Roberts Memorial Provincial Park

Roberts Memorial Provincial Park is located 15 km south of Nanaimo. From Highway 1, take the Cedar Road exit, then turn on to Yellowpoint Road. Follow Yellowpoint Road until you see the familiar wooden Provincial Park sign.

Trail along a sandstone ledge: Roberts Memorial Park

Right behind the sign is a decent sized parking lot with a notice board that includes a map of the park and other useful bits of information.

The trail to the beach starts right behind the notice board. This 1-kilometer trail takes visitors through a traditional West Coast forest before arriving at the beach overlooking scenic Stewart Channel. 

Cascadia surveys her domain: Roberts Memorial Park

The beach at Roberts Memorial Park is unique. Rather than the more common rock or pebble beach, or the idealized sandy beach, this beach features a series of sandstone ledges. Thus, walking this beach is as easy as walking on a city sidewalk.

Sandstone "beach": Roberts Memorial Park

And, for sunbathers, there are plenty of clean, smooth surfaces to put a towel upon. Clearly that's what attracts the Steller’s and California sea lions, who haul out to bask in the sun on these unique sandstone ledges during the summer months.

Hemer Provincial Park

Hemer Provincial Park, off Cedar Road

Tree fungus (with slug underneath)

Holden Lake

Departure Bay

Looking across Departure Bay, floating in a kayak. For a more pedestrian view of Departure Bay and it's parks, follow the links (LINK: DEPARTURE BAY). In this picture, the island in the background is Jesse Island.

Sailing out of Departure Bay