Porteau Cove Park
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About the Park
Only minutes from Vancouver, Porteau Cove Provincial Park is the perfect waterfront camping destination. Many of the campsites are on the waterfront. The beach is a great place for exploring and enjoying the stunning views of Howe Sound. Fishing (outside of the Provincial Park boundary) and boating are very popular in the area. There are two paved boat launches with day parking for trailers in the park.
One of the park’s main attractions is the tidal and inter-tidal marine life of the park’s foreshore areas. There is a good diversity of marine species, both along the shore and underwater. A scuba diving area has been developed with sunken ships and artificial reefs that have greatly enhanced sub-tidal marine life.
Porteau Cove Provincial Park is situated on the eastern shore of Howe Sound, 38 km north of Vancouver. To get there, follow Hwy 99 north from West Vancouver. Follow the signs for Porteau Cove Provincial Park (not Porteau Road which is 2km south of the park). Turn left off of the highway into the park.
Porteau Cove Provincial Park is open year-round with limited facilities and reduced fees in the winter (November 12 to February 28).
For more information on Porteau Cove please visit the BC Parks website.
Facilities
Activities
Visitor Services
Returning services include general camping supplies sold at the gatehouse including ice, firewood, ice cream, and snacks.
Accommodation: Rent the Olympic Legacy Cabins located at the waterfront of Porteau Cove. For more information on the cabins see Cabins & RV Rentals.
Parking: Day-use area and daytime parking are open to the public until 10pm. Overnight parking is only open to guests who are taking multi-day boat trips and campground guests whose cars do not fit on their sites. This overnight parking requires a permit ($12 at the Gatehouse). All other vehicles and guests may not use the day-use area between the hours of 10pm and 7am.
Dock Facilities: Proceed with caution when mooring at the floating dock at low tide, shallow waters may exist.
Mooring Buoys: Caution: There are 2 low tide markers near the floating dock that are not mooring buoys and mark very shallow water. Anchoring is prohibited within the park boundary.
Boat Launch: It may be difficult to launch during the winter months due to the high volumes of driftwood that accumulate on the boat launches, which periodically make launching impossible. BC Parks will post updates as they become available.
Septic System: Porteau Cove is on a septic system, including the sani-station and washroom buildings. Antibacterial soaps and harsh chemicals destroy the health and functionality of the system. Please help protect the septic system and the water quality by using only biodegradable soaps during your stay.
Marine Conservation: Exploring the beach and diving/snorkeling can be a rewarding experience at Porteau Cove. Please practice “leave no trace” ethics when observing marine life at the park by leaving everything as you find it and by not removing or handling the wildlife. Please see the gatehouse at the campground for upcoming interpretive demonstrations and events.
Advisories
Drinking water unavailable due to presence of lead.
Due to the presence of lead, drinking water is currently unavailable at Porteau Cove. We request that visitors bring their own potable water when they visit the park. Outhouses and washrooms are still open. Showers are closed for the winter season, and will reopen March 1. We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding.
Lead in drinking water (healthlinkbc.ca) [PDF] – Updated December 23, 2025
Illegally parked vehicles will be towed.
Vehicles parked illegally at Porteau Cove Park will be subject to towing at the owner’s expense. Visitors must park in designated parking lots and observe the “no parking” signs posted.
Illegal parking has become a safety issue at Porteau Cove Park, with vehicles blocking access for emergency response and people parking along the highway. Thank you for making a visit to Porteau Cove safe for everyone.
Prevent raccoons from becoming food-conditioned.
ATTENTION: This park has an abundant raccoon population that thrives on park visitor’s food, garbage and other scented items.
Please follow these important guidelines to prevent raccoons from becoming food conditioned:
Do not feed raccoons. They may become aggressive and potentially dangerous once they are used to getting food from people.
Never leave food unattended. Properly secure food and scented items (sunscreen, toothpaste, etc.) when you are away from your campsite and at night.
Store food and scented items, inside vehicles, boats, or secured food containers provided (bungee cords around coolers and rubbermaid bins do not work!).
Never leave food inside your tent.
Dispose of garbage immediately in the garbage bins provided. Never leave scraps or waste unattended.
Ensure your vessel is secure to prevent raccoons from accessing food from inside vessel hatches.
Park Operators and Park Rangers patrol the area to facilitate public education and monitoring. Penalties may be issued under the Park Act for non-compliance.
Thanks for your cooperation.
Construction noise.
Park visitors should be aware of ongoing construction work occurring on a neighbouring property. Noise and vibration disruption may occur during this time. – Updated June 7, 2024
Train line adjacent to park.
Park visitors should be aware of a train line which runs alongside the park. Trains can run during the early hours of the morning which can cause some noise disruption within the park.