Come Play on Gabriola
Take a winding trail through dense forest, find yourself in a sea of wildflowers, breathe in the ocean air, discover the beauty of a sunset paddle, dance under the stars. The island is a natural playground for the whole family.
Beaches & Parks
Beaches
Gabriola Island has more public beach access points than any other Gulf Island. No two beaches are the same!
Look for the “Public Access” yellow concrete blocks for beach access points around the island to find the beach closest to you.
Parks and Trails
Gabriola is home to three spectacular provincial parks and dozens of regional and community parks. Find out more about our vast network of trails from Gabriola Land and Trails Trust.
Outdoor Recreation
Enjoy the great outdoors 365 days a year! If you’re lucky, you may find yourself paddling with dolphins and orcas!
Walking, Hiking, Cycling, Paddling, Golfing. With 98 kilometres of coastline and over 170 kilometres of trails, exploring and playing outside is a natural choice.
Indoor Recreation
Gabriola is home to a thriving conscious living community!
For those days you want to stay inside, enticing activities await in the studios, homes, businesses and facilities of the island.
Find activities to strengthen your body, mind and spirit connection here.
Coats Marsh Regional Park
Categories
Beaches and Parks
About
From the Regional District of Nanaimo: 'In 2008, a long-time Gabriola landowner used the federal eco-gift tax program to help The Nature Trust of BC and the RDN acquire and protect 44 ha of environmentally sensitive wetlands and forest. Coats Marsh Regional Park is the first protected wetland on Gabriola, an under-represented category in the Sensitive Ecosystem Inventory for the southern Gulf Islands which only have 1.7 per cent of their land base in wetlands. The balance of the new regional park contains second-growth Douglas-fir forest that will now be able to mature to old growth status in tandem with the woods of the large 707 Community Park next door. A rough trail network within the property lets you explore the sensitive habitat.'