At Sandwell Provincial Park you can relax in the sun, take an easy hike through the woods, or enjoy a peaceful stroll along the beautiful sand and pebble beach - a perfect place for a refreshing swim.The sandy-pebbly beach is ideal for relaxing with a book, and the expansive beach gives children room to run and play. Sandwell Park was established in 1988 to protect archeological sites, including a petroglyph on the beach.
Over 50 amazing petroglyphs are found at Petroglyph Park. These ancient carvings are intriguing, and their origins remain a mystery. The Gabriola Museum property has replicas of the petroglyphs, which people can use to make rubbings. Joyce Lockwood Community Park, named after a long-time Gabriolan, is a mix of sand and large rocks. With endless opportunities to view sea-dwelling creatures, it's a popular spot. From this park, you can access a network of forest trails.
Gabriola Sands Provincial Park offers a unique
setting: twin beaches, one
on either side of a narrow strip
of land. The "sunny side" is a favorite of island children.
Whether it's skim-boarding or sandcastle building, happy,
sandy kids love Twin Beaches. The Taylor Bay side of the
park offers the easiest access to a public beach on the
island, with parking just a stone's throw from the beach.
The annual Sand Sculpture Competition is held on the August
long weekend at Gabriola Sands.
The historic Malaspina Galleries are accessible along the shoreline from Gabriola Sands at low tide or from a short trail at the end of Malaspina Drive. A sculpted, cave-like, sandstone feature, The Galleries measure approximately 90 metres long by 3.5 metres high - a glorious example of nature's art.
