Premier Listings for Desolation Sound
Desolation Sound Marine Provincial Park possesses a magical magnetism that draws boaters and paddlers from distant shores. Most of those who arrive aboard ‘stinkpots’ tend to congregate in popular anchorages, such as Prideaux Haven, Tenedos Bay, and Grace Harbour, much as ‘fifth-wheelers’ converge on RV parks. Be a little more imaginative and you’ll find plenty of isolated bays and campsites throughout Desolation Sound’s more than 37 miles (60 km) of coastline.
Safe anchorages in Desolation Sound Marine Park, at the confluence of Malaspina Inlet and Homfray Channel, include:
Grace Harbour
A long and narrow sheltered bay located on Gifford Peninsula in Malaspina Inlet. The inner part of Grace Harbour is completely protected from all winds and seas. There are a few wilderness camping spots at the end of the bay, and a series of hiking trails. Follow the trail at the northern end of the harbour to a small, peaceful, freshwater beaver lake. Facilities include pit toilets and an information shelter.
Galley Bay and Isabel Bay or other bays provide anchorage for cruising boats and landing spots for kayakers wishing to explore ashore or set up camp for the night.
Thors Cove
Thors Cove is outside the Park – with a southeast wind blowing up Okeover Inlet and out Malaspina, this same wind will blow up Lancelot Inlet as a southerly and almost diretly into Thors Cove as a westerly. The best protection in these circumstances can be found in the extreme south end of the cove or directly behind a tiny inlet near the south end.
Theodosia Inlet
The current runs quite quickly through the narrow twisting channel which opens up inside Theodosia. Theodosia Inlet is almost a lagoon – good anchorage is available throughout the Inlet as well as behind this islet.
Wootton Bay
Several temporary anchorages are possible near the head of Wootton Bay with good protection from the nightime westerly but somewhat exposed to anything from the south or southeast.
Mink Island
Mink Island is outside the park boundaries but is still a very popular anchorages in Desolation Sound. The outer anchorage is fairly deep and completely open to the east. Shallower, more protected anchorage is possible behind a small islet near the head of the cove.
Tenedos Bay
Bold Head shelters this beautiful bay south of Prideaux Haven, in Homfray Channel. Favoured anchorages in Tenedos Bay are inside the island on the bay’s northern shore, or at the head of the bay, near Unwin Lake. A pleasant stroll along a trail leads to Unwin Lake, an ideal fresh and warm water swimming spot. Facilities include campsites, pit toilets and an information shelter. Kayakers and campers can explore nearby Mink, Curme and Otter Islands.
Prideaux Haven
Strategically located as a base for boaters to explore the Sound, this anchorage is an elongated bay dotted with islands, small coves and passageways. Prideaux Haven is one of the most beautiful anchorages in Desolation Sound. This is a marvellous place to explore by kayak, paddling among small coves, inlets and islands. Ashore, interesting tidal pools and marshes will enthral you with an abundance of marine organisms, birds and waterfowl.
Melanie Cove and Laura Cove are favoured anchorages for boaters, although anchorage is available at a number of locations along the shoreline.
Roscoe Bay Provincial Park is a small fjord located on the east side of West Redonda Island, near the southern entrance to Waddington Channel in Desolation Sound. There are a few wilderness tent sites and hikers can follow the short trail to nearby Black Lake, a popular summer spot for those attracted to the lake’s warm water.
Because of pool tidal circulation, the anchorages of Desolation Sound Marine Park are no-discharge zones; visitors must use holdings tanks or shoreside facilities where available. Boaters should also bring their own drinking water and boil any surface water prior to consumption. The park contains several parcels of private land. Kayakers should note in particular that the land at the head of Portage Cove is private, and there is no access across the Gifford Peninsula at that point.
The pristine waters of Desolation Sound are surrounded by steep evergreen mountains, all teeming with the wildest of wildlife. One of the prime attractions of these waters is their warmth in summer months, which makes them ideal for swimming and snorkeling. The scenery is less severe than many of the other sheer-sided waterways along the central coast, although just as majestic. Snowcapped peaks of the Coast Mountains soar from the tideline to heights of 7,875 feet (2400 m).
Many yachtsmen regard the Desolation Sound area as not only the most beautiful and varied cruising area in BC, but equal to, if not better than any other area in the rest of the world. In the variety of spectacular scenery, warm summer climate, abundance of shelter and anchorages, this area is a microcosm of all that is best about salt water cruising in British Columbia.
Boaters and paddlers will discover an environment nearer in spirit to the protected waters of the southern Strait of Georgia. What Desolation Sound provides that the southern Gulf Islands don’t is an astonishing breeding ground for shellfish, principally oysters. Whoever penned the time-honoured expression ‘When the tide is out, the table is spread’ must have been inspired by these nutrient-rich waters. Camping areas ashore abound, and the forested parkland comprises extensive trails and small lakes.
Campers should follow proper backcountry travel procedures to secure food from animals. There are no garbage facilities within the park. Desolation Sound is a fantastic area for sea kayaking. A virtual absence of development in the 8,256-hectare park area provides visitors with almost total isolation in this protected, wilderness environment. Visitors should be well prepared and self-sufficient.
There are two approaches to Desolation Sound, either from Lund or nearby Okeover Arm Provincial Park at the head of the inlet. A boat ramp is located at each location. Paddlers will find less marine traffic in Okeover Inlet than along the west side of Malaspina Strait. For more information, consult the BC Marine Parks Guide, the official guide to BC’s coastal marine parks. Public boat ramps on the northern Sunshine Coast are located at Saltery Bay Provincial Park, at Okeover Arm Provincial Park, and in Lund. Private ramps are located in Powell River.
Location: Desolation Sound is located at the northern end of British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast, accessed from the tiny hamlet of Lund, the northernmost terminus of Highway 101, which begins 14,880 miles/24,000 km to the south in Chile. Lund is located only 104 miles/166 km north of Vancouver, but it takes over five hours (including two BC Ferry rides) to get there. Further south is Powell River, the largest town on the Sunshine Coast. Desolation Sound can also be accessed by boat from Squirrel Cove on Cortes Island, Heriot Bay on Quadra Island, and from Campbell River on the east coast of Vancouver Island.
Premier Listings
Spirit of the West Kayaking
Biographical Info
Kayaking British Columbia is the ultimate way to view BC’s abundant wildlife.
We want you to fall in love with kayaking and our unique coast, and our passion shows in everything we do. Choose among several professionally-guided 4-8 day trips for all experience levels around Vancouver Island. ‘Glamping’ basecamp-style with wood-fired hot tub overlooking the Pacific Ocean, or expedition-style paddling from camp to camp and paddling between 100s of islands through the Broughton Archipelago, famous Desolation Sound and the wild Great Bear Rainforest on the Central Coast. Savouring a fresh salmon BBQ in the open air, explore and view fascinating wildlife and wilderness and wake up on remote islands with the sound of the whales. Unique and breathtaking.
Our adventures are for everyone and are designed to cater to all levels of experience and abilities. We take care to introduce you to the sport in a fun and safe manner. All that we ask is that you welcome adventure with an open mind and are able to laugh and have fun when encountering the unexpected. Our groups are small, ranging from 8 to 13 people, depending on the trip, in order to provide you with the best experience possible. We provide everything you need for a once in a lifetime kayaking adventure. We provide high-quality fiberglass kayaks, paddling equipment, camp cookware, eating utensils, and camping gear.
Our guides take care of you for the entire duration of your tour, prepare delicious, organic and local meals, and have extensive training and experience in sea kayaking and in sharing the natural and cultural history of the area.
During the Northern Hemisphere winter, we also offer kayaking trips to the glacier-fed South American wildlife paradise, the Chilean Patagonia Archipelago, and multi-day escapes to sun, sand, remote beaches and the warm crystal clear waters of the Bahamas. Please contact us for all details of these amazing winter getaways!
