Sunshine Coast BC Canada - Visitor Information for Powell River and area

Kayaking - on the doorstep of beautiful Desolation Sound

Savary Island is a popular kayaking destination

Check out the list of Kayaking companies for Powell River & Area

Kayaking in the Upper Sunshine Coast is incredible... spend a day kayaking in the Copeland Islands Marine Park (known locally as the Ragged Islands) to view colonies of seals and a diverse array of tidal and intertidal life. The Islands have boat-access-only capsites and two pit toilets, and are accessible via Lund about 5 miles south of the park.

Around the point of Malaspina Peninsula, visit Tenedos Bay and Unwin Lake in Desolation Sound or further up the popular Prideaux Haven, a large landlocked bay with plenty of good anchorages and beaches. The Curme Islands, off Mink Island, lure kayakers looking for a less populated water wilderness experience. There are no garbage facilities, so follow the carry-in carry-out rule.

Savary Island is a great destination for kayakers. With its long, curving and dazzlingly white beaches Savary has achieved a status as a summer Shangri-la attracting visitors from around the world, as well as drawing Coast residents there for the cottage season. As Captain George Vancouver's ship surgeon and botanist, Archibald Menzies aptly put it: "...they stopped for the evening on one of the Islands (Savary) & pitchd their Tents in a delightful plain with a fine smooth beach before it for the Boats, that renderd the situation both desirable & pleasant & such as they of late seldom enjoyed." Savary is also where the great tidal currents from the north and south meet, creating a unique environment of warm water unlike anywhere else on the Coast. Be sure to see the world's largest arbutus tree on Savary, just up from the Government wharf. If you don't feel comfortable making the crossing to Savary in your kayak, the water taxi at Lund will transport your party and your gear quite affordably. NOTE: there is no water on Savary, so pack the water you will need.

Jedediah Island, recently turned into a park in 1995, sits between Texada and Lasqueti, and is the Sunshine Coast's newest marine park. This 64-acre Island is a great favorite for kayakers looking for a circumference expedition close to the mainland and buffered from most winds. The archipelago of islands in which Jedediah is centred, is often referred to as the "String of Pearls" and anyone who loves kayaking and is looking for a truly unique BC kayaking experience should look no further. There is no water available on Jedediah either, so travel prepared. Jedediah Island is accessible either from Secret Cove on the Lower Sunshine Coast, or the southern tip of Texada Island.

LAKE KAYAKING
With accessibility to 32 lakes, Powell River offers unparalleled freshwater kayaking opportunities. Lois Lake, Elephant Lakes, Brooks Lake, the charmingly named Rainy Day Lake, Powell Lake, Inland Lake, Haslam Lake, Duck Lake, and Sliammon Lake are just a few!

BEFORE YOU GO:
If you are an inexperienced or beginner kayaker, it is important to be responsible for your own safety on the water - this actually goes for some kayakers who would place themselves in the "experienced" kayaker category. Anyone renting a kayak should be able to do a wet exit and self-rescue... if you don't, please avail yourself of inexpensive and highly practical lessons with an experienced kayak company before venturing out on your own. As one kayak company owner recently said: "It's a water sport - you should be comfortable getting in and out of your kayak in the water". You may never voluntarily choose to capsize, but it's clear over 90% of those who do end up in the water never intended it for themselves either.

Recreational kayaking requires no previous experience to learn, nor does it demand athletic ability. You simply need to learn the "tricks" of exiting and re-entering your kayak, and getting the basic skills down pat so you're not caught unawares with your experience spoiled.

Also, for anyone kayaking in British Columbia, the following gear is now required:

spare paddle or oar
paddle float (recommended)
bailer or pump,
bow & stern grab loops or toggles (recommended)
personal floatation device (PFD),
tow rope
whistle/signalling device
and a watertight light.

For contact information for the Powell River Kayak Club, please call the Visitors Bureau at 604.485.4000 or 1-877-817-8669.

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