Trip
Sea Kayak - Hakai Protected Area
Launch from Bella Bella and spend 8 days exploring the Hakai Lúxvbálís Conservancy before paddling back to Bella Bella to catch the ferry back.
Contacts
Doug Cole
Primary Leader
- Thu, Jun 25, 2026 — Thu, Jul 2, 2026
- Seattle Sea Kayaking
- Sea Kayaking
- All Who Qualify, Adults
- Sea Kayak V
- Challenging
- Mileage: 100.0 nm
- Maximum Wind: 20 kts
- Maximum Waves: 5 ft
- Maximum Currents: 3 kts
- Pace: 3kts
- FULL (3 capacity)
- Sun, Mar 1, 2026 at 10:00 PM
- Tue, Jun 23, 2026 at 5:00 PM
- Cancellation & Refund Policy
- iCal Google
Spend 8 days paddling through the islands of Hakai. Exact route will be determined during the trip and depend on conditions and participants. We will move camp most days and plan to average roughly 12nm per day, but come prepared to paddle up to 20nm if we have good weather and somewhere we want to check out. We will likely take at least one weather/rest day. The trip will be a mix of protected paddling and coastal paddling. Participants must have prior kayak camping experience and have some experience paddling in coastal conditions. How adventurous our route is will be decided as a group.
I have not been to this region, so we will be exploring the area together. Please be prepared to help research the area and share your goals for the trip when you apply!
In addition to the border crossing, getting to the Bella Bella launch site requires taking a BC ferry from Tsawwassen to Nanaimo on June 24th and driving several hours north to Port Hardy. On June 25th we will take another ferry to Bella Bella, pack boats, and paddle to our first camp. We'll catch the ferry back to Port Hardy on July 2nd, stay in Port Hardy that night and then drive home on July 3rd. We'll share any ferry, gas, camping, and parking fees.
Style
- Most days are moving days and start early
- Take time to explore the coastline
- Dinners will be communal, we can decide exactly what that looks like together
- I'm bringing a fishing pole and plan to fish on the trip! Feel free to bring your own fishing set up or if you buy a license you can use mine sometimes.
Personal Equipment
- dry suit
- helmet
- VHF Radio
- 5 days water capacity
- Bearproof storage for food
Expectations for all participants
- Participate in group decisions and proactively communicate concerns
- Abide by decisions made by the group or by the leader
- Train skills as a group - we can decide how much as a group, but at a minimum at least one day together in coastal conditions
- Be respectful of others and willing to put the group before self
- Raise issues/concerns in a thoughtful and constructive manner
- Do not take risks that others are uncomfortable with
- Show up with the appropriate equipment and skills for kayak/wilderness camping, a positive attitude, and physical fitness to handle anything we may encounter
If this all sounds good please apply! Share what your goals would be for this trip and any relevant experience you have outside of the mountaineers.
Meet in Port Hardy late afternoon on the 24th to sort gear, load kayaks onto the ferry carts and be ready to catch the 7:30am ferry the next day.
Route/Place
Hakai Protected Area
-
CHS No. 3784 - Kwakshua Channel to Spider Island and Namu Harbour
CHS No. 3936 - Fitz Hugh Sound to Lama Passage
CHS No. 3937 - Queens Sound
CHS No. 3938 - Queens Sound to Seaforth Channel - See full route/place details.
Roster
Required Equipment
Required Equipment
These eight essentials plus The Ten Essentials are required on all sea kayaking trips. All but the whistle and clothing should be provided with any kayak rental.
- Floatation in both ends of the kayak
- U.S. Coast Guard approved Personal Flotation Device (PFD)
- Paddle
- Spray skirt
- Bilge pump with floatation
- Self-rescue paddle float
- Waterproof whistle
- Appropriate clothing for the conditions encountered seasonally
Trip Reports