If you’re looking for a easygoing day trip from Vancouver to enjoy the summer weather, then Bowen Island is a great choice with plenty of things to do. A quick ferry ride will get you to the island where you can take in nature with hikes and beaches, enjoy outdoor activities like biking and paddle boarding, and immerse yourself in culture with art galleries and museums. We got to visit ourselves over a weekend, so here’s what a day trip to Bowen Island could look like for you.
Getting to Bowen Island
Ferries to Bowen Island leave Horseshoe Bay from 5:50am to 10:00pm and the crossing takes only 20 minutes. To get to the Horseshoe Bay terminal without a car you can take the 250 or 257 bus from downtown Vancouver, but keep in mind buses can get busy over the weekends. Tickets for the ferry can be purchased at the terminal and the return is included with your fare.
Before getting on the ferry, you can also wander around Horseshoe Bay and take in the sights of the mountains. There’s also a few shops, cafes and restaurants like Goldie’s Donuts & Bakery for a quick sweet treat.
Snug Cove
Once the ferry has made its crossing you’ll arrive at Snug Cove which features quaint shops, cafes and restaurants. Most things in Snug Cove are walk-able to get around but there is also a public bus that takes you across the island. Alternatively you can hire bikes at Bowen eBikes to get around and the store is located right where the ferry drops you off. We recommend booking online beforehand as spots do fill up! Take in the views or grab some breakfast before heading out for some outdoor adventure.
Enjoy The Outdoors
It’s up to you how you wish to experience your day trip to Bowen Island, whether you have a relaxing stay or an adventurous one. We opted to hike the Dorman Point Trail, a 2.4km trail that ascends to some nice views of the Howe Sound. This is a moderately challenging hike as it has some areas that are a bit steeper but overall was not too difficult. The trail starts not too far from Snug Cove so it’s a great way to begin the day and still have time for other activities.
If hiking is not your thing or you’re looking to cool off in the water then Bowen Island offers a variety of beaches. For visitors, the community beaches are probably your best bet like Sandy Beach and Tunstall Bay Beach. More info on beaches can be found here. There’s plenty of other things to do on Bowen Island like kayaking, paddle boarding, fishing, golf and many more!
Take A Break & Enjoy Lunch
Once it’s time for lunch, you can head back to Snug Cove and choose between a variety of cafes and restaurants. We visited Tippy’s Cookhouse, a new eatery on Bowen Island offering a selection of breakfast and brunch options. It’s got a nice outdoor patio area where you can enjoy the waterfront views while replenishing your energy levels over coffee and lunch. We got the Yogi Benny ($23) and the Opa’s Pancakes ($19) which were both delicious. Alternative options for food in Snug Cove include pubs, tacos, sushi and Italian so take your pick!
Arvo Activity
If you don’t have a huge food-coma, there is plenty of time in the afternoon to fit in another activity before you call it a day. We chose to walk to Killarney Lake which isn’t too far from Snug Cove. Here we got to take in the lake and enjoy the shade of the trees to escape some of the heat. There is a loop trail that takes about 2 hours but we just visited the view point.
We headed back to Doc Morgan’s lawn near the ferry terminal where there were some mini-games set up like corn hole, jenga and connect four so we spent time playing those, grabbed an ice cream and winded down before waiting for the next ferry to arrive back to Vancouver.
That wrapped up our day trip to Bowen Island and we only scratched the surface. We’ll definitely be back to bike around the island, visit some of the beaches and take up some water activities. With how close it is to Vancouver, Bowen Island is a great way to spend the day and if you’re keen to get away from the hustle of the city then we highly recommend it.
Let us know what your favourite thing to do on Bowen Island is, and if you have any recommendations for us, please let us know in the comments or get in touch with us.
*All photos taken by us with a Samsung Galaxy S21 & Pixel 5.