Rebecca Spit Marine Park is a 2km hook of land reaching into the ocean on the east side of Quadra Island, just off Campbell River. Sandy beaches line both sides of the spit, with sheltered Drew Harbour on the inside and the more open waters of Sutil Channel on the outside. It is a day-use park built for easy beach walking, picnics, swimming, and launching a kayak, and it is one of the most popular outings on Quadra Island.
- Walk: Roughly 4km return if you follow the perimeter trail and beaches out to the point and back
- Time: 1 to 2 hours for a relaxed visit
- Cost: Free day-use park
- Dogs: Allowed on leash, but not in beach areas or park buildings
- Accessibility: Flat terrain, large parking areas, wheelchair-accessible pit toilets at the boat launch and southern lot
- Facilities: Picnic tables, grass playing field, boat launch. No drinking water, so bring your own
- Best for: Families, beach walkers, paddlers, and anyone after a low-key shoreline day
Rebecca Spit Marine Park is a provincial day-use park on Quadra Island, British Columbia, reached by a short ferry from Campbell River. The park protects a 2km sand and gravel spit with sheltered beaches, a perimeter walking trail, and a large picnic area overlooking Drew Harbour. It is open year-round and has no admission fee.
A great fit for families, paddlers, and anyone wanting a flat, scenic shoreline walk. Less ideal for visitors looking for elevation, deep forest, or solitude on a summer weekend, when the picnic area and beaches get busy.
Walking the Spit and Beaches
A short, easy trail runs around the perimeter of the spit, and beaches line both sides, so you can walk out along one shore and come back along the other. The full loop out to the point and back works out to roughly 2km, all flat. Most visitors do a slower version, wandering between the trail and the beach as they go.
The eastern, ocean-facing shore is known for unusually high accumulations of driftwood, piled in long silvered banks above the tide line. The inner Drew Harbour side is calmer and more sheltered, which is where most people swim and launch boats.
One rule worth knowing before you go: bicycles are not permitted on the trail around the spit, and it is strictly enforced as a ticketable offence under the Park Act. Bikes are allowed on the park roads only. E-bikes are restricted to the roads as well.
Swimming, Paddling, and Fishing
Swimming at the sandy spit is very popular, though there is no designated swimming area and no lifeguards. The sheltered Drew Harbour side warms up better and is the usual choice for families with kids.
Paddlers can set out from the boat launch and follow the shoreline around the bay. The protected harbour makes this a friendly spot for less experienced kayakers and canoeists, with the option to push out into more open water if conditions allow. Ocean fishing is permitted under provincial and federal regulations, and a licence is required.
Getting There from Campbell River
Rebecca Spit sits on the east side of Quadra Island at Drew Harbour, near Heriot Bay. To reach it, take the BC Ferries sailing from Campbell River to Quadra Island, a crossing of about 10 minutes. From the ferry terminal at Quathiaski Cove, follow signs toward Heriot Bay and the Cortes Island ferry, then on to the park.
The drive across Quadra to the spit takes roughly 15 to 20 minutes from the ferry, so the whole trip from Campbell River is easy to do as a half-day or day outing. The closest community is Heriot Bay, which has a pub, store, and the Cortes ferry dock.
Facilities and What to Bring
The park has two main parking areas, picnic tables overlooking the beach, a grass playing field, and a boat launch. Wheelchair-accessible pit toilets are located at the boat launch parking area and at the southern lot.
There is no potable water in the park, so bring your own drinking water, especially in summer. There is no overnight camping at Rebecca Spit. For camping, the neighbouring We Wai Kai (Cape Mudge) campground borders the park to the south.
A Bit of History
The spit has a long and layered history. It lies within the traditional territory of the We Wai Kai Nation, whose community at Cape Mudge is on the southern end of Quadra Island. The park itself was established in 1959.
Rebecca Spit is also tied to one of the region’s most significant geological events. During the magnitude 7.0 Vancouver Island earthquake of June 1946, the largest historic quake to strike the area, parts of the spit were reshaped by the shaking and ground failure. Today the low, narrow shape of the land is part of what makes the walk feel like you are heading straight out to sea.
