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Indian Arm () is a steep-sided glacial fjord adjacent to the city of Vancouver in southwestern British Columbia. Formed during the last Ice Age, it extends due north from Burrard Inlet, between the communities of Belcarra (to the east) and the District of North Vancouver (to the west), then on into mountainous wilderness. Burrard Inlet and the opening of Indian Arm was mapped by Captain George Vancouver and fully explored days later by Dionisio Alcalá Galiano in June 1792.John Kendrick (1990). 087062203X, The Arthur H. Clark Company. 087062203XJohn E. Roberts (2025). 141207097X, Trafford Publishing. 141207097X
There are several waterfalls, with the largest being Granite Falls at the north end on the east side. Spray of Pearls Falls at Wigwam Creek is in the north west corner, and Silver Falls is on the western side at Elsay Creek. There are also numerous unnamed seasonal waterfalls running over the rocky cliff walls that can best be viewed during spring run off. In winter, frozen ice-falls can be viewed. Granite Falls was formerly an operating granite rock quarry providing stone for Vancouver's construction needs and breakwaters.
Wildlife viewing can include seals, bald eagles, herons, and black bears. A large pink salmon run in odd-numbered years starts in July and continues to October; salmon and bear viewing opportunities concentrate at the Indian River estuary in the northwest corner of the inlet.
The Say Nuth Khaw Yum Heritage Park / Indian Arm Provincial Park was created in 1995 as part of the BC Government's Lower Mainland Nature Legacy Program. The park is located within the core of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation Traditional Territory.
A management agreement was signed between the Tsleil-Waututh First Nation and the Government of BC in 1998. The management board has equal representation from the Tsleil-Waututh First Nation and the BC Government to co-manage all aspects of the park and heritage area.
A rough wilderness hiking trail around the perimeter of Indian Arm was completed in 2003. It was created over many years by engineer and trailbuilder, Don McPherson; he also created the Grouse Grind hiking trail up the side of Grouse Mountain.
The south-eastern part of the Say Nuth Khaw Yum Provincial Park is adjacent to and partly surrounds the BC Hydro Buntzen Lake Recreation Area. təmtəmíxʷtən/Belcarra Regional Park is managed by Metro Vancouver Regional Parks; this park surrounds Bedwell Bay on the mid-western side of Indian Arm, and includes the area around Sasamat Lake. The Baden-Powell Trail is challenging but well-maintained and well-marked. It originates at Panorama Park in Deep Cove, passing along the slopes of the North Shore Mountains on the western side of Indian Arm to its western terminus in Horseshoe Bay, West Vancouver.
Other parks around the shores of eastern Burrard Inlet and Indian Arm include: Cates Park and Panorama Park in the District of North Vancouver, Barnet Marine Park in Burnaby, Rocky Point Park (which includes a boat launch), Inlet Park and Tidal Park in Port Moody, and Thwaytes Landing Metro Park Reserve.
There are associated cabins, beaches and areas as one heads north: Thwaites, Alder Point, Bergs, Croker Island, Indian River, Bedwell Bay, Belcarra, Anmore, Buntzen Bay, Jug Island, and Whiskey Cove. Also on the eastern shore is the ghost town of Iron Bay.
Buntzen No. 1 was built in 1903 by the Vancouver City Light and Power Company to provide electricity for the Vancouver area's streetcars. It used four 1,500 kW generators and by 1912 three additional 5,000 kW units were installed. The north end of the original four unit powerhouse at Buntzen No. 1 was demolished in 1950 and a new building, a 55,000 kW unit 1 generator and a larger turbine were added in 1951.
Buntzen No. 2 was designed by the English architect Francis Rattenbury, it was built in 1912, south of Buntzen No. 1 by British Columbia Electric Railway and produced 26,700 kW of power. One of Buntzen No2 three was shut down in 1972 leaving a capacity of 17,800 kW in operation.
Buntzen No. 1 was shut down during 2010–2011 to complete a turbine runner replacement project. The stations are unmanned, operated by remote control from BC Hydro's System Control facility atop Burnaby Mountain. In 2015 BC Hydro lists capacity of the two powerhouses at 76.8 MW.
There is confusion in maps and photographs about which site is Buntzen No. 1 and which is Buntzen No. 2. Buntzen No. 1 is to the north and has four buildings, with the 1951 generator addition on the north end of the powerhouse and the transformer building uphill. The site is not very appealing except for the ornate granite addition to the south end of the powerhouse with "Vancouver Power" carved in stone. Buntzen No. 2 is to the south and is all contained within one beautiful building which hasn't changed significantly since 1912.
The Inn is currently owned and operated by the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club as an outstation for club members. There is no public moorage available at the Wigwam docks; reciprocal privileges are not available to members of any other yacht clubs. There are various rumours that Al Capone hid out at the Wigwam, that murders were committed there, and that it might be haunted.
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