Where Is Sandy Island Marine Park?
The island is part of White Spit—named for its beautiful white sand and shells—that extends from the northern part of Denman Island. The spit itself protrudes underwater towards Comox, which at low tides necessitates nimble navigation by boaters travelling to or from the Comox Marina. When you’re standing on the northernmost beach of Sandy Island Marine Park, the panoramic views of the Beaufort Range (including Mount Washington), Courtenay, and Comox, as well as the Coast Mountains across the Salish Sea make for a unique and spectacular perspective.
The area, which has long been a place of abundance and a shellfish harvesting camp for local Indigenous peoples, was used for some time by the Department of National Defence for military exercises. The island and surrounding Seal Islets became a BC provincial park in 1966. The park’s name was officially changed to Jáji7em and Kw’ulh Marine Park aka Sandy Island Marine Park in 2012. According to the BC Geographical Names service, Jáji7em, which means “having trees” in the K’ómoks language, refers to Sandy Island, while Kw’ulh refers to the surrounding Seal Islets.
Indigenous Stewardship and Treaty Recognition
The K’ómoks First Nation Treaty, ratified in March 2025, includes provisions for Sandy Island to remain publicly accessible for recreational and cultural purposes as a Tribal Park. Designating treaty lands as Tribal Parks is a way for Indigenous communities to govern and manage the land and resources while incorporating traditional stewardship practices passed down through generations. Tribal Parks not only protect biodiversity and Indigenous rights; they also provide a space for Indigenous communities to practice traditional ways of life.
Accessing Sandy Island by Foot, Boat, or Horseback
Sandy Island can be accessed on foot from Long Beak Point on Denman Island during low tide (for this to be feasible, the tide must be below 2.4 metres). And the North Vancouver Island Backcountry Horsemen of BC chapter organizes an annual horseback riding day to Tree Island from Denman. But the most common way to get there is by water. I’m sure most of us know a boater friend just whipping over for the night (Henry Bay), or a couple taking their kids on their first overnight canoe trip, or a family that buys a boat just big enough to escape reality for an evening with a picnic on the island (my family).
Camping, Kayaking, and Tide Walks
For me, it’s the source of core childhood memories. As I dug my feet into the sand last year, I recalled backpacking from Denman Island on a Grade 5 campout while the tide was low. From what I remember, there had been some slight miscalculations from the adults in the group (one being my dad)—and they ushered us across the beach in urgency. One of my best memories is wading through the rising tide, ready to set up camp on the remote island, and later playing capture the flag. There is also a not-so-fond memory of using the pit toilet without walls.
Sandy Island has a charm that attracts many Comox Valley locals, with its unique feeling of being away from it all, yet so close to home. Make it one of your summer adventures—but don’t tell anyone! And be sure to watch for the tide ….
