Sandstone Beach along Jack Point

In Theo Dombrowski's excellent, must-have, book on "secret beaches", the Biggs and Jack Point Park beach is listed as #62 on page 165 (Secret Beaches of Southern Vancouver Island). To cite Dombrowski, "there are plenty of options for curling up in a sandstone basin, perching atop a sandstone couch or peering into tidal pools."

In a word, this beach is all about sandstone. Although there are plenty of examples of sandstone beaches on southern Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands, this one at Jack Point has perhaps the biggest concretions I've seen in the area. Of course, there are plenty of examples of the tripe-like erosions here as well.

 Large concretions on a sandstone beach (2012-10-17)

Trip-like sandstone erosions (2012-10-17)

 A continuation of the sandstone formations on the other side of the little bay (2012-10-17)

Sandstone beach details  (2012-10-17)

Roberts Memorial Provincial Park

Roberts Memorial Provincial Park is located 15 km south of Nanaimo. From Highway 1, take the Cedar Road exit, then turn on to Yellowpoint Road.

Roberts Memorial Provincial Park  2009-06-13

Follow Yellowpoint Road until you see the familiar wooden Provincial Park sign.

Roberts Memorial Park: unique sandstone ledges 2009-06-13

Right behind the sign is a decent-sized parking lot with a notice board that includes a map of the park and other useful bits of information.

The trail to the beach starts right behind the notice board. This 1-kilometer trail takes visitors through a traditional southern Vancouver Island (east coast) forest, before arriving at the beach overlooking scenic Stewart Channel.

Roberts Memorial Park: Cascadia and her domain 2009-06-13 

The beach at Roberts Memorial Park is unique. Rather than the more common rock or pebble beach, or the idealized sandy beach, this beach features a series of sandstone ledges. Thus, walking this beach is as easy as walking a city sidewalk.

Roberts Memorial Park: unique sandstone ledges  2009-06-13

And, for sunbathers, there are plenty of clean, smooth surfaces to put a towel upon. Clearly that's what attracts the Steller’s and California sea lions, who haul out to bask in the sun on these unique sandstone ledges during the summer months.

In Theo Dombrowski's excellent guide, "Secret Beaches of Southern Vancouver Island ", the beach at Roberts Memorial Park is listed as #68, on page 180.

Location: 49°3'44"N   123°46'28"W

Historical note: the park was donated by May Vaughan Roberts in memory of her husband and daughter and established as a park in 1980.

Opa enjoys a driftlog at
Roberts Memoral Park 2009-07-07

Oma on a sandstone ledge at
Roberts Memoral Park  2009-07-07

A shell midden on the beach suggests it was once a site used by First Nations for the harvesting of intertidal life.