Our Discover Gabriola blog features what we think is the best of Gabriola Island, sights, experiences, what’s happening, and a bit about our daily lives in the community!

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Malspina Galleries. Perfectly Sculptured Formation.

Perhaps one of the most interesting and photographed natural attractions on Gabriola is the Malaspina Galleries.

The sandstone sea cave, creates the illusion of a cresting wave, created, has been carved out by frost & surf.  A variety of tide pools, and Arbutus trees as well as spectacular sunsets make this one of the islands most photographed places!

At low tide, visitors can still stand on the foreshore at one end and look into the cavern, but perhaps the best way to view the Malaspina Galleries is by kayak or paddle board.

GaLLT Walks – Malaspina Galleries to Gabriola Sands Provincial Park aprox. 4 km

Shoreline walk on flat sandstone shelf at mid to low tide, with spectacular views and great sunsets. Dangerously slippery rocks from November to April. Access to trail is at the end of Malaspina Drive. Follow the short trail through woods to an open point of land with views across the sea to Newcastle Island, Nanaimo, and Mt. Benson. At that headland turn to your left and follow the lower shelf back to look into the Malaspina Galleries, which were recorded by Spanish explorers in 1792. Retrace your steps back to the headland and then follow the sandstone shelf all the way to Taylor Bay’s sandy beach at Gabriola Sands Provincial Park (Twin Beaches). At this point you can connect to further trail systems or  retrace your route along the shoreline back to Malaspina Drive. Before heading back, walk across the grass field behind the sandy beach then cross the road and take a look at the twin beach of Pilot Bay.

Walk #4—Twin Beaches headland loop (2 km)

Start at parking area in Gabriola Sands Provincial Park (Twin Beaches). This walk goes clockwise around the shoreline of the Decourcy Peninsula, and is best at mid to low tide. Note: The rocks are dangerously slippery when wet. Ever-changing vista, interesting rocks, swimming spots, and summer sunsets. From the parking area, cross the road and walk over grass field to the sandy beach on Taylor Bay. Turn right on the sandy beach and at the end of the sand follow the rocky shoreline around the north side of Taylor Bay. The rocks soon give way to a flat sandstone shelf. The northern shoreline has vistas to Lasqueti and Texada islands. At the end of this northern shoreline you get a view of Entrance Island lighthouse. Next you round the headland into Pilot Bay and after about 100 metres look for wooden steps with a yellow concrete marker at the base. This is the return route, as the rock shelf is not passable all the way into Pilot Bay. At the top of the steps follow the public access trail to the paved road. Turn left and follow the road, taking the left fork at any intersection, to return to your starting point.