Hand Island Campground

Hand Island Campground is a designated backcountry campsite on Hand Island, in the Broken Group Islands of Barkley Sound. It’s a boat-in stop for paddlers crossing the archipelago, not a drive-up campground. A regional paddling guide estimates about two and a half hours by kayak from Secret Beach, with the actual crossing depending on the conditions and your pace. The island’s position near the group’s northern end makes it a useful overnight on the way in or out; that convenience can also mean a busier camp.

Overnight camping is seasonal, from May 1 through September 30, and requires a Parks Canada backcountry camping permit and a separate park entry pass for adults. There’s no potable water in the Broken Group, so plan to carry the agency’s recommended 4–6 litres of freshwater per person per day. Solar composting outhouses serve the designated campsites. Pack out your garbage, and leave dogs at home unless they’re service animals.

The camping area sits in a forested island setting near a low-tide beach of pale sand and pebbles. Across the Broken Group, Parks Canada identifies places of spiritual and cultural significance for Tseshaht and Hupacasath First Nations. Leave cultural and natural materials where you find them.