 Gabriola Island View, Bill Pope photo
Gabriola's Location The island is one of the most accessible in the Gulf Islands, an archipelago of hundreds of islands stretching from the San Juan Islands in the US to the Northern Gulf Islands. Reach Gabriola by a 5km/3.1mi, 20-minute ferryboat ride from downtown Nanaimo to Gabriola's Descanso Bay terminal.
Topography Kidney-shaped Gabriola is about 14km/9mi by about 4.2km/2.6mi, with a land area of 57.6sq km/22.2sq mi. The topography varies from flat sandy beaches to forested hills rising to 160m/525ft at Stoney Ridge in the island's centre. Glaciations and erosion on the island's sandstone and shale are responsible for the dramatic cliffs, points, bays and sandstone formations Gabriolans now enjoy.
Landscape The landscape is a mix of beaches, forest, farms, residential and recreational areas. The island has been both mined and logged, but stands of old growth and lush second-growth forests survive. Douglas fir, red cedar, western hemlock, evergreen arbutus and the iconic Gulf Island Garry oak make choice canopies for hikers and bikers.
Climate & Weather Gabriolans enjoy a mild temperate climate. Winters are cool and moist, summers warm and dry. The island averages 138 rainy days per year, largely between Oct and March. During winter, occasional dustings of snow contribute to the picturesque beauty of the island. Average temperatures in January range between 0.8°C/33°F and 6.6°C/44°F, while in July the range is between 11.4°C/53°F and 22.3°C/72°F. As with any island climate, temperatures drop near the sea, so the layered look is always fashionable. Head to the Gabriola Island Visitor Centre at #5-377 Berry Point Rd for information and brochures. Pssst: Proceed cautiously because the turn-off after the ferry terminal is maddeningly easy to miss.
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