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Discovery Islands Kayaking
 Discovery Islands – Kayaking routes exploring forested shorelines while navigating the many sea rapids under towering bluffs. A beautiful sight don't you think. Kayaking the Discovery Islands is an opportunity to explore the island hiking trails and the unique secluded private accommodations speckled along the shore lines of Quadra Island and Cortes Island.
The main two islands of the group of islands called the Discovery Islands located east of the Discovery Passage opposite the shores of the community of Campbell River on Vancouver Island. The Discovery Islands also includes other smaller islands like Maurelle Island, West Redonda Island, Rendezvous Islands, Stuart Island, East Thurlow Island, Read Island, Subtle Island and Sonora Island. Together, this group of islands is sometimes referred to as part of the north-central Gulf Islands.
The bigger islands of Quadra Island and Cortes Island along with the smaller Read Island, work together, forcing the ocean tides into a powerful bottleneck creating small rip tides, upwellings and whirlpools. The area of Bute Inlet, just tucked behind Stuart Island is a popular area for wildlife viewing of Black Bears, Bald Eagles, Blue Herons, Elk, etc. Bute also means “violent winds” which funnel up the passage with velocity… so prepare adequately. Kayaking the Discovery Islands includes experiences like exploring the Octopus Islands Marine Park, Waiatt Bay and visiting the Seals at Cyprus Rocks.
The Discovery Islands kayaking tour departures are usually from Heriot Bay, Village Bay and Granite Bay of Quadra Island or from Whaletown and Coulter Bay of Cortes Island. Most Discovery Islands’ kayaking tours want to avoid the heavy Johnstone Strait marine traffic and tide rips creating challenging kayaking conditions. Some of the better areas for challenging sea rapids would be kayaking the Yuculta Rapids, Dent Rapids, Lower and Upper Rapids, Okis Islands and Surge Narrows. Now, we are serious when we say … Tide tables are a must and a good understanding of tidal currents is essential.
The Discovery Islands beach camping is not bad with specified designated campsite locations are penciled in along cobblestone beaches and low, flat bluffs. Beware of the areas on your kayaking tour along the shorelines where there is no place to stop as some areas have “Private Property” signs guarding the coastlines limiting your rest stops.
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HOMEPAGES:
- British Columbia, Canada
- Vancouver Island
- Gulf Islands
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