Smelt Bay Provincial Park, provincial park in British Columbia, Canada
Smelt Bay Provincial Park is a provincial park at the south end of Cortes Island, British Columbia. It has twenty-two camping sites, eight of which are reservable and the rest first-come, first-served. An overflow parking lot sits directly next to the beach for excess campers.
Smelt Bay Provincial Park lies at the south end of Cortes Island in British Columbia. The sources document the park's camping provision rather than a founding date: it holds twenty-two campsites, eight of them reservable and the rest first-come, first-served, with an overflow parking lot beside the beach for excess campers.
The park takes its name from the smelt once fished in these waters off the south end of Cortes Island. Today the beach and its overflow parking lot beside the water serve campers and day visitors, while eight of the twenty-two campsites can be reserved and the rest are first-come, first-served.
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.
The park sits at the south end of Cortes Island, about 18 km east of Campbell River across the water, and its terrain rises to roughly 65 m above the sea. Eight of the twenty-two campsites can be reserved ahead of time; the rest are first-come, first-served, and an overflow parking lot sits directly beside the beach.
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