Gilbert Island Campground

Gilbert Island is a designated backcountry camping area among the outer Broken Group Islands in Barkley Sound. Paddlers use it as a base for the western islands. You arrive by boat, not by road; the kayak launch is at Secret Beach, and commercial operators cannot drop campers at designated sites. Some crossings take three hours or more, and conditions can change quickly, so check the tides, sea state and marine forecast before launching.

There is no potable water or garbage pickup on the islands. Bring 4–6 litres of freshwater per person per day and pack everything out; designated camping areas have solar composting outhouses. Dogs are not allowed apart from service animals. Bring your food as part of a self-contained paddle-in trip.

The camping area sits in open forest with tenting spots beside a sunny beach used for swimming. It faces east, so late-day sun leaves early, and mosquitoes can be heavy around dusk; plan for insects when choosing when to set up camp. The wider Broken Group Islands are within Nuu-chah-nulth traditional territories and include places of spiritual and cultural significance to the Tseshaht and Hupacasath First Nations.