The waters of the Comox Harbour were as smooth as glass as ‘After Ours’ made her way out of the marina for our Tree Island Adventure. My husband, Ron, and I felt at ease with Ric Rennison in command of the boat, as he skillfully guided the vessel across Baynes Bay to Tree Island. We did not follow a course “as the crow flies” because, according to Rennision, there are only a couple of channels you can navigate across without risk of running aground on a sand bar.
My earlier research had revealed some of the history of this special place. The Department of National Defense used Tree Island for military exercises until 1966, when it was designated as Sandy Island Provincial Marine Park.
Located about five nautical miles from the Comox Marina, Sandy/Tree Island is a 33-hectare island oasis. Although you can walk to Tree Island from Denman Island’s Longbeak Point at low tide, many Comox Valley residents have never stepped foot on its shores. Perhaps this is because if you don’t walk back to Denman before the tide rises, you’ll be spending far more time there than originally planned! Aside from that, the only other access to Tree/Sandy Island is by private boat or sea kayak.
We arrived about noon to discover an exceptional expanse of smooth sandy beach. Several boats were already anchored just off shore—you need to use a smaller boat or zodiac to actually get to the beach—and a handful of people were picnicking, walking or splashing in the water. It was easy to see why they had come here.
The beaches offer excellent swimming, beachcombing and sun tanning, as well as breathtaking mountain and valley vistas. The island is crowned with an abundant forest of mature trees, including arbutus, Douglas fir, blue elderberry and black Hawthorne, native crab and big-leaf maples. When we tired of the heat on the sandy beach, a stroll through these towering timbers soon cooled us down.
Although there are few land animals on Tree Island, the treetops are filled with bird life, including a bald eagle’s nest. We were told that on its shores and shoals you may spot harlequin ducks, Brant geese, Caspian terns, western sand pipers, loons, great blue herons and more. Harbor seals, dolphins and sea otters frolic in the water. (Be sure to bring binoculars and a camera!)
Aside from the occasional overnight tent campers, there are no permanent residents. The Island’s human population is zero and there are no creature comforts. If nature calls, there are pit toilets and there is no running water.
The shores of Tree Island are varied. Fine white sand, peppered with sand dollars and seashells, can be found on the Baynes Bay side. But walk across Tree Island, to the Seal Islets on the Georgia Strait side, and the pebbled beach is a frenzy of activity with tiny crabs and snails. At low tide, the tide pools are about ankle deep and as warm as bathwater. I was glad I had worn water shoes to be able to walk here, but other people—in sandals and sneakers—had to turn back. I used this time to myself to reminisce about the days when my children were young…. and how much they loved to explore tide pools when we went on family vacations. For a fleeting moment, I found myself wishing I had a small child with me… perhaps a grandchild… so I could share this amazing experience. I laugh out loud and realized that it must be time to get out of the sun.