Anderson Bay Provincial Park Visit

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Anderson Bay Provincial Park is located on the southern tip of Texada Island, which is a very large island (approximately 50 km long and 10 km wide) located between Sunshine Coast of BC and Vancouver Island.

Other than by boat, the only way to get to Anderson Bay Provincial Park is by taking a forest service road, which is suitable only for 4x4 vehicles the last 10+ kilometers due to several long steep hills with loose surface. We thus biked toward the park, which made for a relatively quick downhill trip,  but it was a substantial effort to get back to our parked vehicle due to all those hills we had to climb on the way back.

Other than the steep hills, the access road is in a very decent shape, with no cross-ditches, and with pleasant forest scenery. The bay itself looks quite fine, and the added bonus was observing a bunch of sea lions, who were chilling on a rock in the bay while making loud sounds every now and then. Of course, if you wish for a quiet time while visiting the bay that's not going to happen, unless sea lions would be elsewhere during your visit.

1. Here are Google Maps directions from Gillies Bay general store, where we start our trip report, to (almost) Anderson Bay Provincial Park. For some reason, Google Maps doesn't have this park mapped, but it's located just a bit further down the road, at the edge of Texada Island. For directions on getting up to Gillies Bay general store from Blubber Bay Ferry Terminal, check out our Vancouver to Texada Island trip report.

2. And here is a photo of Gillies Bay general store, located on Gillies Bay Road 11.9 km from Blubber Bay ferry terminal.

Gillies Bay General Store on Texada Island, BC

3. 3.0 km from Gillies Bay general store, Gillies Bay Road ends at Shelter Point Road. To the right is Shelter Point Regional Park, but we turned left to continue towards Anderson Bay Provincial Park.

Texada Island BC - Gillies Bay Rd at Shelter Point Rd

4. At 7.1 km. Shelter Point Road ends at Bell Road. Turn right.

Shelter Point Rd at Bell Road, Texada Island BC Canada

5. Bell Road at 8.7 km from Gillies Bay general store.

Bell Road, Texada Island BC

6. At 11.5 km, Bell Road ends at a fork. To the left is Texada Forest Service Road Branch Branch 04 (which leads to a stony beach in 7.3 km). To the right is Texada Forest Service Road Branch 03. Take the road on the right (Branch 03).

Bell Rd at Texada FSR 03 and 04

7. At 13.4 km, the largest crown land roadside camping area we found on Texada Island.

Camping spot on Texada Island BC

8a. At 16.3 km there is a split. Coordinates: N 49⁰37.238' W 124⁰19.710'. Elevation: 490 meters. Stay left. To the right is a BC Hydro substation in 700 meters.

Texada Forest Service Road Branch 03

8b. At 17.2 km, Texada FSR Branch 09 is on the right side (would eventually lead to Mt. Davis / Bloody Mtn Trail). Stay left.

Texada FSR 03 split with Texada FSR 04

9. At 19.1 km, Bob's Lake Recreation Site access is on the right side. Stay left.

Texada Island Bob's Lake Recreation Site Access Road

10. At 20.2 km, a road on the right leads to the second Bob's Lake Recreation Site. Stay left.

Texada Island, British Columbia, Canada

11. At 27.6 km, a "road deactivated" warning signals the end of a fairly easy 4x2 road. Coordinates: N 49⁰34.272' W 124⁰13.692'. Elevation: 615 meters. There is a pullout close to the sign where we parked prior to biking the rest of the way. The mileage going forward is based on a GPS odometer and is approximate.

Texada FSR 03 deactivated ahead

12. Anderson Bay Provincial Park Access Road (probably still Texada FSR Branch 03) 300 meters from the 4x4 road start.

Anderson Bay Provincial Park access road on Texada Island, BC

13. Looking back at 700 meters at one of those steep hills with loose surface. It is steeper than it looks, and would definitely trap on the way back any 4x2 vehicle which would go down this hill.

Texada Island

14-15. The only water view prior to the bay itself comes at 880 meters of the 4x4 road. Plain and zoomed views.

16. There was a rainbow there on the way back.

17. By 1.12 km mark, we are now in a pleasant forest.

Texada Island, BC, Canada

18. At 1.94 km of Anderson Bay Provincial Park access road.

Texada Island BC - Anderson Bay Provincial Park access road

19. Now at 5.67 km.

Texada Island

20. At 5.83 km.

En route to Anderson Bay Provincial Park on Texada Island, BC, Canada

21. At 6.10 km, the forest opened up a bit.

Texada Island, British Columbia

22-23. At 6.30 km, there is a small waterfall on the right side.

Waterfall along Anderson Bay Provincial Park access road

24. At 8.90 km from the start of 4x4 road.

Anderson Bay Provincial Park access road

25. At 9.85 km.

Anderson Bay Provincial Park access road, Texada Island BC

26. At 9.87 km, there is a split. The road on the right likely leads to South Texada Provincial Park. But we went straight.

27. A small bridge at 9.96 km.

28. At 10.0 km we are almost there.

29. At 10.15 km arriving to Anderson Bay Provincial Park at the southern end of Texada Island. Coordinates: N 49⁰31.245' W 124⁰08.400'. Elevation: sea level.

Anderson Bay Provincial Park