Portland Island is anisland of theSouthern Gulf Islands ofthe South Coast of British Columbia, Canada. It is located in theSalish Sea west ofMoresby Island and off the south tip ofSaltspring Island, adjacent to the mainBC Ferries route just offshore from the terminal atSwartz Bay at the tip of theSaanich Peninsula. It was named after HMSPortland, the flagship ofRear-Admiral Fairfax Moresby, Commander in Chief of thePacific Station 1850–1853.[1]: 214
Portland Island is separated fromNorth Pender Island to the northeast by Swanson Passage, Moresby Island by Moresby Passage to the east,Piers Island and Coal Island to the southeast by Shute Passage, and Saltspring Island to the west and north by Satellite Channel.
Portland Island was given toPrincess Margaret in 1958 to commemorate her visit to the province.[2] Princess Margaret returned the island toBritish Columbia in 1967, following which it became a provincial park. Today, Portland Island is a part ofGulf Islands National Park Reserve (GINPR).[3]
Portland Island is accessible by private watercraft ormarine charter only. There aredinghy docks available at Princess Bay and Royal Cove, and a stern-tie ring at Princess Bay. Paddlers can land at the beach accesses at Princess Bay, Arbutus Point and Shell Beach.
Gulf Islands National Park Reserve offers 24 marine-accessible backcountry campsites on Portland Island: 6 sites at Shell Beach, 12 sites at Princess Bay, and 6 sites at Arbutus Point. Facilities on Portland are limited to pit toilets and no campfires are permitted.
A 6.5-kilometre (4 mi) loop trail follows the shoreline of Portland Island, and is accessible from any of the three camping areas (Shell Beach, Princess Bay, Arbutus Point). This hike requires approximately three hours to complete, but can be shortened to about one hour by taking one of the cross-island forest trails.
48°44′00″N123°22′00″W / 48.73333°N 123.36667°W /48.73333; -123.36667
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