The Gulf Islands National Park Reserve contains some of the Penders’ best hiking trails and campgrounds. On South Pender, in the Mount Norman/Beaumont area of the reserve, there’s a challenging, 244-m (800-ft) trail to the summit of Mount Norman and a 2-km (1.2-mi) trail to a viewpoint overlooking Starvation Bay. That area offers 11 walk-in campsites. On North Pender, the reserve contains a short trail system around Roe Lake and a campground (Prior Centennial Campground) with 17 drive-in campsites.
Other popular outdoor pursuits on the Penders include cycling on the quiet road system (be prepared for hills in most places), horseback rides and lessons, golfing at the nine-hole Pender Island Golf & Country Club and disc golfing at the 27-hole Golf Island Disc Park. In disc golfing, players throw a Frisbee-like disc toward elevated targets.
Peace, quiet and rustic beauty have drawn many artists and artisans to the Penders over the years. Resident “creatives” produce original paintings, drawings, jewellery, fibre art, folk art, glasswork and even hand-made buttons all year round. Pick up a map identifying the studios that welcome visitors and do a self-guided studio tour.
The Pender Island Museum Society has established a museum at the site of the old Roesland Resort on North Pender. At one time, the whole Roesland/Roe Lake area was owned by the Roe family, who built a home there in 1908 and later established a resort on their property. The original Roe house and a number of dilapidated resort cottages still stand on the site.
Regardless of the time of year, there’s always something happening on the Penders: craft fairs, poetry readings, book launches, gallery tours, theatrical events, workshops and lectures are just a few to mention. The biggest event of the year, the Fall Fair, is held in the Community Hall every August. It features displays, 4-H competitions, floral contests, kids’ activities, live entertainment, an art exhibition and a dance. The Community Hall is also the venue for a long-running farmers’ market that is held each Saturday from Easter to November. It features fresh produce, prepared foods and locally made art and crafts. In the summer months, the community organizes children’s activities and presents open-air concerts.
Pockets of land on both Penders belong to the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve: the Roesland/Roe Lake area and Prior Centennial Park on North Pender and the Mount Norman/Beaumont area on South Pender. Roe Lake is one of the only natural freshwater lakes in the Gulf Islands. There’s a lovely view of Salt Spring and Prevost Islands from Roe Islet and thickly forested Prior Centennial Park features a short walking trail and 17 drive-in campsites. The Mount Norman/Beaumont area features 11 walk-in campsites, a kayak-friendly sandy beach and the Penders’ highest viewpoint, the 244-m (800-ft) summit of Mount Norman.
Eight-ha (20-ac) Medicine Beach Nature Sanctuary, on North Pender, contains wetland habitats that are quite rare in the dry climate of the Gulf Islands. It also features a beach, coastal bluffs and an upland forest. The Coast Salish people used plants from the area for medicinal purposes, which is how Medicine Beach got its name.
Wildlife is plentiful on the Penders. Species commonly sighted include River Otters, Harbour Seals, Killer Whales, dolphins, Great Blue Herons and Bald Eagles. Pick up a bird check list on the island.
There are about three dozen accessible-yet-secluded beaches on the Penders, so be sure to set aside some time for an oceanside stroll, a picnic or a bit of beachcombing. South Pender’s Susurrus Spa, at the luxurious Poet’s Cove Resort & Spa, offers a wide range of relaxing treatments for both women and men.
Boating is an important part of life on the Penders. The islands were separated for 50 years by a canal dug to allow boat traffic to pass through, before a bridge was built to link them once again. A full-service marina at Bedwell Harbour is a Canadian Customs Port of Entry in summer. There are also marinas at Otter Bay and Browning Harbour, and government docks at Port Washington, Hope Bay and Razor Point. Chinook Salmon fishing is good at Pender Bluffs, the mouth of Bedwell Harbour and Otter Bay. Both salmon and cod can be caught at Tilly Point and Gowlland Point. Magic Lake is a good place to fish for trout.
Kayakers will find hundreds of bays and beaches along the islands’ 61 km (38 mi) of coastline. Popular paddling routes include the 27 km (17 mi) from Port Washington to Bedwell Harbour and the 13 km (8 mi) through Browning Harbour and Bedwell Harbour. If you’re a novice paddler, Mortimer Spit is a good place to start.
When you feel like jumping in with both feet, consider a swim in the warm water of Magic Lake (North Pender) or a brisk ocean dip at Mortimer Spit or Beaumont (South Pender). If you scuba dive, you’ll enjoy exploring the Tilly Point Caves just outside of Bedwell Harbour (South Pender). The main cave is 3 m (10 ft) wide, 15 m (50 ft) long and covered with white plumous anemones on three sides. It’s a breathtaking sight when visibility is good.