Smelt Bay Provincial Park, provincial park in British Columbia, Canada
Smelt Bay Provincial Park is a protected natural area on Cortes Island with a long sandy beach and forested areas behind, where the sand slopes gently into the sea. The park contains 24 campsites among trees, a gravel boat launch, and picnic areas with grass fields.
The park was established in 1973 to protect Indigenous cultural sites and provide a place for camping and outdoor recreation. Earth mounds within the park come from the Coast Salish First Nations and were historically used for defense.
The area is shaped by the spawning season of capelin fish, small silver creatures that arrive each fall and attract thousands of seals, sea lions, and seabirds to the shoreline. Visitors can watch this natural activity unfold and see how the local ecosystem functions.
The park is reached by two ferry crossings, taking about 15 minutes to Quadra Island and another 45 minutes to Cortes Island from the mainland. Reserve campsites in advance, especially during summer months, and store food in vehicles while keeping pets on leashes at all times.
Each fall, millions of capelin fish spawn here and temporarily blanket the beach with their bodies, attracting a massive convergence of marine life to feed. This seasonal natural event is relatively unknown and offers visitors the chance to witness a rare ecological occurrence firsthand.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
