| Smuggler Cove Marine Provincial Park | |
| Photo Alt: | A small bay, with a boat docked at the far end and surrounded by tall pine trees |
| Photo Width: | 200 |
| Iucn Category: | II |
| Map: | British Columbia |
| Relief: | yes |
| Map Width: | 200 |
| Map Alt: | A map showing the location of the park in British Columbia |
| Location: | British Columbia, Canada |
| Nearest City: | Sechelt |
| Coordinates: | 49.5161°N -123.9575°W |
| Area Km2: | 1.85 |
| Governing Body: | BC Parks |
Smuggler Cove Marine Provincial Park is a provincial park in British Columbia, Canada located approximately 16km (10miles) west of Sechelt, a city on the Sunshine Coast.[1]
Smuggler Cove is a small, picturesque all-weather anchorage on the south side of Sechelt Peninsula near Secret Cove. The park provides opportunities for hiking, swimming, kayaking and picnicking. The park draws many boaters and sightseers every year to the protected cove. Many come to explore the many bays of the area, rock cliffs and beach areas. The marine park is considered a wetland park so there are some very sensitive ecological areas along the path designed to protect the ecosystem.
To access this park by land, visitors can hike 4km (02miles) from a parking lot off British Columbia Highway 101.
The park is accessible by boat from the north end of Welcome Pass. When accessing the cove by boat, timing entry with low tide is recommended in order to avoid protruding reefs and submerged rocks. There are numerous eye bolts along the shoreline for stern pins.
A possible apocryphal story is that Smuggler Cove owes its name to its reported use by Larry Kelly. Kelly, the “King of the Smugglers” who was also known as “Pirate” came up to Canada after fighting for the confederates in the American Civil War. When the Canadian Pacific Railway was completed, many unemployed Chinese workers tried to emigrate to the United States but were forbidden official entry. Kelly assisted the Chinese to cross the border for a fee of $100 each. His insurance against detection was to have the Chinese agree to be roped together and tied to a large hunk of pig iron. If there was a chance that they would be apprehended by U.S. customs, he would throw the iron and Chinese overboard. Common misconception is that Larry Kelly was also nicknamed "Pig Iron," but this was another smuggler by the name of Jim Kelly.