Porteau Cove Park

Advisories

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.

December 2, 2024: Drinking water unavailable due to presence of lead
Due to the presence of lead, drinking water is currently unavailable at Porteau Cove. While water is still safe for showering and washing dishes, it is advised that visitors bring their own water for drinking and cooking when they visit the park. We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding.

December 11, 2024: Campground washroom and shower building closed in winter

Please note that the campground washroom and shower building is closed in winter. Pit toilets are still available for use.

April 28, 2023: Train line adjacent to park
Park visitors should be aware of a train line that runs alongside the park. Trains can run during the early hours of the morning which can cause some noise disruption within the park.

April 28, 2023: Prevent raccoons from becoming food conditioned
Secure all your belongings and do not feed the raccoons. This park has an abundant raccoon population that thrives on park visitors’ food, garbage, and other scented items.

About Porteau Cove Park

Only minutes from Vancouver, Porteau Cove 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 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 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.

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.

Porteau Cove Park Rates And Fees

CAMPSITE FEE
Drive-In – per party, per night	$43.00
Drive-In (Winter) – per party, per night	$26.00
Drive-In (Senior) – per couple, per night	$25.50
Drive-In (Senior Winter) – per couple per night	$21.50
Walk-In – per party, per night	$20.00
Walk-In (Senior) – per couple, per night	$10.00

PARKING/DOCKING FEES
Docking per meter	$2.00
Mooring	$12.00
Second Vehicle (Drive-In) – per night	$12.00
Second Vehicle (Drive-In – Senior) – per night	$8.75
Second Vehicle (Drive-In – Winter) – per night	$8.75

VISITOR SERVICES
Sani-Station	$5.00/Dump
Firewood	1 for $12 or 3 for $32
Propane campfire rentals	N/A
Propane Exchange	$36.99
Propane Buy-In	$74.99
Combo: Propane Campfire and Propane Exchange	N/A