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Smelt Bay Provincial Park · Smelt Bay Park Photo: BC Parks

Smelt Bay Provincial Park

BC Parks inside Smelt Bay Park
Smelt Bay Park · British Columbia

what to expect

Located on the southern peninsula of Cortes Island, Smelt Bay Park is named for the capelin fish that spawn ashore by the tens of thousands. Females lay up to 65,000 eggs on the shore in late September and early October, which hatch within three weeks. These small, silver fish draw a variety of other marine life to the area.  The park features a beautiful beach that extends from the south end of Smelt Bay around the shoreline to Sutil Point. It is a great place for marine exploration at low tide. The beach is backed by mounds which are believed to have been built by Coast Salish First Nations as a form of defense. This is the only provincial campground on remote Cortes Island. It offers 22 spacious campsites laid out in a delightful setting in the woods, overlooking Smelt Bay.

Description: BC Parks

the basics

At the campground
Drinking waterWashroomsPicnic tables
Recreation
Swimming pool
Access & policies
Pets allowed

find more: campgrounds with pet-friendly sites near here →

Drive from Vancouver
158 km
Get directions ↗

the campsites

Longest site
18 ft

things to do here

Activities you can do at Smelt Bay Provincial Park.

SwimmingFishingCanoeing & kayakingCyclingWildlife viewing

things to do nearby

Within 5 km — trails, viewpoints, beaches, boat launches you can reach without packing up camp.

what's around

Smelt Bay Provincial Park plus 4 named places to see and do nearby — trails, beaches, viewpoints, water, and services.

water + services

what to know

Updated each morning from provincial parks and Environment Canada.

Pet-friendly
Dogs are allowed on-leash. Pick up after them; some parks have leash-length rules at the trailheads.
Partial Prohibition in effect
Campfire restrictions were in effect for this area (Coastal area) as of Jul 11, 2026. Fire status changes fast — confirm the current restriction on the official bulletin before you travel. Official fire bulletin →
Wildlife: Cougars have been seen in the area
BC Parks has this advisory posted for the park. Effective 2022-05-19. Check the official advisory for the current status before you travel. BC Parks advisory →
Wildlife: There have been recent wolf sightings in and adjacent to this park
BC Parks has this advisory posted for the park. Effective 2022-05-19. Check the official advisory for the current status before you travel. BC Parks advisory →
When you can reserve
Reservable through BC Parks. Sites open on a rolling 3-month window — book up to 3 months before arrival, with new dates released daily at 7am PT. BC Parks reservation details →

other campgrounds nearby

Other places to stay within 25 km.

Plus 8 user-tagged dispersed sites on OpenStreetMap — often genuine wild-pitches; check access rights before relying on one.

Page generated 2026-07-12. Sources: Camis reservation system + Google Places + OpenStreetMap. Neighbourhood joins 12 named anchors.