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Pender
Harbour
Pender Harbour (Madeira Park) is located at the north-west end of
the Sechelt Peninsula 31 km (19 miles) north of Sechelt,
54 km (34 miles) north of Gibsons on Hwy
101 and around 20 km (13 miles) south of Egmont.
Large
Protected Harbour
When most people talk about Pender Harbour they are referring to
four small communities called, Garden Bay, Irvine's Landing, Kleindale
and Madeira Park. These four settlements are situated around a large
deep and protected harbour called Pender Harbour which contains
roughly 166 km (103 miles) of shoreline.
Madeira
Park
Named after the Madeira Islands off the coast of Morocco, Madeira
Park is the main commercial centre of Pender Harbour. The community
is situated on the south-east side of Pender Harbour located off
Hwy 101 by 5 km (3 miles).
Madeira
Marina
At Madeira Park you can find a post office, liquor outlet, grocery
store, veterinary clinic, elementary school, Pender Harbour Legion
and the Pender Harbour Health Centre. There is also access to the
Madeira Marina where you can find fuel, moorage, mechanics and marine
hardware.
Boaters
If you happen to be boating into Pender Harbour, Madeira Park has
the largest of the three government-docking facilities plus various
boat launches. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans also has an
office here if you need help with the local fishing regulations
or safety matters.
Kleindale
When you are travelling north on Hwy 101, the next small community
past Madeira Park is Kleindale. Here you'll find the industrial
part of the area, storage yard, recycle depot, Petro-Canada Service
Station and a great little mom & pop café called the
'Cross Road Grill.' Situated at Petro-Canada, you'll find the turnoff
for Garden Bay and Irvine's Landing.
Garden
Bay Lake
Just before you come to Garden Bay, the road will take you past
Garden Bay Lake - a great site for some trout fishing, canoeing
or swimming. Nearby Katherine Lake has a rustic camping site plus
hiking trails to another swimming lake called Mixal Lake.
Garden
Bay Hotel and Marina
Located on the north-east side of Pender Harbour, directly across
from Madeira Park is Garden Bay. This is where you'll find called
the Garden Bay Hotel and Marina which was established in 1932. In
the hotel you can also find one of the local marine pubs that sometimes
feature local Blues artists and Sunday jam sessions.
Irvine's
Landing
Irvine's Landing was first established in 1880 is situated at the
entrance to Pender Harbour. What you can find at Irvine's Landing
is a government wharf, marina, pub, and newly redesigned Irvine's
Landing Marine Resort. Nearby to Irvine's is Hotel Lake where you
can find some swimming and trout fishing.
Pender
Harbour May Day
The main festival for family fun is the annual Pender Harbour May
Day. This event features a parade, a fly-over, fun games for the
kids, live entertainment, musicians, a beer garden, a craft fair,
food kiosks, plus an excellent salmon barbeque. In the evening,
the always-entertaining Pender Harbour May Day dance takes place.
Pender
Harbour Jazz Festival
If you enjoy jazz, there is the yearly Pender Harbour Jazz Festival
held on the 3rd weekend in September. The festival brings together
local artists plus top performers from around the world and makes
for a very entertaining weekend.
Pender
Harbour Blues Society
Blues music is also very popular in Pender Harbour with an annual
event in May arranged by the Pender Harbour Blues Society.
Garden
Bay Marine Park
If you are interested in hiking, there is a favourite hike located
in Garden Bay Marine Park where you can go to the top of Mount Daniel.
The steep hike is 4 km (2.5 miles) long for the most incredible
view of Pender Harbour. Go down Garden Bay Road then, just past
Garden Bay Lake, look for Claydon Road for access to the park.
Francis
Point Marine Park
For hikes near Madeira Park, try going to Francis Point Marine Park.
Here you can find a beautiful oceanside hike to the southern viewpoint
and light beacon off Francis Point. Take Francis Peninsula Road
to Merrill Road for the start of the trail.
Scuba
Diving
For scuba divers the areas found around Pender Harbour are excellent.
Two favourites close by are located off Francis Peninsula in Francis
Point Marine Park. One is off Moore Point on the north side; the
other is off Francis Point to the south.
RV
Sites
Full service RV sites can be found at the Fisherman's Resort and
Marina, Pender Harbour Resort, Silver Sands Resort and Sunshine
Coast Resort. There is also an RV at Katherine Lake that is a popular
swimming hole. As well there is a primitive rustic forestry campsite
situated at Klein Lake just 5 km (3 miles) south-east of Egmont.
Sakinaw
Lake
Coming north from Pender Harbour on Hwy 101 before you arrive at
Earl's Cove you will come to Sakinaw Lake. Sakinaw is quite big
and, at one time, was full of controversy when BC Hydro built a
500 KV transmission line across to Nelson Island eventually completing
the crossing to Dunsmuir on Vancouver Island. Just past Sakinaw
Lake going north on Hwy 101 is Ruby Lake.
Ruby
Lake
Ruby Lake is a beautiful lake that as it evolved a thin layer of
salt water was left over from when it joined the ocean. What was
created was a very unique eco-system especially for birds habiting
along the lake and within a Nature Reserve. For a better understanding
you can visit the Iris Griffith Interpretive Centre located off
Hwy 101.
Ruby
Lake Resort & Rainforest Spa
If you would like to stay at Ruby Lake there is the Ruby Lake Resort
& Rainforest Spa which has very nice cabins set out next to
the forest and lake.
Dan
Bosch Regional Park
Look for the Dan Bosch Regional Park when at Ruby Lake where you
can find a nice sandy beach for some great swimming.
Suncoaster
Trail
Starting at Dan Bosch Regional Park is an excellent mountain bike
trail that you can take to Klein Lake. The trail eventually hooks
up with the famous Suncoaster Trail a 33 km (20-mile) mountain bike
trail that has some lovely views of Ruby and Sakinaw Lakes.
Allow
Time
If you happen to be driving up from Vancouver and are planning on
staying at Pender Harbour allow yourself lots of time. Although
Pender Harbour is only 64 km (40 miles) from the Langdale Ferry
terminal there is a lot to see whole travelling north on Hwy 101.
The scenery is quite beautiful plus there is sightseeing and shopping
opportunities at both Gibson's Landing
and Sechelt.
Information
on Pender Harbour
Accommodation
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