Premier Listings for Surge Narrows Park
Surge Narrows Provincial Park is located on the south end of Maurelle Island, at the junction of Quadra Island, Maurelle Island, and Read Island, west of Campbell River on Vancouver Island. With its high tidal changes and many reefs, this park has ideal conditions for marine life. Sea urchins, sea cucumbers, sea stars and anemones flourish in these prime conditions.
A unique feature of the 488-hectare Surge Narrows Provincial Park is the phenomenon of tidal rapids caused by the convergence of two flood tides. This natural occurrence, located in the middle of the park, gives the park its name.
These tidal currents are also notorious for their strength, particularly at Surge Narrows on the east and Seymour Narrows on the west. Paddlers should avoid Seymour Narrows and only travel through Surge Narrows at slack tide. Paddlers and boaters should also be familiar with tidal current charts so they can safely explore the rich waters around Surge Narrows and the tightly-packed Quadra, Cortes, Maurelle, Read and Sonora Islands.
Only very experienced kayakers should attempt to paddle in the fast-flowing and treacherous tidal streams at Surge Narrows. Extreme currents can roar through Surge Narrows at 16 knots, and up to 14 knots on the ebb tide. Surge Narrows is one of the fastest-flowing and most dangerous tidal streams in the entire world, and is best left to the most experienced of kayakers only. The Surge Narrows area is also used for kayak training in the unusual and challenging tidal conditions that prevail.
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Random wilderness camping is permitted on the upland portions of the park (Maurelle Island), which is undeveloped and has no facilities. There is no fee for summer or winter camping. Saltwater fishing is possible for salmon and rock fish.
Surge Narrows Provincial Park is located east of Quadra Island off central Vancouver Island. Access is by boat only, from Heriot Bay and Hoskyn Channel Landing on Quadra Island, from Campbell River on Vancouver Island, or from Lund and Powell River on the BC Sunshine Coast. Access from the north is through Okisollo Channel, and through Hoskyn Channel from the South. Boaters can reference marine chart #3537 and #3539 from more information about the area.
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