Helliwell Park | BC Parks

Highlights in this park

Helliwell Park sits on a rocky headland forested with a beautiful stand of old-growth Douglas fir. Located on St. John’s Point on Hornby Island, the park was a gift to the people of British Columbia from John Helliwell. The stunning Helliwell bluffs guard the northern entrance to Tribune Bay.

Spectacular views of marine life, the Strait of Georgia and the Coast Mountains can be had from any point along the bluffs. As you explore the park’s meandering hiking and walking trails, you will find weather-beaten old-growth Douglas firs and gnarled Garry oaks, as well as flora and fauna which may seem more at home in a desert than in a Northwest rainforest. The best times to visit are in late April and early May, when colourful wildflowers carpet the hillside along the cliffs. Please stay on designated trails to protect these fragile areas.

A recent addition to Helliwell Park is Flora Islet, which sits off the end of St. John’s Point. Flora Islet was designated as part of the park through the Pacific Marine Heritage Legacy and is one of only two locations in the world where divers can see the rare six-gill shark. This primitive, deep-sea shark ascends from great depths to the relative shallows around Flora Islet, attracting scuba divers and marine biologists from around the world.

Know before you go

Advisories

Safety information

Cliff hazards exist adjacent to hiking trails throughout the park. For your own safety and for the conservation of delicate ecosystems, please stay on marked trails and stay well back from cliff edges.
Helliwell Bluffs are high cliffs. Please be careful and stay well back from the edge. The high bluffs also make the park unsuitable for fishing.
Bring your own drinking water as potable water is not available in the park.

Special notes

Helliwell Bluffs are a fragile ecosystem. There are multiple ecological restoration projects underway at this park. Please stay on trails and do not cross the roped off areas that are being allowed to naturally revegetate.
The area into Lambert Channel is part of Helliwell Park. In 1997, the park was expanded to include Flora Islet, which was acquired as part of the Pacific Heritage Marine Legacy, and a large marine area. This area is managed as a marine protected area and has the following commercial fishery closures: anchovy, surf perch, pile perch, sea cucumber, octopus, scallop, squid, red urchin, Pacific oyster and green urchin. Local divers have implemented a voluntary closure on all marine life. All parks visitors are encouraged to comply with the voluntary closure.
Helliwell Park is a beautiful place to visit and the parking lot tends to overflow with vehicles in the summer months between approximately 10am and 2pm. BC Parks suggests that you ride your bike or walk to the park if you must visit the park during these peak times. Alternatively, you may choose to visit the park during non-peak times in the early morning or late afternoon, and into the evening. Also, please be advised that when the parking lot is full, maneuvering large vehicles can be challenging, as the turning radius is tight.
Smoking is prohibited in the park.

Review the detailed guides under visit responsibly for more information on staying safe and preserving our natural spaces.

Visit responsibly

Follow these guides to ensure your activities are safe, respectful, and ecologically friendly:

Maps and location

Site Specific Map [PDF]

Getting there

Helliwell Park is located on Hornby Island, two short ferry rides from Vancouver Island.

To reach Hornby Island take the Denman Island Ferry from Buckley Bay, off Hwy #19a. From Hwy #19, take the Buckley Bay exit #101. Once on the Denman Island, follow Denman Road to the Hornby Island Ferry terminal. Another 10 minute ferry ride will put you on Hornby Island. From there follow the main road to the Hornby Island CO-OP then turn left following Central Road to St. John’s Point Road to the park. Nearby communities include Hornby Island, Denman Island, Buckley Bay, Fanny Bay, Courtenay, Comox Valley.

Things to do

Hiking

Helliwell Park features a 5km loop trail leading along the Helliwell Bluffs and around through the magnificent mature Douglas fir and Garry oak forest. This trail affords magnificent views of Georgia Strait and the Coast Mountains.

Please stay on trails and do not cross the roped-off areas, which are being allowed to revegetate naturally. For your own safety and the preservation of the park, obey posted signs and keep to designated trails. Shortcutting trails destroys plant life and soil structure.

Canoeing

Kayaks and canoes can be launched along the beach for paddling around the bluffs.

Wildlife viewing

A magnificent panorama of Georgia Strait and the Coast Mountains can be viewed from the bluffs. Seals, sea lions, Bald eagles, sea and shore birds can all be observed at this park.

Pets on leash

Pets and domestic animals must be on a leash at all times. You are responsible for their behaviour, and must pack out and dispose of their excrement. Backcountry areas are not suitable for dogs or other pets due to wildlife issues and the potential for problems with bears.

Cycling

Cycling is permitted on roadways only. Bicycle helmets are mandatory in British Columbia.

Please note that bicycles with electric assist motors (e-bikes) are not allowed on the trails within Helliwell Park. E-bikes are restricted to park roads and areas where motorized use is permitted. The only exception to this policy will be for authorized and identified trail maintenance bikes conducting work on behalf of BC Parks.

Scuba diving

Jacques Cousteau rated the waters in this area as the second best cold water diving destination in the world. The clear waters provide a high level of visibility and slight fluctuations in water temperature contribute to a comfortable dive. Flora Islet is one of only two locations in the world where divers can see the rare Six-gill shark. This primitive, deep-sea shark ascends from great depths to the relative shallows around Flora Islet, attracting divers and marine biologists from around the world. Dive shops are located on Hornby Island, and in Union Bay and Courtenay on Vancouver Island.

Facilities

Picnic areas

There are no designated picnic facilities at this park. However, benches are located at various spots along the trail. Pit toilets are also located along the trail and at the parking lot. An information shelter and bike racks can be found at the parking lot.

Pit or flush toilets

There are four pit toilets at this park. Three along the trail and one at the parking lot.

About this park

History

Helliwell was donated by John Helliwell and established as a park in 1966.

Conservation

The primary role of Helliwell Park is to protect rare and endangered terrestrial ecosystem elements, including old-growth Douglas fir and Garry oak meadows, as well as representative examples of marine ecosystems. The park contains sea bluffs and a rich intertidal zone.

Helliwell Park is also an Important Bird Area that serves to identify and conserve a global network of bird habitat areas. It supports significant concentrations of birds that congregate in large numbers such as pelagic cormorants, surf or white winged scoters, glaucous winged gulls, long-tailed ducks, buffleheads, Barrows and common goldeneye and common mergansers.

The park is nationally significant for the habitat of one of the last known populations of the endangered Taylor’s checkerspot butterfly. A number of other endangered plants and animals can be found in the park, which is also home to the rare six-gill shark. Many sea birds and marine mammals can be seen from the trail along the bluff in the park.

Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples

BC Parks honours Indigenous Peoples’ connection to the land and respects the importance of their diverse teachings, traditions, and practices within these territories. This park webpage may not adequately represent the full history of this park and the connection of Indigenous Peoples to this land. We are working in partnership with Indigenous Peoples to update our websites so that they better reflect the history and cultures of these special places.

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