"(Manna House) ...is located just a short drive to both ferry terminals, which made exploring Hornby Island a breeze." "...this location is central for exploring both Hornby and Comox." |
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Denman » Hornby Ferry | the "Quinitsa"
The Gravelly Bay Ferry Terminal is a five minute drive from here, and the crossing takes 10 minutes. The Hornby Ferry runs in sync with the ferry from Vancouver Island to Denman, every hour, but not as late in the evenings, except on Fridays.
BC Ferries Current schedule, Denman » Hornby Island ► You can glide past the ferry line-up, which can get pretty long in the summer, by taking our trail bikes. Hornby roads are pretty flat and easy for cycling, apart from the hill between the Village and Ford's Cove. |
The Quinitsa arriving at Gravelly Bay, on a wet, misty day in December, & on a bright, cold, & windy day in January ↕
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If you want to see Hornby in a day and you're not used to cycling, we suggest you drive to catch all the highlights: Ford's Cove (marina), the Village (lunch), Helliwell Park (hike) and Tribune Bay (stroll/swim), with perhaps a wine tasting at a vineyard in-between. Just be sure not to miss the last ferry back to Denman, or you'll likely be spending the night in your vehicle!
Wreathed by the waves of the Salish Sea, Hornby Island is a world of wonders: sandy beaches, lush forests, and starry skies. It’s also rich in community, as many of us came for a visit and stayed for life. We care deeply for our island and people, treading lightly on the land, conserving water, and treating others with kindness and respect. Our Hornby is something you have to experience for yourself. We think you’ll love it.. https://hornbyisland.com ► Hornby Island Summer Bus Service
During July and August, Hornby Island has a free bus service every day. HornbyBus.com ►
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Hornby Island by Google Earth ↕
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Hornby Co-op and The Ringside Market
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If you need groceries, there's always a good selection including plenty of local and organic produce at the Co-op, which also includes a delicatessen, hardware department, liquor store, gas bar and Canada Post Office. You'll find it has just about everything you might need, so consider a trip to the Hornby Co-op rather than a shopping trip to Courtenay.
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Hornby Island Ringside Market ↕
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Then why not grab a bite to eat, browse the shops at the Ringside Market and spend the rest of your day exploring the island. It's a way more relaxing day than Courtenay!
An inviting circle of intimate shops, cafés, services, artisan booths and the Co-op. Where everyone comes to grab a bite, find that important plumbing bit, or get bikes tuned up. A buzzing, informal gathering place, all year round. |
Mount Geoffrey Nature Park Trails
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Interactive Map ► for walking, mountain biking & horseback riding
"No crowds. Breathtaking coasts & old forests. Fantastic trail designs." (Yeti Adventure Films) |
"The trails on Hornby Island have history. Created over thirty years ago by a dedicated group of mountain bike enthusiasts, the trails are clearly marked, boast delightfully quirky names, and cater to cyclists and hikers of all abilities, from beginner to expert. |
Helliwell Provincial Park
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Helliwell Park consists of a gorgeous stretch of cliffs of mostly conglomerate rock formations bordered by ecologically sensitive grassland (stick to the paths please) and a beautiful stand of old growth Douglas firs and Garry oaks. It's a loop trail starting and ending with a 20-30 minute walk through the forest. We always take the right fork which heads straight for the middle of the bluffs, from where you immediately get the most spectacular views!
↕ Sun going down over Denman Island from Helliwell Bluffs
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Helliwell Provincial Park, Google Satellite Image ↕
During a hike on Hornby one March afternoon, the clouds provided rapidly changing, jaw-dropping special-effects! Eagles sat in the tree tops on the fringe of the forest, resting before their next fishing trip. In the water, seals were always active. Seasonally, there are California and Stellar's sealions and even Elephant seals, all of which sunbathe on the rocks off the tip of Helliwell. You might hear them before you see them. Bring binoculars as the rocks are a little way out.
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"Located on St. John’s Point, the park was a gift to the people of British Columbia from John Helliwell. The stunning Helliwell Bluffs guard the northern entrance to Tribune Bay and spectacular views of marine life, the Strait of Georgia and the Coast Mountains can be had from any point along them. As you explore the park’s meandering hiking and walking trails, you will find weather-beaten old-growth Douglas firs and gnarled Garry oaks, as well as flora and fauna which may seem more at home in a desert than in a Northwest rainforest. The best times to visit are in late April and early May, when colourful wildflowers carpet the hillside along the cliffs.
"A recent addition to Helliwell Park is Flora Islet, which sits off the end of St. John’s Point. Flora Islet is one of only two locations in the world where divers can see the rare Six-gill shark. This primitive, and docile deep-sea shark ascends from great depths to the relative shallows around Flora Islet, attracting scuba divers and marine biologists from around the world.
BC Parks map ►
Helliwell Gallery ↕ any image
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Tribune Bay
No trip to Hornby is complete without a visit to the famous swimming beach, Big Tribune Bay ("Big Trib"). It's the main reason that Hornby has the nickname "Canada's Hawaii". Often deserted out-of-season, it's packed with visitors in the summer.
Big Trib is a large, sheltered bay with extensive white sands, framed by tree-lined rocky outcrops on each side. In summer, tourists flock to swim in warm sparkling blue water, with colourful yachts bobbing at anchor, or to just lounge and stroll on the beach; it's easy to see the attraction. As a Provincial Park, the natural environment is fully preserved with none of the usual commercial trappings or vendors, so be sure to take a picnic and everything you'll need. |
Tribune Bay Provincial Park, Google Satellite Image ↕
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Fun Fact: The sand originated in San Francisco harbour! Sandstone from Hornby Island quarries was shipped down to SF for building the city, and when the ships returned for another load they needed ballast in the hull to prevent them from tipping over. So sand that was (and still is) being constantly dredged from the entrance to the harbour was loaded into them. It was all dumped into Trbune Bay before the next load of sandstone was loaded.
FYI, Little Tribune Bay ("Little Trib"), on the other side of that central outcrop, is a nudist beach.
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