One of the largest and best-protected anchorages in the Gulf Islands, Montague Harbour is a nearly landlocked basin off Galiano Island wrapped around a marine provincial park, a white shell beach, and a friendly summer marina.
Tucked into the southwest side of Galiano Island, Montague Harbour is a wide, well-sheltered basin enclosed by Galiano itself, the wooded Gray Peninsula to the northwest, and Parker and Julia Islands to the west and south. The harbour is a longtime Gulf Islands favorite, anchored by Montague Harbour Marine Provincial Park with its mooring-buoy field, dinghy dock, hiking trails along Gray Peninsula, and a distinctive crushed white-shell beach.
Holding is excellent over a thick, sticky gray mud (with some sand) that grips an anchor reliably, and there is ample swinging room for a large fleet. Boaters can pick from three styles of stay: free anchoring, BC Parks mooring buoys, or summer-season full-service moorage at the private Montague Harbour Marina, which has a store, pub, fuel, and kayak rentals.
It is deservedly popular and fills quickly on summer weekends, so plan to arrive early to claim a buoy or a comfortable patch of mud.
Approach notes, hazards to watch for, and what's available once you're tied up.
Two entrances lead in. The southeast approach, between Phillimore Point and Julia Island, is the more straightforward and is the recommended route; currents are generally light (up to about 2 knots at times). Give the southern tip of Gray Peninsula a wide berth before turning toward the park dock, and watch for kayakers and paddleboarders.
The northwest entrance, between Parker Island and Gray Peninsula, is also usable but less forgiving: a shoal/reef extends southeast from the tip of Gray Peninsula, and boats run aground here from time to time, so keep well west of the peninsula and watch the chart closely. Overhead cables cross both entrances with a charted vertical clearance of 38 metres (marked with red-and-white spheres). Broader-area passage planning should account for strong currents in nearby Active Pass (up to ~8 knots); consult CHS current tables.
Wind protection summary and tide planning at a glance. Full per-direction and 7-day detail with Plus.
Live readings from the nearest OpenWeather station and WorldTides; refreshed every few minutes.
Source: OpenWeather One Call API + WorldTides.
A curated photo + map walkthrough showing approach, mooring options, and points of interest.
A guided walkthrough of Montague Harbour with approach photos, depth notes, and points of interest — written by members who have been here recently.
Member-uploaded images of this anchorage.
Real first-hand reports and questions answered by members who have actually been here.
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