Rebecca Spit Marine Park

Highlights in this park

Rebecca Spit Marine Park is an excellent area for beach exploration and picnicking. Located on a narrow hook of land on the east side of Quadra Island, it's sandy beaches line both sides of the 2km spit. This popular day-use park overlooks sheltered Drew Harbour and is a favourite anchorage for boaters.

Walking trails lead along both sides of Rebecca Spit and offer ample opportunities for exploring the beach, which contains a high concentration of driftwood. Swimming, fishing and kayaking are all popular activities at Rebecca Spit’s large picnic area.

Facilities include picnic tables overlooking the beach and a grass playing field. There are also wheelchair-accessible pit toilets at the boat launch parking area and at the southern parking lot.

Know before you go

Advisories

Safety information

Bring your own drinking water as potable water is not available in the park.

Special notes

The more than 2km sand spit is a unique natural feature. The eastern shoreline at Rebecca Spit is also known for its high accumulations of driftwood.

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

Rebecca Spit is located on the east side of Quadra Island at Drew Harbour. Visitors can reach Quadra Island via BC Ferry service from Campbell River on central Vancouver Island. From the ferry terminal, follow signs to the Cortes Island Ferry and the park. The closest communities are Quadra Island and Campbell River.

Things to do

Hiking

A short, easy trail leads around the perimeter of the spit. 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.

Swimming

There is no designated swimming area at this park. However, swimming at the sandy spit is very popular.

There are no lifeguards on duty in BC Parks.

Canoeing

There are paddling, canoeing and kayaking opportunities at this park. Paddlers can set in at the boat launch and enjoy a scenic paddle around the bay.

Fishing

Ocean fishing is permitted as per provincial and federal fishing regulations. All anglers should check the current regulations issued by Fisheries and Oceans Canada prior to fishing.

Anyone fishing in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence. To learn more, see the fishing and hunting guide.

Pets on leash

Pets and domestic animals must be on a leash at all times and are not allowed in beach areas or park buildings. You are responsible for their behaviour and must 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

Bicycles must keep to roadways and are not permitted on the trail around the spit. This rule is strictly enforced and is a ticketable offence under the Park Act. Bicycle helmets are mandatory in British Columbia.

Please note that bicycles with electric assist motors (e-bikes) are not allowed on the trails within Rebecca Spit Marine 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.

Windsurfing

There are opportunities for windsurfing at this park.

Scuba diving

The waters around Quadra Island are considered to be excellent for cold water scuba diving. Dive tours can be arranged through commercial companies on Quadra Island, Campbell River and the Comox Valley.

Facilities

Accessibility information

Accessibility information is available for this park.

Boat launch

There is a boat launch at this park, located on the west side of the spit near the park entrance. The waters around Rebecca Spit are popular with boaters. Sheltered deep anchorage is available in Drew Harbour on the west side of the spit. Sewage discharge in the Harbour is prohibited.

Picnic areas

This park has a large day-use and picnic area located on the sandy beach. Picnic tables run along the spit. Other facilities include pit toilets, two of which are wheelchair-accessible. There is also a grass playing field and information shelters. Bring your own drinking water as potable water is not available in the park.

Pit or flush toilets

Pit toilets are located throughout the park.

About this park

History

This area named for early Spanish navigators who explored this coast in 1792.

Conservation

The park consists of open uplands interspersed with stands of mostly second-growth trees, shrubs and grasses. An unusually high concentration of driftwood accumulates on the sandy spit at this 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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