Saturna Island is thirty one square kilometers
with a relatively small permanent population of 325. Almost one half of
Saturna's landscape of lovely bays, valleys and high rock bluffs are
protected within the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve which was
established in 2003. Exploring this new park with an ecosystem that is
specific to this climate is best done at a leisurely pace. A picnic at
Winter Cove, a walk to Narvaez Bay, a hike along Lyall Creek, a drive to
the top of Mount Warburton Pike are all possible excursions. If you are
traveling by kayak or boat a stop at the ruins of at Taylor Point will
reveal remnants of a past quarry operation where sandstone was shipped
to Victoria. There are beach areas for unsupervised swimming at Veruna
Bay, East Point Regional Park and Thomson Park.
Remote and rural, facilities are limited to the Saturna General Store,
Saturna Lodge and the Saturna Point Store and pub. Saturna Island
Vineyards may be visited with wines and unique merchandise for sale, May
through October.Saturna Island is infamous
for it's July 1st, Canada Day, Saturna Lamb Barbeque, an annual summer
event, in Winter Cove which features sheltered anchorage, with trails
through mixed forest, marsh land and shorelines to a view of Boat Pass.
Over 1,000 people generally attend. The meal is cooked Argentinean style
on upright iron crosses.
There are no camping facilities on Saturna Island. Cycling the narrow
roads requires extreme caution. There is no pharmacy or drug store on
the island so one must remember to bring one's own medications. There
are also no banks or ATM's. As with all of the gulf islands, no outside
fire is permitted during the summer months without a permit. Ferries are
also not as frequent. All of this contributes to a lifestyle that some
islanders cherish. Visitors have to really know what they want when they
come so as not to be disappointed. A laid back lifestyle and island slow time
is this island's trademark.
To the north of Saturna are Tumbo and Cabbage Islands, Pine Islet, and
the Belle Chain Islets which are also a part of the park reserve. The
reserve is 35 kilometers squared and includes major portions of North
and South Pender Islands. The waters adjacent to park lands are also
managed by Parks Canada, bringing another 26 kilometers squared under
protection. |
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