Ocean River Sports to the Gorge Tillicum Bridge Paddle Route
Paddling the Upper Harbour and along the Gorge Waterway gives you a completely different perspective than the Inner, Middle and Outer Harbour. You will pass by the industrial area of the harbour as you move into the Selkirk Waterway and finally the Gorge Waterway itself. Here you will begin to see the real beauty of this inland passage, with beautiful homes, parks, bridges and other…
Ocean River Sports to Ogden Point Paddle Route
What to See When Paddling Around Victoria’s Harbour This route explores the inner and middle harbour and, weather permitting, guides you out to the Ogden Point Breakwater with it’s beautiful First Nations murals at the harbour’s outer reaches. You will see historic buildings like the Old Victoria Customs House, the Fairmont Empress Hotel, and the BC Legislature. You will experience the bustle of a busy…
Paddling Victoria’s Beautiful Waterways
Victoria has one of the most beautiful harbours and inland waterways in the world making it a spectacular, as well as an incredibly convenient spot to go kayaking, canoeing or paddle boarding for a few hours or a day. Explore this historic working harbor from the water with its historic streets and architecture as well as it’s rich mix of ongoing activities including; whale watching…
Emergency Communication Electronics for Paddlers
There are a lot of Emergency Communications Electronics available for the paddler It makes a lot of sense for paddlers to carry some kind of electronic communication device for the additional level of safety they can provide, especially now with their compact size and affordability. If you’re in a life-threatening situation the advantage of being able to call for help and know that your distress…
Kayaking to Race Rocks Lighthouse
A Kayaking Trip to Race Rocks Lighthouse and Ecological Reserve Race Rocks is located just one nautical mile off the southernmost tip of Vancouver Island. It is an archipelago of low rocky islets lying in the narrowest point of the Straits of Juan de Fuca. Washington State’s Olympic Peninsula is only 22 km (12 nautical miles) away. Race Rocks is aptly named for the…
Whitewater Paddling on Vancouver Island
Get involved with the whitewater paddling community on Vancouver Island and learn about some great spots to check out Whitewater paddling around Victoria and Vancouver Island is primarily a winter sport. While the rest of the country is prepping for snow sports, here on the island we are grabbing our paddles and hitting the rivers and ocean surf. There are few large lake fed rivers…
Victoria Circle Paddle Route
The Victoria Circle Paddle Route, an obvious but often overlooked route The Victoria Circle Loop is a kayaking route full of changing landscapes that can take up an entire day if planned carefully.  See Map and Trip Planning details at end of this post. There is now interest in improving some access points to this route including developing a walkway under the Tillicum Bridge allowing…
Brentwood Bay to Tod Inlet Paddle Route
Tucked in behind the famous Butchart Gardens is a beautiful tree lined inlet accessible only by boat or by a walking trail just off Wallace Dr near Benvenuto Ave. This is an ideal paddle for beginners as the waters of Tod Inlet and the launch at Brentwood Bay are very sheltered and the total route there and back is only about 5 kms. (See map…
Kayaking to Discovery Island
NOTE: At this time overnight camping on Discovery Island is Strictly Prohibited Amy’s Top 10 Highlights of her solo Kayaking trip to Discovery Island Kayaking Discovery Island is an awesome adventure with easy access via Oak Bay Marina. The little island is rich in natural beauty, wildlife, and history. A relatively short paddle, this is a great adventure for an experienced kayaker. The currents…
Esquimalt Lagoon to Cole Island Paddle Route
The Esquimalt Lagoon to Cole Island paddle is an excellent day trip which can take a couple of hours or half a day or more depending on how much you would like to explore. When you consider that this route encompasses a migratory bird sanctuary, beautiful natural areas, many interesting historical sites and a busy, working naval harbour, best to allow yourself lots of time.…
