Planning a Kayaking Trip to Discovery Island
Paddling to Discovery Island is on the top of a lot of paddlers lists. It is a beautiful escape from the city that provides a wild and rugged west coast experience that can be explored in just a day. However, before setting out for Discovery, some careful trip planning is in order. If you are an experienced paddler this can be a wonderful and fun…
A Paddling Circumnavigation of James Island
James Island is located in Haro Strait about 1.3 nm (2.4 km) off the east coast of Vancouver Island and is 315 hectares (778 acres) in size with approximately 6 nm (11 km) of shoreline. James Island is privately owned, so while you can’t get out and explore this beautiful Gulf Island, it does make for a delightful circumnavigation with its high sandy bluffs, forested…
A Paddle Trip to D’Arcy Island – Gulf Island National Park Reserve
A Kayaking Day Trip to D’Arcy Island D’Arcy Island is actually two islands lying about 3 1/2 nautical miles off the east coast of the Saanich Pennisula just north of Victoria. Big D’Arcy is the largest of the two at around 83 hectares and is part of the Gulf Island National Park Reserve. It has 7 wilderness campsites with picnic tables and pit toilets. Little…
Tillicum Safety Portage Beach
Hello and Happy New Year to all! IMPORTANT. Please distribute to all the paddlers you know… ESPECIALLY any who live in Esquimalt. We need everyone to write and enthusiastically support Councillor Armour’s motion (see below) for the Tillicum Safety Portage Beach. Deadline: 4:30 pm, Monday January 6. Send emails to: corporate.services@esquimalt.ca and copy to Councillor Armour… ken.armour@esquimalt.ca THE MOTION: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: That Township staff investigate options to…
Paddling the Inside Passage: Q & A with Going Solo Adventures
Over the span of two months Kelly Durst and Paul Everitt paddled from Skagway, Alaska down into Sidney, British Columbia for one epic trip. Following the Inside Passage, these two adventurers were surrounded by the many wonders of the Pacific Northwest. Okay! Let’s talk trip Firstly, when did you start and how long did the trip take? A: Kelly and I started early May by…
Whitewater Kayaking Close Call
Russell Henry shares the story of a close call while whitewater kayaking and offers some safety tips for other paddlers Whitewater paddling can be an extremely dangerous sport, especially when seeking out rivers that have not been paddled before and take a lot of effort to get too. On Vancouver Island, these first descent rivers are much easier to visit due to the network of…
Paddling on Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island: A Paddling Paradise In the vast expanse of Canada sits a hidden gem: Vancouver Island. This island on the west coast of Canada has started to gain some serious interest in the tourism sphere for its natural beauty, rugged and mysterious coastline, historic cities and cultures, and abundant wildlife. People flock to this island from all over the world for the west coast…
Top 5 Vancouver Island Multi-Day Paddling Trips
Multi-day paddling trips on Vancouver Island to add to your “to-do” list After Canada 150, where everyone flocked to our beautiful country to discover why we were voted the best place to visit in 2017, it is time we got back to our adventurous roots. Canada was discovered up close and personal, from the historic uses of the kayak and canoe by the indigenous people…
Top 5 Fall Paddling Spots near Victoria
Our Top 5 best places to see fall foliage from the water this Autumn in Victoria, BC We have a short Autumn season here on the west coast of Canada. A lot of rain leads to a quick fall and long drawn out ‘winter’ of bare branches and very little snow. So when the leaves begin to change you have to take full advantage of…
Pacific Marine Circle Route by Motorcycle
By Brian Henry Total distance 208km, plus more for exploring I love to explore as many things on the Island as I can. The Pacific Marine Circle Route includes so many opportunities to see the true Vancouver Island experience – completing the route on a motorcycle was a must. This quick trip was an exploratory mission to understand many of the things we can put…
