Saturna Island

Saturna Island is in the Southern Gulf Islands of British Columbia, Canada. It is between Vancouver Island and the mainland, and is the most easterly of the Gulf Islands. Saturna Island is mountainous and approximately 31 km² in size. Approximately 44% of the island is a part of Gulf Islands National Park Reserve (GINPR). Gulf Islands National Park Reserve was formed in 2003 from existing provincial parks, an Ecological Reserve, and other Crown land.



Understand


Like many of the Gulf Islands, Saturna is short on fresh water, so water conservation is expected.

History
The island was first used by Indigenous people who called the island "Long Nose", due to the island's long north-eastern tapering shoreline that ends at East Point.

Saturna was explored by Spanish sailors and named in 1791 after their naval schooner, the Santa Saturnina, one of the ships in the Spanish expedition that explored the Strait of Georgia. The first European settlers arrived in the 1800s.

Landscape
The highest peak on Saturna Island is at 497 metres. Mt. Warburton Pike (GINPR) is accessible by vehicle, and features panoramic views of the San Juan Islands and the Southern Gulf Islands.

Flora and fauna

 * Marine wildlife on the shores of Saturna includes seals, sea lions, river otters and tidal marine life. It is also common to see porpoises and the endangered orca whale in the waters off East Point (GINPR).
 * Saturna Island is the perfect place for bird watching: over 180 species -- including ruby-throated hummingbirds, oyster catchers, bald eagles and great blue herons -- can be seen on Saturna Island.
 * At Mt. Warburton (GINPR), endangered Garry oak trees cling tenaciously to the shallow soil, while a large population of feral goats roams the island's south-facing cliffs.

Climate
In this area, daily temperatures rise above 30°C (86°F) on an average of one or two days per year and fall below -5°C (23°F) on an average of only 2 nights per year. During the winter, the average daily high and low temperatures are 8.2°C (47°F) and 3.6°C (38°F), respectively. The summer months are equally mild, with an average high temperature of 19.6°C (67°F) and low of 11.3°C (52°F).

This may seem like mild weather, but boaters and kayakers can feel very chilled especially if soaked by rain or waves. Hypothermia is a very real possibility.

Nearly two-thirds of the area's rainfall occurs between November and February, with July being the driest month on average. August and September frequently experience morning fogs.

By ferry
BC Ferries provides connections from Pender Island, Mayne Island, Galiano Island, and sometimes to Victoria (Swartz Bay).


 * . Trips to Vancouver or Salt Spring Island involve transferring between ferries.

By plane

 * Flights to Saturna Island from Vancouver International Airport.

Get around
Kayak launching is best done at Thomson Park (see marker under Do) or at Winter Cove (see listing under See). Boat launches are located at Winter Cove.

Do

 * Swimming areas include beaches at, and East Point (see listing under See).
 * Swimming areas include beaches at, and East Point (see listing under See).
 * Swimming areas include beaches at, and East Point (see listing under See).
 * Swimming areas include beaches at, and East Point (see listing under See).
 * Swimming areas include beaches at, and East Point (see listing under See).

Buy
There is a thriving arts culture on Saturna Island, with a yearly gallery tour and several galleries that are open daily in the summer months. There are no banks on Saturna Island. Most retailers accept major credit cards and debit cards, but please check with your accommodation when making your reservation. ATMs are available at Saturna Lighthouse Pub (see listing under Eat and drink).

Lodging




Stay safe
Fires are not permitted on Saturna during the summer months when the fire hazard is extreme. In the spring, fall and winter months, fire permits can be obtained at the Saturna General Store (see listing under Buy).