Lighthouse Country

Lighthouse Country is a rural area northwest of Parksville/Qualicum Beach on Vancouver Island that includes the communities of Qualicum Bay, Bowser and Deep Bay. Quieter and less busy than communities to the south, it has some fantastic scenery (particularly around Deep Bay) and Horne Lake is known for its caves and spelunking.

Understand
Lighthouse Country has miles of shoreline on the Strait of Georgia with numerous beaches for swimming. Many streams join the ocean in this area and each one has a hiking trail beside it.

Communities

 * — A large natural bay with a huge expanse of sand at low tide. Qualicum Bay has roadside stores where you can stock up on fresh caught seafood.

Bowser is the main community centre of the area and has most of the commercial facilities: a supermarket, liquor store and post office, restaurant, hardware store, gas station, and small resorts.
 * — A waterfront community which overlooks the gulf islands of Denman and Hornby. It is just a few minutes drive north of Qualicum Bay.


 * — A small oceanside community devoted to fishing. Mapleguard Point is a spit that juts out and protects Deep Bay’s natural harbour right beside the larger expanse of Qualicum Bay. Sheltered by the Point, Deep Bay launches boats that fish for salmon in the area of Norris Rocks, Chrome Island and Eagle rock.

Get in
The main way in is Highway 19 (the Inland Island Highway), about 15-20 minutes north of Parksville/Qualicum Beach and a little more than an hour north of Nanaimo. Exit 75 (Horne Lake Rd) connects Qualicum Bay to the highway and Exit 87 connects Deep Bay. A slower and more scenic way is to take the old coastal highway, Highway 19A.

Get around
Having access to your own wheels -- car, bike or taxi -- will be the only way to get to all of the attractions in the area.

By public transit

 * From Qualicum Beach to Nanaimo, there is regular daily service throughout the day. In contrast, between Qualicum Beach to as far north as Deep Bay, there is bus service twice per day from Monday to Saturday.
 * From Qualicum Beach to Nanaimo, there is regular daily service throughout the day. In contrast, between Qualicum Beach to as far north as Deep Bay, there is bus service twice per day from Monday to Saturday.