Crippen Park on Bowen Island is easy to explore on a scenic day trip from Vancouver.
There are several hiking trails and bike routes to discover. One of the most popular trails is the Killarney Loop trail.
Pack a picnic, then head to Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminal to catch a ferry to sail to the Howe Sound island.
Enjoy the stunning coastline views of snow-capped mountains during the 20-minute crossing time.
Take the ferry to Bowen Island from Horseshoe Bay to experience stunning scenery of fjords and mountains. Photo Credit: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©
Walk through the rainforest on a scenic woodland trail of Crippen Regional Park. Photo Credit: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©
Explore Crippen Park on Bowen Island
Explore Bowen Island’s Crippen Park Killarney Loop trail in the wetlands of a west coast temperate rainforest.
There are 11.4 kms of hiking trails throughout the park, as well as 5.6 kms of trails for horses and 5.4 kms for biking.
Take a hike around the entire Killarney Lake loop and it will take about 2 1/2 hours from the Snug Cove ferry terminal.
If you leave from the parking lot it will take about 1 1/2 hours.
On the popular, scenic 4 km loop trail you will discover a lake, streams, beaver dam and Bridal Falls fish ladder.
Take a walk through a rainforest filled with moss and dense ferns, with lake views on a Crippen Regional Park trail. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©
Take a walk through a rainforest filled with moss and dense ferns, with lake views around Killarney Lake. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©
Take a walk through a rainforest filled with moss and dense ferns, with lake views on the island trail.
See a beaver dam when you take a walk through a rainforest filled with moss and dense ferns on the Killarney Loop. Photo Credit: Wendy Nordvik-Carr@
Killarney Lake Loop Trail at Crippen Regional Park
Traverse the Killarney Lake wetlands on a boardwalk, check out the fish ladder, and watch for great blue herons and black-tailed deer.
Non-motorized boats, like kayaks can be used on the lily pad-dotted waters of Killarney Lake. Other trails link up with the Killarney Lake loop.
Swimming is not advised at Killarney Lake due to leeches in the water.
Fresh water fishing is allowed with a licence.
Download a map of the trail.
Killarney Lake as viewed from the loop trail in Crippen Park. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr
Take a walk through a rainforest filled with moss and dense ferns, with lake views on a trail on Bowen Island near Vancouver, BC.
Bridal Falls Fish Ladder
The Bridal Falls Fish Ladder makes a pretty spot for a photo. In past years, spawning fish used the ladder to migrate to Terminal Creek.
It has been determined recently that the fish ladder is no longer helping with this process and a temporary fish trap will be used.
Visit the Terminal Creek Salmon Hatchery while in Crippen Park. Every June the hatchery holds an open house to learn more about the importance of keeping fish-bearing streams healthy.
This year the event is on June 12, 2022.
Coho fry from the hatchery are released into Terminal Creek by volunteers. Find out more.
Salmon enhancement and creek rehabilitation maps on Bowen Island
Bridal Falls Fish Ladder as viewed on the Killarney Lake Loop Trail. Photo Credit: Wendy Nordvik-Carr
Fast Facts about Bowen Island
- Bowen Island is part of the Howe Sound Islands in the traditional territory of the Squamish, Coast Salish people.
- The Island’s Squamish name is Xwlíl’xhwm and means “Fast Drumming Ground”.
- The island was named “Isla de Apodaca” in 1791 by a Spanish explorer.
- In 1860, the island was renamed Bowen Island after the British Rear Admiral James Bowen. Find out more about the history of Bowen Island.
- There are eight trails on Bowen Island. Here are maps of the trails and walks put together by the Bowen Island Rotary Club.
- The Terminal Creek Fish Hatchery will have as many as 200,000 Chum eggs and around 40,000 Coho eggs waiting to develop into health salmon fry for release into Bowen Island streams.
Getting to Bowen Island
Ferry to Bowen Island
It is a 20-km drive from downtown Vancouver to the Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminal to catch the Bowen Island ferry to Snug Cover.
Enjoy the stunning coastline views of snow-capped mountains during the 20-minute crossing time to the island.
You can board the Bowen Island ferry as a walk-on passenger or drive onto the ferry with a vehicle. No reservations are accepted.
Check here for the latest BC Ferry schedule.
Take the Bowen Island Ferry to Snug Bay. Enjoy the scenic mountain, ocean and coastline views from the ferry on the route from Vancouver. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©
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