Visitor Info

Things to Do in Pender Harbour & Egmont Areas

Kid-Friendly Activities

Dan Bosch Park Beach at beautiful Ruby Lake
Photo by Ruby Lake Resort

APRIL-OCTOBER

Pender Harbour Living Heritage Centre
A newly-established museum open some weekdays and weekends in July and August, showcasing local artefacts and photos from the Pender Harbour area's early days of fishing and logging.

Swimming
Of the numerous lakes in the area, there are a few spots that are best for families with smaller children. They include:

• Katherine Lake Park: a small, warm lake with a sandy beach and a gently sloping shoreline into the water that is great for smaller children. Floating docks further out in the lake will keep older kids busy. There is also a small playground, picnic facilities, washrooms, and campsites. (No pets allowed on the beach.)
• Garden Bay Lake - T-dock area: The sandy area to the right of the t-dock has a nice gentle slope, though it does get deeper slightly quicker than Katherine Lake. Outhouse toilet. (Note: this area is next to a busy road, so please be aware of traffic.)
• Ruby Lake at Dan Bosch Park: Another sandy beach with a roped off swimming area. Note that motor boats use the lake so if you swim beyond the rope, please be careful.
• Baker Beach Park: Take a dip in the ocean at this gently sloping pebbled and partly sandy beach. The best time to go swimming is 3-4 hours after low tide. The water warms as it rises over the sun-warmed sand, making for a less chilly swim. Water shoes are recommended if you swim further out as there is an area on the left (facing the ocean) that is rocky and full of mussels and other shell fish. Also a great spot for watching wildlife - many sea stars, shellfish, baby crabs among the rocks, and you'll see eagles and other ocean birds in the skies above.

Please note:

• Our lakes are drinking water for the area, so please use the facilities and take your garbage with you.
• None of these swimming areas have lifeguards. 

Hiking
While there are many amazing hikes with beautiful vistas all over the Pender Harbour & Egmont areas, here are a few shorter, easy-to-moderate hikes perfect for kids:

• Tyner Park (Francis Peninsula Rd.)
• Francis Point Provincial Park (Merrill Rd.)
• Garden Bay Marine Park Trail (Claydon Rd.)
• Katherine Lake Trail (Garden Bay Rd.)
• ​Iris Griffith Wetlands (Iris Griffith Centre, Sunshine Coast Hwy)
• Dan Bosch Trail (Sunshine Coast Hwy. To find the trail, turn right before the beach/outhouses.)

Slocat Harbour Tours
Offers family-friendly tours around Pender Harbour. A comfortable ride on a covered boat. If you're lucky you'll see seals, sea otters, many ocean birds, and possibly even porpoises. Once in a while, orcas come into the harbour to look around too!

Water Skiing and Boating
Kayaking and Canoeing
Fishing, Crabbing and Prawning 

Pender Harbour's May Day Kids Fishing Derby

YEAR ROUND

​Playgrounds & Fields

Madeira Park Elementary School Playground

Madeira Park Elementary School in Pender Harbour offers a large grass field and a playground. Find picnic tables across from the Madeira Park IGA and washrooms at the Visitors Info Booth next to the Pender Harbour Community Hall. Check the Calendar of Events for kids activities.

Lions Field is located next to Pender Harbour Lions Club and across from the Pender Harbour Golf Course. There is a grass playing field and washrooms.

Pender Harbour Golf Club offers a picturesque 9-hole course with tee times available year round and is open to the public.  Lessons available for all leverl. Enjoy a wonderful meals and events at the Clubhouse.

John Daly Park  is at the start of Garden Bay Rd. just past the PetroCanada gas station and offers grassy fields, creeks, ponds and easy walks.

Egmont Park n the heart of the tiny Village of Egmont, offers a sports field, tennis court and playground, as well as picnic tables and porta-potties.

Indoor Activities

​​Egmont Heritage Centre is a museum featuring the history of logging and fishing activities in the area. It is located at the entrance to Egmont and across the road from the Skookumchuck Narrows Provincial Park trailhead to the Skookumchuck rapids and whirlpools, the Egmont Heritage Center provides tourist information, a great gift shop, access to public washrooms, free WIFI, picnic areas and lots of free parking so you can hike to the rapids or just stroll down to this tiny and very picturesque fishing village.
HOURS:
Spring  Thursday - Monday 10am - 5pm. (starting Easter weekend)
Summer/Fall  Daily 10am - 5pm. (starting Victoria Day and ending Thanksgiving)
Fall/Winter  Thursday - Monday 10am - 5pm. (starting Thanksgiving and ending December 24th)
Winter  Open by request - call 604.883.9994 or email us at EgmontHeritage@outlook.com

NATURE CENTER: Iris Griffith Field Studies & Interpretive Centre is an outdoor and indoor learning and nature exploration centre with great kid-oriented programs and activities, but adults will enjoy it just as much. Learn about the wildlife in the area and how to count rings in a tree stump to find out how old it is.
HOURS 
Summer: 10 am - 4 pm daily.

• Lagoonies Summer Camp runs Wednesday and Saturday throughout the summer.

​Winter: 10 am - 4 pm Saturday-Sunday

• Open daily 10 am - 4 pm during March Break.

Pender Harbour Aquatic & Fitness Centre offers a swimming pool, gym, and activities like year-round programs for kids and adults. (Closed for the month of July only.)