland
70. Good-bye, Mayne Island. It's been a short but
pleasant visit.
72. And, 20 minutes later, we are back
at Sturdies Bay Ferry Terminal on Galiano Island.
Sturdies Bay Ferry Terminal Galiano Island BC
Aside from those shoulder-less roads
with too much traffic (for cyclists) near the ferry terminal, there was
nothing but positive feelings about the trip to Mayne Island. Highly
recommended.