Desolation Sound

on the water

Desolation Sound is an excellent choice for a multi-day sea kayaking trip for paddlers with a skill level of III. The protected water in the sound is calm, and from June through September the water is warm enough for salt water swimming!

Desolation Sound Marine Provincial Park has backcountry camping at four different marine parks: Copeland Islands Marine, Desolation Sound Marine, Malaspina, and Roscoe Bay.  The four marine parks are easily accessed from Lund, BC or Okeover Inlet. Contact BC Parks (land manager link below) for launch sites, campsite reservations and fees.

information for leaders

• Considerations for travel to Canada

  • Start by reviewing the latest regulations. Look for information on border crossing and travel to Canada on these websites:
    
    • U.S. Customs and Border Protection
    • U.S. Department of Homeland Security
    • WSDOT (Washington State Department of Transportation)
    • Government of Canada
  • Everyone must have a passport or other valid ID like a NEXUS card.
  • NEXUS cards can save a lot of time but only work if everyone in the car has one.
  • Make sure your vehicle insurance is valid for Canada.
  • Make sure your health insurance is valid for Canada.
  • Border crossing regulations are strict in both directions. Know what you’re allowed to take and declare everything to avoid problems.
  • You may be able to save time by checking alternate border crossings.
  • See the Travel Industry Council of Ontario's 9 Travel Tips for Crossing the Canadian/U.S. Land Border blog post for some good tips on traveling to Canada.

• Suitable Activities: Sea Kayaking
• Seasons: June, July, August, September
• Weather: View weather forecast

• Difficulty: Sea Kayak III
• Length: 50.0 nm

• Land Manager: Desolation Sound Marine Provincial Park
• Parking Permit Required: see Land Manager
• Recommended Party Size: 6
• Maximum Party Size: 8
• Maximum Route/Place Capacity: 12