Vancouver Island Boat Charters Advertise Here NEW Eco Buttons Advertise here EH !

Desolation Sound - one of the most popular destinations on the west coast of Canada because of the raw, rugged beauty of the coastlines with cascading waterfalls, limestone cliffs, breaching whales, black bears rolling rocks, warm ocean temperatures and hundreds of private bays and coves to set anchor in. Sounds perfect eh!

Desolation Sound one of the largest coastal marine parks in North America. A land where wildlife rules and humans are only spectators. With proper planning the marine route can be a trip into the past with a rare opportunity to view First Nations pictographs while exploring

Desolation Sound consists of many islands and ocean channels teaming with life. Most marine boat tours explore Desolation from mid July to late August and as you can expect there are many boaters who visit at this time so marine traffic can be heavy. Isolation can be found in the shoulder seasons with less traffic and more privacy.

Some of the key destinations include Copeland Islands, West Redonda Island and East Redonda Island. Some of the more popular water ways include Waddington Channel, Homfray Channel, Lewis Channel, Pryce Channel and the tricky, Toba Inlet.

Desolation Sound boating involves ver good marine skills and navigation savvy as the route follows around jagged coastlines with unpredictable winds funneling down on you, especially in Toba Inlet. Mount Denman is an obvious landmark in Desolation as it towers overhead - always catching the eye of explorers as it dominates the skyline.

Gallery Bay on Gifford Island is a very popular anchorage point but Prideaux Haven located at the entrance of Homfray Channel is the ideal anchorage spot because it offers a boater some of the best views of the sound.

The ocean waters take on an emerald green color when entering Toba Inlet. A result of nature experimenting with mixing sea water with glacial water. Boaters should try to make the effort to cruise to the waterfall 3 miles pass Snout Point when exploring in Toba Inlet. It is a marvel!

Toba Inlet is a side trip designed for the experienced Desolation Sound boater, only because, of the unpredictability of the tidal currents and winds. The Toba Inlet passage shoreline in Desolation Sound is vertical with very few protected bays and only one small island leaving little room for shelter to hide when the winds pick up and you are caught in the Toba Inlet wind tunnel.

When arriving at East Redonda Island, take the time to check out the right side of the island as it is protected as an ecological reserve boasting unpolluted ocean waters. Also take the time to boat over to the pictographs on the upper end of Pendrall Sound. West Redonda Island also has pictographs on Bishop Point in Waddington Channel.

And take the time to view the waterfalls. There are so many. Luckily Desolation Sound is surrounded by spectacular waterfalls.