Premier Listings for Octopus Islands Park
Octopus Islands Provincial Park comprises of a group of small islands that provide safe anchorages for boaters travelling the scenic Inside Passage. Octopus Islands Park is part of the BC Marine Trail Association network, a series of campsites, resting areas and safe havens designed and cared for by recreational boaters and paddlers. Once connected, this marine trail will extend from Vancouver to Prince Rupert in British Columbia, and down into Puget Sound in Washington State.
Octopus Islands Provincial Park is located on the northeast side of Quadra Island, at the southern tip of Sonora Island and the junction of Quadra Island, Sonora Island and Maurelle Island in Okisollo Channel in the BC Discovery Islands.
The 760-hectare park (319 hectares of upland and 441 hectares of foreshore) at the entrance to Waiatt Bay is both remote and accessible at the same time. Nestled among a maze of islands, through which the waters of Johnstone Strait funnel into the Strait of Georgia, the Octopus Islands are most easily reached from Quadra Island. Access to the park is by boat only. Well protected anchoring is available throughout Waiatt Bay.
The park offers a number of different recreational opportunities in addition to boating and paddling, including hiking, fishing, scuba diving, ocean swimming, wilderness camping and nature appreciation.
Canoeing: The sheltered waters in this small group of small islands and a large bay are popular for paddlers. A rough portage trail of approximately 1.5 km exists from Waiatt Bay in the Octopus Islands to Small Inlet Marine Provincial Park on the west side of Quadra Island. From this trail, a further hiking trail leads to Newton Lake – a lovely place for a freshwater swim.
Tidal currents around Quadra Island are notorious for their strength, particularly at Surge Narrows on the east and Seymour Narrows on the west. Paddlers should avoid Seymour Narrows completely, and only transit Surge Narrows at slack tide. In addition, you should be well versed in the reading of tidal-current charts to safely explore the fascinating waters around tightly packed Quadra, Cortes, Maurelle, Read, and Sonora Islands. The area is also used for kayak training, due to the unusual tidal conditions that prevail. Currents can roar through Surge Narrows at 16 knots, and up to 14 knots on the ebb.
The park has a day-use picnicking area, but no facilities. There are no developed trails and no designated campsites at the park, although boat-in wilderness camping is allowed year-round. There is no camping fee.
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Octopus Islands Provincial Park is located in the Discovery Islands of British Columbia, between Vancouver island and the mainland of BC. Access to the park is by boat only, from Heriot Bay on Quadra Island. Kayaks and small rooftop boats can also be launched from the public dock at Hoskyn Channel Landing at the end of Surge Narrows Road. Boaters can reference marine chart #3537 and #3539 for more information on this area.
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Discovery Islands Lodge is a friendly B&B style inn, providing affordable waterfront accommodation and kayak tours for adventurous people. Located on remote northern Quadra Island, the lodge is ideally situated close to hiking trails, swimming lakes, and some of BC’s best kayaking.
Nearby Surge Narrows Marine Park offers Quadra Island’s most spectacular kayaking; our guided kayak day trips are the perfect way to explore its beauty and diversity. Entirely off-grid, and powered primarily by solar, Discovery Islands Lodge is the perfect place to unwind, unplug, and connect with others.
