Sidney Spit, at the north end of Sidney Island, is five kilometres (by sea) from Sidney on Vancouver Island. The spit is a sandy, narrow strip of land that stretches into the sea—a beautiful spot to sunbathe or walk along thousands of metres of beach. Located on the edge of the Pacific flyway, Sidney Spit’s tidal flats and salt marshes are often overflowing with shorebirds during the bird migrations of spring and fall.
The island’s history includes farming and some industry—between 1906 and 1915 the Sidney Brick and Tile Company operated on the island. Pieces of red brick litter the shoreline and underbrush.
The park occupies about one third of Sidney Island, about 400 hectares, including 223 hectares of foreshore. Several hiking trails are dispersed throughout the park, one leads to the site of the brick and tile company, another leads to Sidney Lagoon (a great spot for birdwatching) and another to the spit’s lighthouse.
