Warm waters and wildlife! Desolation Sound with its unusually warm Pacific waters (74F), prolific marine wildlife and spectacular scenery provides some of the best sea kayaking opportunities in the world. Desolation Sound Marine Provincial Park possesses a magical magnetism that draws boaters and paddlers from distant shores. Most of those who arrive aboard ‘stinkpots’ tend to congregate in popular anchorages, such as Prideaux Haven, Tenedos Bay, and Grace Harbour, much as ‘fifth-wheelers’ converge on RV parks. Be a little more imaginative and you’ll find plenty of isolated bays and campsites throughout Desolation Sound’s more than 37 miles (60 km) of coastline. One of the prime attractions of these waters is their warmth in summer months, which makes them ideal for swimming and snorkeling.

The scenery is less severe than many of the other sheer-sided waterways along the central coast, although just as majestic. Snowcapped peaks of the Coast Mountains soar from the tideline to heights of 7,875 feet (2400 m). Boaters and paddlers will discover an environment nearer in spirit to the protected waters of the southern Strait of Georgia. What Desolation Sound provides that the southern Gulf Islands don’t is an astonishing breeding ground for shellfish, principally oysters. Whoever penned the time-honoured expression ‘When the tide is out, the table is spread’ must have been inspired by these nutrient-rich waters.

There are two approaches to Desolation Sound, either from the community of Lund at the northern end of Malaspina Peninsula or from nearby Okeover Arm Provincial Park Okeover Inlet. A boat ramp is located at each location.

The following provincial parks are located close to Desolation Sound:

• Desolation Sound Marine Provincial Park
• Okeover Arm Provincial Park
• Roscoe Bay Provincial Park
• Teakerne Arm Provincial Park
• Walsh Cove Provincial Park

From Lund, paddlers can explore Savary Island, with its endless sandy beaches and shallow waters extending out for miles from shore. Copeland Islands Marine Provincial Park is just a short paddle away, and offers many islands to meander amongst and view the wonderful intertidal marine life.