Beaches, Pacific Northwest
Goose Spit’s was originally called Pelxqikw, it means ‘round on point’, it is a coast Salish name. The spit was used by the Salish to collect shellfish and to fish for salmon.
The park is on crown land owned by the province, and since the early 70s, the province has granted the regional district a license to manage the land as a park. The park along with Gartley point across the bay forms the Comox harbor. On the one side is a sheltered lagoon, it is used by many migratory and resident waterfowl year round. Brant geese stop in the park as they migrate north during the months of March, April and May. The park is within a rare coastal sand ecosystem and is home to a number of provincially blue and red listed plants and animals.
Along the road, there is a log wall that was constructed to protect the road from the winter storms. This wall also helps stabilize the sand, allowing vegetation to get a hold.
There is a variety of wildlife that can be seen in the park, you might see deer, otters, mink, brant geese, eagles, herons, ducks, loons, starfish, jellyfish, sand dollars, crabs, fish, seals and sea lions. The views here are just incredible, so come on down for a walk and bring your camera.
A new addition to the park is the the new hawkins green way trail. It is 1.1 km in length and 2.2 meters wide in most sections. The trail has a gravel surface, with pavement along the steep section at Hawkins Road Hill. The trail will make pedestrian and cycling travel safer along Hawkins Road, which has no shoulders or sidewalks. You can get on the trail from the east end of the goose spit park, just head up nob hill on the stairway.