Helliwell Park & Tribune Bay

Elevation: 35 m
Elevation Gain: 50 m (cumulative)
Helliwell Park is located on the northeast end of BC’s Hornby Island. The Park’s impressive bluffs guard Tribune Bay and provide spectacular views of the Straight of Georgia and the Coast Mountains. In addition to its beautiful bluffs, the park is also home to an old growth Douglas Fir forest and a microclimate that features endangered Garry Oaks. The Park takes its name from John L. Helliwell, who donated the land as a gift to the people of British Columbia. Tribune Bay is a shallow, warm-water bay located immediately to the west of Helliwell Park. The bay features a crescent-shaped white sand beach and took its name from the HMS Tribune, which was stationed in BC under the command of Sir Geoffrey Thomas Phipps Hornby, for whom Hornby Island was named.
My Ascents:
April 19 2024
Trailhead: Helliwell Park & Tribune Bay

When I met my beautiful wife Brianne, we were both young and carefree. We’re neither of those things anymore, because we’ve given each other so much worth caring for over the years, including a decade of marriage and 3 amazing daughters. ❤️ In 2023, my gray hair and I turned 40. In 2024, it was Brianne’s turn to join the ranks of the middle-aged!

As her milestone birthday 🎉 approached, I asked her what she wanted for her 40th. Her answer was simple (but expensive 🤣); she wanted to sit on a beautiful patio, overlooking the Pacific Ocean, and to feel the sea breeze in her hair as she drank her morning coffee… ☕

She got what she wanted for her 40th birthday! Of course, it was probably a little less relaxing than what she pictured thanks to our BUSY little 18-month-old Lillian. 🌪️👶 Still, who wants to sip and savor their coffee when they can chug it and chase a toddler intent on launching herself into the ocean?

LEFT: Brianne and Lilly scan the sea for Gator-eggs.
RIGHT: 6-year-old Penny and 8-year-old Mera give 40-year-old Mom birthday hugs and a special handmade card. ❤️

After Brianne got to enjoy her coffee, her card and her kids, it was time to continue her 40th birthday party – with a hike! I know, I know – you’re all thinking: “Really, Matt? You made Brianne hike on her birthday?” but I swear, it was her choice! 😇 If you need proof, look no further than the fact that we picked a hike that didn’t involve a summit. 😂

LEFT: Brianne and a sleepy Lillian enjoy a beautiful morning amidst Helliwell Park’s old growth Douglas Firs. Located on Hornby Island (a short ferry ride from our spectacular accommodation on Denman Island), Helliwell is widely touted as being the prettiest hike in the area, thanks to its magnificent bluffs and ocean views. Hence why Brianne picked it to celebrate her birthday!
RIGHT: Mera and Penny, amazed 🤯 to find something in the forest that’s older than their now-40-year-old mom!

LEFT and RIGHT: A beautiful totem pole, a short distance from the parking area.

After hiking for about 0.5-km through beautiful old-growth forest, the Douglas Firs disappeared and a single Garry Oak stood guard atop Helliwell’s famous oceanfront bluffs.

Panoramic views of Vancouver Island, across the Strait of Georgia. Click to see larger.

Snow-capped Mount Arrowsmith highlights the view beyond Helliwell’s vibrant bluffs.

A touch grayer, and a touch older 👴👵 than our first hiking date, but we’re still out exploring together. ❤️

LEFT: Penny, Mera, a suddenly awake Lillian and the birthday girl!
RIGHT: After leaving the old growth forest, we followed the trail counterclockwise, treating ourselves to magnificent views as we followed Helliwell’s bluffs east.

Brianne and Lilly stop to take in the views west towards Denman Island, and the more-distant, snow-capped Beaufort Range on Vancouver Island. #InstagramShot 📷

LEFT: At St. John’s Point, the drop to the sea became less precipitous, granting Mera a chance to search for sea creatures in the, surprisingly, deep tidepools.
RIGHT: Driftwood and rocky beaches at St. John’s Point.

After searching through tidepools and listening to a host of noisy sea lions on nearby Flora Islet, we followed the trail as it turned north and re-entered the old growth forest. When it did, we enjoyed a leisurely stroll back to the parking area, completing our 3.5-km loop around beautiful Helliwell Park.

With Brianne’s birthday hike complete, we made our way to Hornby Island’s quaint “downtown” for celebratory ice cream.

LEFT: Lillian enjoys a super cute sandbox “downtown.” 🥰
RIGHT: The girls enjoy their treats 🍦 in the sun, while Lilly gets sand EVERYWHERE. 😱

Since the hike was short and “downtown” wasn’t sandy enough, we visited nearby Tribune Bay to take full advantage of the magnificent weather that Brianne was gifted for her 40th.

LEFT: The birthday girl and her baby enjoying Tribune Bay’s white sand beach. This beach and Helliwell Park are among the reasons that Hornby Island has been nicknamed “Little Hawaii.”
RIGHT: Where there’s a beach, sand castles and shenanigans can’t be far behind with this crew…

LEFT: Dad and Lilly cooling off on a hot spring afternoon (because Mom wasn’t going to chase the baby into the still-cool 🥶 Pacific water). 😂
RIGHT: Lilly absolutely LOVING the clear water and soft white sand. Of course, she fell completely into the cold water 10-seconds after this photo was taken and wasn’t nearly as pleased at that point! 😬 Nevertheless, a soaked baby gave us a convenient excuse to enjoy the sun and sand for a little longer (while Lilly dried).

LEFT: After the baby dried, it was time to head back to our Airbnb on Denman Island. Despite requesting a family-friendly RAV4 from our rental car company, we were given an uncomfortable Jeep. While I didn’t love it, Brianne was very excited to pop the Jeep’s top off so that she could enjoy a birthday cruise around Hornby Island (with a beer in hand). When you’re THIS old, you can do as you please! 🤣🍻
RIGHT: Of course, Mera and Penny were VERY jealous that Mom got to ride around with her head above the Jeep’s roof. We therefore let them do likewise for the short ferry ride back to Denman Island. I’m not sure if two little girls have ever had more fun (but my favorite part of the photo above is Lilly passed out HARD in the backseat under her crazy sisters). 🥰

LEFT: Back on Denman Island, it was time for a birthday pool party in the Cokely Cove Guesthouse’s AMAZING, beachfront infinity pool! Last one in is a 40-year-old Goat! 🐐😏
RIGHT: Said 40-year-old Goat and her baby soaking up more sun in the pool.

LEFT: As the late afternoon shadows crept across the pool and the temperature dropped, the girls elected to retreat to Cokely Cove’s beachfront hot tub to warm up.
RIGHT: After getting out of the hot tub, our extremely thoughtful Airbnb hosts gave Brianne a balloon bouquet for her birthday. 🎈 Of course, this proved more of a gift for Mera and Penny 😂 but it was highly appreciated nevertheless! After a balloon party and dinner, we eventually managed to wrestle the kids into bed 😴 and had just enough time left to watch the sun set in peace from Cokely Cove’s beautiful patio.

Brianne watches as the sun sets on her 30s. 🌅 Welcome to your 40s Boss! 🍻 Can’t wait to see what they bring and there’s no one I’d rather grow old(er) with! 👵👴❤️