Chrome Island

Chrome Island sits just off the southern tip of Denman Island, at the entrance to Lambert Channel. It's a tiny, rocky islet — barely more than a few acres — but it punches well above its weight. The island is home to one of the last staffed lighthouses on the British Columbia coast, a working light station that has guided mariners through these waters since 1891. For visitors aboard Captain Pat's boat, it's one of the most memorable stops on any tour.

A Light Station with History

Chrome Island Light Station was established in 1891 to mark the southern entrance to Baynes Sound and warn vessels away from the shoals surrounding the island. The original wooden tower has been replaced over the years, but the station retains its character — white-painted buildings perched on bare rock, dwarfed by the surrounding ocean. Unlike many BC lighthouses that have been automated and de-staffed, Chrome Island remains one of the few still manned by resident lightkeepers, who maintain the light, monitor weather conditions, and report marine traffic. It's a living piece of West Coast maritime heritage.

The lighthouse sits at the junction of Baynes Sound and Lambert Channel, two of the richest marine corridors on Vancouver Island's east coast. The converging currents create upwellings that draw baitfish, which in turn attract everything from salmon to sea lions. It's not unusual to see humpback whales feeding within view of the lighthouse, especially in late summer and fall.

Harbour Seals & Wildlife

The rocks surrounding Chrome Island are a year-round harbour seal haul-out. Dozens of seals can be seen basking on the exposed reefs at low tide, their mottled grey bodies blending with the barnacle-covered rock. In spring and early summer, mothers haul out with pups, and you'll often see the little ones learning to swim in the sheltered pools between the rocks. Captain Pat keeps a respectful distance — close enough for great photos, far enough not to disturb them.

Bald eagles nest in the tall firs on nearby Denman, and you'll frequently see them circling above the island or perched on the rocky outcrops. Cormorants — both pelagic and double-crested — dry their wings on the rocks, and in winter the surrounding waters host rafts of scoters, mergansers, and harlequin ducks. The nearby Norris Rocks add Steller sea lions to the mix, making the whole area around Chrome Island one of the best wildlife viewing corridors on the coast.

A Photographer's Dream

Chrome Island is one of the most photographed landmarks in the Northern Gulf Islands. The classic shot — white lighthouse buildings against dark rock, framed by ocean and distant mountains — is iconic. Morning light from the east paints the lighthouse in warm tones, while afternoon runs catch dramatic clouds building over the Coast Mountains behind Vancouver Island. Whether you're shooting with a phone or a professional camera, Chrome Island delivers.

From the water, the perspectives are endlessly varied. Come in close for the seals and lighthouse detail, or pull back for the wide view that takes in the whole island with Denman's forested shoreline behind it. On clear days, you can see the snow-capped peaks of Strathcona Park to the west — a stunning backdrop for any wildlife encounter.

Getting There

Chrome Island is only accessible by boat — there is no public dock and visitors cannot land on the island (it's federal property managed by the Canadian Coast Guard). The best way to see it is aboard one of Captain Pat's sightseeing tours from Denman Island. The trip from Denman's south end takes only minutes, and Chrome Island is a regular highlight on scenic cruises through Lambert Channel. You can also view the lighthouse from Boyle Point Provincial Park at Denman's southern tip, though the boat perspective is far more rewarding.