Sidney Island
Encyclopedia
Sidney Island is one of the southern Gulf Islands
located between the southwest coast
of British Columbia
, Canada
and Vancouver Island
, BC. It is located just east of the town of Sidney
which is on the east coast of the Saanich Peninsula
. Sidney Island is a part of the Capital Regional District, while its land titles are legally described in the Cowichan Land District.
Gulf Islands National Park Reserve
The northern end of the island (including Sidney Spit, a sandspit
) is part of the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve
. It was formerly the Sidney Spit Marine Park under provincial jurisdiction.
containing 24 large lots, most of which have two or three house sites, each of which is generally between one and three acres in size with 200 to 400 feet of oceanfront.
Gulf Islands
The Gulf Islands are the islands in the Strait of Georgia , between Vancouver Island and the mainland of British Columbia, Canada....
located between the southwest coast
British Columbia Coast
The British Columbia Coast or BC Coast is Canada's western continental coastline on the Pacific Ocean. The usage is synonymous with the term West Coast of Canada....
of British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island is a large island in British Columbia, Canada. It is one of several North American locations named after George Vancouver, the British Royal Navy officer who explored the Pacific Northwest coast of North America between 1791 and 1794...
, BC. It is located just east of the town of Sidney
Sidney, British Columbia
Sidney is a town located at the northern end of the Saanich Peninsula, on Vancouver Island in the Canadian province of British Columbia. It is one of the 13 Greater Victoria municipalities. It has a population of approximately 11,300. Sidney is located just east of Victoria International Airport,...
which is on the east coast of the Saanich Peninsula
Saanich Peninsula
The Saanich Peninsula is located north of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. It is bounded by the Saanich Inlet on the west, and various straits of the Gulf of Georgia on the east, chiefly Haro Strait The exact southern boundary of what is referred to as the "Saanich Peninsula" is somewhat fluid...
. Sidney Island is a part of the Capital Regional District, while its land titles are legally described in the Cowichan Land District.
Gulf Islands National Park ReserveGulf Islands National Park ReserveGulf Islands National Park Reserve is the 40th National Park in a system of 43 parks and park reserves across Canada. Located in British Columbia's Gulf Islands, it covers 33 square kilometers over 16 islands. It also includes numerous islets and reef areas....
The northern end of the island (including Sidney Spit, a sandspitSpit (landform)
A spit or sandspit is a deposition landform found off coasts. At one end, spits connect to land, and extend into the sea. A spit is a type of bar or beach that develops where a re-entrant occurs, such as at cove's headlands, by the process of longshore drift...
) is part of the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve
Gulf Islands National Park Reserve
Gulf Islands National Park Reserve is the 40th National Park in a system of 43 parks and park reserves across Canada. Located in British Columbia's Gulf Islands, it covers 33 square kilometers over 16 islands. It also includes numerous islets and reef areas....
. It was formerly the Sidney Spit Marine Park under provincial jurisdiction.
Getting There
Sidney Spit is accessible by kayak, canoe or boat. There are 21 mooring buoys and dock space available to boaters. Visitors can refer to the Current Map and Hiking and Camping Information brochure on the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve website for updated mooring, docking and camping fees http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pn-np/bc/gulf/visit/brochures.aspx. Sidney Spit is also accessible by the privately operated walk-on passenger ferry that runs between the Sidney Pier (in Sidney) and Sidney Spit during the summer months. Visitors can contact the GINPR office for more information about the passenger ferry: 1-866-944-1744.Things to See
Sidney Spit is known for its sandy beaches and and backcountry camping. Wildlife is abundant on Sidney Spit, as this island is an important resting spot for migrating shorebirds .Camping
There are 26 walk-in, backcountry camp sites available at Sidney Spit, and facilities include pit toilets, picnic tables and potable water. Due to the high sodium content in the potable water at Sidney Spit, it should not be consumed by those with heart or kidney ailments. Campfires are not permitted. Group campsites and group picnicking reservations can be made by calling 1-866-944-1744. All visitors who are camping at Sidney Spit must be registered at a campsite before the last ferry leaves the island for the day .Sidney Island Strata
The southern part of the island (about 80%) is organized into a private strata corporationStrata title
Strata title is a form of ownership devised for multi-level apartment blocks and horizontal subdivisions with shared areas. The 'strata' part of the term refers to apartments being on different levels, or "strata"....
containing 24 large lots, most of which have two or three house sites, each of which is generally between one and three acres in size with 200 to 400 feet of oceanfront.