BC Recreation Sites · British Columbia
Side Bay
BC Recreation Sites · British Columbia, Canada
- Elevation
- 85 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Nearest town
- Port McNeill
- Activities
- Kayaking, Beach activities, Camping
About
Now managed in Partnership with the 4 Wheel Drive Association of BC, Side Bay Rec Site is a remote access recreation site on the west coast of Vancouver Island.
This remote and rustic site is accessed via the community of Port Alice. Users should be prepared for unmaintained industrial roads, logging traffic, and equipped for self-rescue in the event of an emergency.
Side Bay is one of the best kept secrets of the North Island. With a beautiful sand beach and freshwater on site, don't visit the North Island without taking the time to enjoy and explore Side Bay Rec Site.
A reminder to all users: driving on intertidal areas (any area which is below the highest water mark, ie a beach) is an offence under the Federal Fisheries Act and could result in charges by the DFO.
Observe, Record, Report: 1-800-465-4336
Road access. User-maintained site with no regular servicing. First come, first served.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 35° | 31° | 16° | 43° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 32° | 27° | 18° | 39° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 34° | 28° | 19° | 48° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 36° | 30° | 24° | 42° | 11 of 11 |
| May | 40° | 35° | 27° | 57° | 3 of 11 |
| June | 42° | 38° | 33° | 53° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 46° | 41° | 37° | 52° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 49° | 43° | 39° | 61° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 47° | 41° | 36° | 57° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 42° | 38° | 30° | 54° | 1 of 10 |
| November | 37° | 32° | 26° | 43° | 8 of 10 |
| December | 35° | 30° | 21° | 42° | 10 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Nearby campgrounds
- Gooding Cove · BC Recreation Sites · 5 mi · 2 sites
- O'Connell Lake · BC Recreation Sites · 9 mi
- Kwaksistah Regional Park Campground · City & Municipal Parks · 14 mi
- Spruce Bay · BC Recreation Sites · 24 mi · 5 sites
- Marble River · BC Recreation Sites · 25 mi · 35 sites
All public campgrounds in British Columbia · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-09-10. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.