Dawley Passage Provincial Park | |
Iucn Category: | II |
Iucn Ref: | [1] |
Map: | Canada British Columbia |
Map Width: | 280px |
Location: | Alberni-Clayoquot RD, British Columbia |
Nearest City: | Tofino |
Coordinates: | 49.1472°N -125.7861°W |
Area Ha: | 154 |
Created: | 12 July 1995 |
Governing Body: | BC Parks |
Dawley Passage Provincial Park is a provincial park in British Columbia, Canada, located at the south end of Fortune Channel, which lies between Meares Island and the mainland of Vancouver Island just south. The park is to the north of the resort town of Tofino and is accessible by boat only. It was created on July 13, 1995 as part of the Clayoquot Land-Use Decision and contains, (of upland and of foreshore).
The park's name comes from Dawley Passage which is a tidal narrows with strong currents and abundant marine life, which makes it popular for scuba diving. Dawley Passage was named for Walter P. Dawley, a trader from Victoria who salvaged lumber from shipwrecks and at one time operated a store and hotel at Clayoquot and eventually owned stores at Ahousat, Nootka and Neuchatlitz Inlet.