Trip 254 - May 31, 2022 (Tuesday)

Pender Island BC Visit

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Pender Island Location: Southern Gulf islands of British Columbia, West of Saturna and Mayne Islands, and East of Salt Spring Island.

Liked: Views from ocean access points, Enchanted Forest waterfall, paintings outside of the Community Hall, a fairly large shopping mall for such a small island, meeting friendly domestic hogs.

Of Note: A small island with limited services, the roads have no shoulders, and are often narrow and winding - watch for pedestrians, cyclists, and deer. Canal Road past Mount Norman trailhead access road is restricted to 5,000 kg due to a sliding road surface.

Vancouver Island, Victoria & Gulf Islands Backroad Mapbook (9th edition) Pender Island Coordinates: Page 12 (Saturna Island) B3-B4 and C3-C4.

Related Websites: Wiki - Pender Island.

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Pender Island is one of British Columbia's Southern Gulf islands. A ferry from Swartz Bay or Tsawassen goes to Pender Island. Also, inter-island ferries connect several Southern Gulf islands among themselves. Thus, today we sailed from Galiano Island via Mayne Island to Pender Island, where we drove around for a few hours and also hiked Mount Norman Trail.

This trip report covers interesting sights we found on Pender Island, including views from several shore access points, which are so fine on Galiano Island. The views on Pender were not as impressive, but were quite good, nonetheless. Mount Norman Trail Hike is covered in the next trip report.

31. Next is Craddock Drive Beach Access.

Craddock Drive Ocean Point Access Pender Island BC Canada

32. A pleasant walk down the stairs, and...

Pender Island British Columbia

33...here is the beach.

Pender Island BC

34. We are now en route to Connery Crescent viewpoint, having parked about 100 meters back.

Pender Island British Columbia Canada

35. The viewpoint is much overgrown, but the bench allows for spending quality time in a quiet and peaceful area.

Connery Crescent Viewpoint Pender Island BC

36. Another staircase leads to Ancia Road (by Conery Road) Beach Access.

Ancia Road Beach Access Staircase Pender Island BC

37-39. The views are quite decent here, including Saturna Island on the left side. Left to right.

Saturna Island view from Pender Island BC

View from Pender Island Ancia Road Beach Access Point

Pender Island BC

40. And now we are on Spalding Road at the trailhead to Enchanted Forest waterfall and viewpoint. Coordinates: N 48°44.900’ W 123°13.458’ Elevation: 70 meters. The forest itself is much larger than the part we have explored.

Pender Island Spalding Road Enchanted Forest Access

41. Here is the trailhead. The path to the waterfall is on the left. The path behind us (not seen) goes towards the rest of the Enchanted Forest.

Enchanted Forest Park Pender Island BC

42. An easy path leads to a bench 180 meters from the trailhead.

Enchanted Forest Pender Island BC

43. The bench overlooks the much obstructed waterfall.

Pender Island Enchanted Forest

44. It is possible to get closer for a better look, but watch out for the steep terrain and drop-offs. It's a decent waterfall, though a better flow would make it look more appealing.

Enchanted Forest Waterfall Pender Island BC

Here is our video of the Enchanted Forest waterfall.

More ihikebc videos are on our YouTube Channel.

45. The path just past the bench. Keep left.

Enchanted Forest Pender Island BC Canada

46. 350 meters from the trailhead (and 170 meters from the waterfall), the path ends at yet another bench.

Pender Island Enchanted Forest British Columbia

47. Alas, the view leaves much to be desired.

Pender Island BC

48. If you want a better view, go forward for a bit, but be very careful - there are serious unbarricaded drop-offs out there, especially on the right side.

British Columbia

49. All shops on Pender Island appear to have gathered in one place, closer to the middle of the island - 4621 Bedwell Harbour Road. It's actually quite impressive to have a shopping mall like that on such a small island. There is a gas station, a decent-size grocery store, and a bunch of other businesses. There is even a coin-operated potable water dispenser, though it was broken during our visit. A gym has permanently closed, in case anyone is wondering.

Pender Island Gas Station

50. Pender Island shopping mall walkway.

Pender Island Shopping Mall Walkway

51. Tasteful architecture too.

Pender Island BC

52. A Garden Centre.

Pender Island Garden Centre

53-54. We then drove around a bit more, and found a statue of a man and a horse near Stanley Point. The caption says: "the end of the way, or the last of the horse soldiers. 1986".