What do you want to do?
That’s what I ask everyone who shows up to our shop, wether they’re renting an eBike, Golf Cart, or just a passer-by who wants some more information.
“Mountains, Forrests, Views, Water, Cider, Golf, Hikes?” I say curious.
They normally respond with an emphatic ‘All of the Above’ reply.
Ok, so in this post I’m going to break down what I consider to be the best day trip on Bowen Island, and leave the rest up to you.
Section Quick Links
- Starting The Day
- For The Hikers
- For The Beach Lovers
- Areas to Avoid
- For the Cider Enthusiasts
- Camping
- Getting Around
- Getting To Bowen Island
- Getting Off Bowen Island
- Bowen Island Apps
Starting the day
Grabbing breakfast on Bowen you have a few options. Tell Your Friends probably does the most upscale breakfasts in the cove. If you want to watch the ferry coming and going, and the Kayak shop in full swing, then this would be the place to go. Sunrise is great from the marina.
If you’re feeling like a bigger breakfast is in order, or an even earlier day calls, then there’s Snug Cafe. Eggs Benedict, Smoothies, or just a couple of breakfast wraps with avocado, eggs, and sausages are great too.
Pro tip: Get to the breakfast/lunch/activity joints just before the ferry is arriving for the shortest lineups. Use the app “Bowen Island” to get a fix on the ferry.
For the Hikers
You’ve made it here, caffeinated on your first coffee, and are gearing up for some nature. Wow, Nature! You’ve got some options:
All day hikes
The All Day Hikers: Mount Gardner; Mount Collins. Check out all of our hiking posts here.
Firstly: Mt. Gardner. There are a two main ways to approach this mountain. One walking from Snug Cove, as an out and back, but the second is probably my favourite. Catch the bus and head across the island to Rileys Cidery. Note, the bus won’t directly drop you off here, you’ll have to walk up from the top of Bowen Bay Road. Head into the trails from behind Rileys Cidery (at the end of the road). Follow the signs that say “To Summit”. After Summiting the mountain and walk back to Snug Cove.
Personally, I’ve never been into out and backs, I always want to cover new territory, and this is a great way to do that. For more details on Mount Gardner see the Mt. Gardner specific post.
Next: Mt. Collins. My favourite entrance to this, unfortunately walks a narrow path past two homes. While it is a path, it doesn’t look like one at first. Don’t knock on anyone’s door up there, there’s thousands of visitors every year so be courteous. See the entrance here off of Scarbourough (google maps). For specific mapping info see Bow Maps. There is no parking here; to bussing is your best option to get dropped off at the top of this hill. After a VERY steep hike to start your day, you begin heading up Mt. Collins.
Other Hikes: If you’re unsure of the route you want to take, pop into our shop and ask for directions; we’ll be happy to show you the way. They have some great maps, and friendly people. Only a short walk from the cove too right next to the bus stop you’ll be waiting at anyways.
Fun note about Mount Gardner
Come September, the locals have one of the hardest lower mainland 1/2 marathons that runs over Mt. Gardner. Yeah, it’s brutal; I’ve done it three times now, it’s sadistic, but somehow we love it. Needless to say, if you’re doing Mt. Gardner, get prepared for a 5 hour minimum round trip from Snug Cove.
Shorter hikes on Bowen
For the 1 hour hiking groups: we’ve got two routes for you. One is up to Dorman Point, read about the Dorman Point Trail here. Just cross the grass field (left after you walk off the ferry), and start heading up. It’s a steep 45min uphill hike to a beautiful view point of Vancouver.
If you’ve already done this; there’s a secret trail behind the mailboxes on Dorman Road. The hike takes you up to a water tower overlooking the city. Search for Valhalla and you’re on your way. Not recommended for those not up for an adventure in getting lost.
The keep it casual group: From Snug Cove, if you walk the trails behind Tourism Bowen Island, you can make it to Killarney lake in about 40min-1hr. A round trip of Killarney Lake is about 1hr as well, making it the flattest rout on the Island and only about 2 hours of walking. You’ll pass a waterfall at Bridal Veil Falls, and a beaver damn half way to Killarney Lake.
We’ve gone over a short summary of the hikes on Bowen, for a more detailed look see our hikes on Bowen Post.
For the beach lovers
There are some amazing beaches on the island. Check out our municipalities map called Bowmap and click ‘Shoreline Access’. It’ll tell you what beaches are Community Beaches, Neighbourhood-beaches, and costal access points.
We have close to 48 beaches on the island, yet only two are truly sandy beaches. There are also many beautiful pebbly beaches on the island.
Some of our top beach picks, in no particular order:
- Tunstall Bay Beach; sandy, spreads out wide, lots of room for families friends, and good to swim in off the gentle shore line.
- Alder Cove; sandy, small, down a community pathway, can be a little smelly from time to time.
- September Morn Beach; our unofficial nudist beach, great to swim at in the morning and afternoon, the evening tides can bring some flotsam to the shoreline, long and very steep gravel access to beach.
- Cape Roger Curtis Beach; washrooms present; semi-steep access point, great for swimming, Sealions sometimes on the concrete dock out front, shallow entry point
- Millers Beach; long steep gravel access point, pebbly beach
- Grafton Bay Dock; recommended for bikers as parking a vehicle is challenging at best. Public dock to tie up to, jump in off of, or a pebble/sand beach to hang out on.
- Cates Bay Beach; long pebbly beach with a short walk in. Not recommended for inexperienced cyclists as the road is challenging to bike.
Areas to avoid
Driving: if you’re on Adams road heading across the island, make sure to go down White Sails, Tunstall, or Bowen Bay hill. If you carry on going down Adams road to the bottom, there is no beach, just a long steep hill to go back up.
Driving: Grafton Bay Dock/ Mt. Gardner Dock in the summertime weekends. The parking situation on a busy day is a nightmare, and turning around almost impossible. I would consider going to Cates Bay, Bowen Bay, or The Cape instead if I had a vehicle.
Cycling: if you’re headed across the island on Adams roadway, make sure to turn off to head down White Sails, or Tunstall. Avoid going down Bowen Bay hill and the last part of Adams road; as these hills are very steep to bike back up.
Cycling: avoid going up north to 7 hills, or the Cates Bay Area. The hills heading out here can be challenging to even experienced riders. Would recommend Grafton Bay Dock, or September Morn Instead.
Swimming: From time to time ecoli in Snug Cove can be a problem. I would recommend not swimming in Snug Cove, or its close neighbour Deep Bay.
For the Cider Enthusiasts
Bowen Island features two cideries. Rileys Cidery, and Bowen Cider House. Both are great; and highly recommended. At Rileys Cidery, you will need to book a visit on busy weekends, on weekdays, you may be able to get away without a reservation. If you’re eBiking, both are partner locations that can charge your batteries if you brought chargers from our shop.
At Bowen Cider House, you can get a charcuterie board, a tasting and and enjoy live that quiet farm life. Located about 1/2 way across the island, and highly recommended.
Rileys Cidery is a little further across the island. A large acreage; with some unique ciders that are winning awards across America. The claim to fame is they have over 1000 different apple species on the property.
Because Rileys Cidery is a Bowen eBikes charging station; you could leave the bikes on the charger here, if you wanted to do a “quick” hike up Mt. Gardners back side. See our Mt. Gardner Post for more details on this hike.
Apple Cider Is Not “Sidra”
If you grew up with Apple Sidra, Apple Cider is not the same thing, and provides a very different experience.
Apple cider is much drier (less sweet) than any pop or beverage.
For the activity doe’rs
We’ve got golf, there’s Kayaking, and of course eBiking on the island.
While there is some mountain biking, I’d recommend meeting up with a local to tour you around. Any of the harder runs on the north shore, would be easier here. Everything goes up a level in difficulty on Bowen for Mountain Biking.
Kayaking at Bowen Island Sea Kayaking is a great way to spend an afternoon cooling off.
Camping on Bowen Island
MARINE ACCESS ONLY at Apodaca park is currently available. The construction of 4 tent pads have finished at at Apodaca Park. Check parks BC for more up info on this campground. In 2026 I am happy to say this campground is open despite being only for marine access only.
Normal Camping
There is no camping in the “normal” way here yet. The public campground that was proposed by Metro Vancouver and many residents, was protested successfully by many other residents. Many raised concerns about increases in ferry traffic. Bowen eBikes encourages people to walk on the ferries as it’s quite busy during the summer time to drive on.
These lands in Cape Roger Curtis have now been turned into a nature preserve, and the conversancy is still deciding what to do with it. You can visit these lands via eBike, Vehicle, or Cart. There is no bus, or taxi that goes here. So you will still need to drive or rent a vehicle from Bowen eBikes. The lands contain one of our favourite view points on Bowen Island, and we hope you’re able to visit.
Getting around on Island
If you’re looking to get around the island without a vehicle; I can’t recommend the ebikes enough, but hey I’m biased.
There are no taxi services here on the island, so if you’re looking to get to the golf course; bike, or hitchhike is your only way. Luckily this year we have quite strong eBikes for the hill coming out of the golf course.
If you’re looking to go to Cape Roger Curtis, the bus route does not go there. But biking, you can get there, and stop off at a couple of the cidery’s for food along the way.
If you do bring a vehicle across; make sure you’re prepared to wait for an extra ‘overload’ sailing to get off. The evenings are the worst, and sometimes the ferry is canceled after 5pm (water taxi/passenger ferry only). Saturday & Sunday evenings are the worst for overloads, but you should be fine on a non-holiday Monday-Friday sailing.
Getting To Bowen Island From Vancouver
Take the 257 bus from downtown Vancouver. (You do not want to get on the 250, unless you have a stomach of steel). The winding roads of west Vancouver have never agreed with me, and the extra 20min journey; why? Get on bus 257.
Are you coming here more than once? Consider loading up an ‘experience card‘ sold by BC Ferries. In exchange for loading up a card with either $50 (for walk-ons) or $100 (for drivers), you’ll get a 30% discount on your trip & yes, it’s good to other smaller ferry routes in BC.
Driving on From Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay): Your ticket will say lane 2. Drive down lane 2 (two) until you get to the back of the line.
Wednesday morning is Dangerous Cargo heading to the Island. For more details see Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay) to Bowen Island (Snug Cove) Ferry Route.
Getting Off Bowen Island
Your ticket purchased in Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminal is for a round trip. No one will ask you for a ticket when leaving the island on the Queen of Capilano (the ferry).
The ferry line can be a bit tricky. There will be chaos in the summertimes. The most important rule is to not park on the yellow cross hatches on the roadway. The stop sign for boarding the ferry is right in front of our bike shop. Foot passengers board first, then motorcycles, then vehicles.
One big ‘gotcha’ is Wednesdays the 4pm off Bowen Island is Dangerous Cargo. No one else can get on this ferry; only propane trucks.
Wednesdays leaving Bowen Island (Snug Cove): you want to catch the 3:15pm ferry or the 6pm ferry. There is no 4:40pm sailing leaving Bowen Island (Snug Cove).
Saturdays leaving Bowen Island (Snug Cove): they cancel the 8:25pm sailing. It’s the 7:15pm or the 9:30pm sailing leaving.
See our updated post on Bowen Island (Snug Cove) to Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay) for more information.
The two best apps for Bowen Island
The Bowen Island app in the app store has sailings and a map of the ferry. One of the best resources I use on an almost daily basis.
Audio Me has tours of Bowen Island. If you want to have an audio guide instead of sticking with a tour group; then it is recommended.
Final thoughts
This is written based on my time living on Bowen Island; growing a rental business, and having thousands of visitors give me their thoughts on the day.
If there’s something in here that’s not covered; but you want to know about; reach out to rentals@bowenebikes.ca or give us a call at 778-956-7946. We’re always happy to answer any questions bike related or not.