Howe Sound Land-Based Whale Watching Guide
Howe Sound, British Columbia, Canada
Welcome to the Howe Sound Land-Based Whale Watching Guide!
If you're on the mainland in British Columbia near Vancouver, this sound is, by and large, your best bet to see whales. So much so that whale watches out of Nanaimo sometimes travel across the Strait of Georgia to Howe Sound, 60km/37mi, to see whales.
You can navigate the locations of this guide by scrolling or manually maneuvering the map to click on individual spots to learn more about them.
Tools
Howe Sound/Átl'ka7tsem Cetacean Sightings Facebook Group : Once you join this group, keep a close eye when you are around the area for any new sightings or updates on where the whales might be heading.
Sunshine Coast Whale and Dolphin Sightings Facebook Group : It is worth keeping up with this Facebook group to get updates on any whales entering the sound or moving around the islands. This group is also particularly useful if you are on the Sunshine Coast... obviously.
Whale Report App : This link will bring you to an app run by OceanWise where you can report your sightings of whales in BC that can be used to alert ships to their presence!
Travel
Bowen Island Ferry : To get to Bowen Island by Ferry, you will depart from Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminal near Vancouver and arrive in Snug Cove . You are okay to arrive at this ferry and drive on; they don't have an extensive reservation system, and the boat leaves once an hour.
Sunshine Coast Ferry : To get to the Sunshine Coast by Ferry, you will depart from Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminal near Vancouver and arrive in Langdale Snug Cove . You are okay to show up to this ferry and drive on, they don't have an extensive reservation system.
Local Tour Recommendation
Wild Whales : Operating out of Granville Island, Wild Whales offers one of the most immersive whale-watching experiences in the city. A 10% DISCOUNT has already been applied to the booking through that link!
If you want to come on a tour with me - join the waiting list for upcoming tours!
Be sure to follow the Be Whale Wise Guidelines on your adventure.
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1. Lighthouse Park, Mainland, HS
Address : 4902 Beacon Ln, West Vancouver, BC V7W 1K5
If you're close to Vancouver, this is absolutely your best bet to find some whales. Because it is on the mainland, this park is great for a small picnic, enjoying Howe Sound's beauty and looking out over the Strait of Georgia.
Be sure to follow the Be Whale Wise Guidelines
Go here when:
- Orcas are going South East from Whitecliff Park
- Orcas are going East from Seymour Landing
Report your sightings on the Whale Report App
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2. Lions Bay Beach, Mainland, HS
Address : 60 Lions Bay Avenue, Centre Rd BOX 141, Lions Bay, BC V0N 2E0
This beach is delightful and great for families. There is a playground, a significant grassy area and some picnic tables. It's also just a delightful stop up the sea-to-sky highway.
Travel Tip
Parking: The parking for this spot will be on your left just before you cross the train tracks. And it's FREE! Score.
Be sure to follow the Be Whale Wise Guidelines
Go here when:
- Orcas are going North from Eagle Cliff Beach
- Orcas are going South from Porteau Cove
Report your sightings on the Whale Report App
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3. Porteau Cove Provincial Park, Mainland, HS
Address : Porteau Cove Provincial Park, off Highway 99, Porteau Cove (British Columbia), BC V7G 1L3
This park is delightful and not a bad place to swim on a hot day. It's also a campground you can reserve, but you'll want to do that a good deal in advance.
Be sure to follow the Be Whale Wise Guidelines
Go here when:
- Orcas are going North from Lions Bay
Report your sightings on the Whale Report App
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4. Cape Roger Curtis, Bowen Island, HS
Address : 1652 Whitesails Dr, Bowen Island, BC V0N 1G2
Bowen Island is a small island in Howe Sound, not far from Vancouver, where one MAY be able to spot some whales. Bowen is beloved for its idyllic island-village feel, and it's a great place to spend a day or a while if you get the time. It is, however, only accessible by ferry.
Be sure to follow the Be Whale Wise Guidelines
Go here when:
- Orcas are going West from Alder Cove or Seymour Landing
Report your sightings on the Whale Report App
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5. Konichi Bay, Bowen Island, HS
Address : 931 Ocean Park Ln, Bowen Island, BC V0N 1G2
This bay is potentially the most secluded location yet. That said, I wouldn't go here unless you hear of Orcas heading this way, the directions of which you'll find below.
Getting excited to see whales yet?!?
Be sure to follow the Be Whale Wise Guidelines
Go here when:
- Orcas are going South from Snug Cove
- Orcas are going East from Cape Roger Curtis
Report your sightings on the Whale Report App
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6. Eagle Cliff Beach, Bowen Island, HS
Address : 1441 Eagle Cliff Rd Bowen Island, British Columbia
This beach is also incredibly small; from what I can find, it only has two public parking spots. That said, Orcas were seen off here not long before I'm writing this, so for me, this spot makes the list.
Travel Tips
Parking: When driving down Eagle Cliff road, look for a pull-out on the waterside with two parking spots. If the road has no signs saying otherwise, you can park along it and walk to the entrance point.
Be sure to follow the Be Whale Wise Guidelines
Go here when:
- Orcas are going North from Snug Cove
- Orcas are going East from Smugglers Cove
Report your sightings on the Whale Report App
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7. Gospel Rock, Sunshine Coast, HS
Address : 819 Gower Point Rd, Gibsons, BC V0N 1V3
This spot is excellent as a pull-off viewpoint where you will get excellent views of Howe Sound, the Georgia Strait and Burrard Inlet.
Travel Tips
Parking: As you drive down the road, look for small pull-out spots on the waterside. They should have trails to walk down.
Be sure to follow the Be Whale Wise Guidelines
Go here when:
- Orcas are going West from Cape Roget Curtis
- Orcas are going East from Bonniebrook Beach
Report your sightings on the Whale Report App
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8. Bonniebrook Beach, Sunshine Coast, HS
Address : 1610 Ocean Beach Esplanade, Gibsons, BC V0N 1V5
This beach has a lot more parking than Gospel Rock and looks like a great place to hang out. Orcas tend to hug the coast on their way by here, so you have a solid chance of seeing them close if they're around!
Travel Tips
Parking: Roadside, next to the logs.
Be sure to follow the Be Whale Wise Guidelines
Go here when:
- Orcas are going West from Gospel Rock
- Orcas are going East from Davis Bay
Report your sightings on the Whale Report App
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9. Davis Bay, Sunshine Coast, HS-ish
Address : 4632 Sunshine Coast Hwy, Sechelt, BC V0N 3A2
This has been a HOTSPOT on the Sunshine Coast Facebook page, and as such, as far as I'm concerned, you've got good chances to see some Orcas here. It also looks like a lovely town.
Be sure to follow the Be Whale Wise Guidelines
Go here when:
- Orcas are going West from Robert's Creek Pier
- Orcas are going South from Selma Park
Report your sightings on the Whale Report App