Paddle Planning Resources

• Acrobat Reader Download 

Items to explore 

• Club Paddle Guidelines
• Kayak Safety Guide 
• Salt Spring Launch Sites 
• Equipment Checklists 

• Float Plan

• VHF  User Guide

• Bear Hangs 
  • PCT Bear Hang
  • Selkirk Design
  •  

• Leave No Trace

Natural History

• Sea Mammals in our waters 

Charts and Mapping

• CHS Chart Reference and Library ( Use Marine Chart Tab Above )

• B.C. Marine Trail System 

• Navionics Online Charts

Water Conditions (Tides & Currents)

• Canadian Tide and Current Tables

  1. Juan de Fuca Strait and Strait of Georgia

  2. Discovery Passage and West Coast of Vancouver Island

  3. Queen Charlotte Sound to Dixon Entrance

• Local Current Atlas Tables   2025
  To be used with “Current Atlas  – Juan de Fuca Strait to Strait of Georgia”

Weather Forecasts

• Environment Canada Weather Forecast

• Pacific – Georgia Basin 

• Weather Network    

• Windy Weather

• Ocean Connect

• Pacific Coast Marine Weather guide

• Using Wind Forecast Apps for Kayak Paddle Planning

Launch from    1 – SOUTHEY POINT

Blackberry Point, Valdes Island …….. 6.25/12.5 NM

A fairly long paddle north so choose tides and currents carefully. Pass the end of Penelakut Spit and when north of Reid Island cross over to Valdes Island and follow the beach north to Blackberry Point. Excellent beach landing. west facing… Good hiking inland. Popular for overnights.

Telegraph Cove, Thetis Island …….. 4.5/9.0 NM

Plan on a close to mid-day high tide. Head north to Penelakut Spit, then turn west into Clam Bay and head for The Cut, a narrow channel leading to Telegraph Harbour. Thetis Pub at the head of the second marina (the one without fancy power boats!) serves lunch on its deck. Depart south, down the west side of Penelakut Island with an interesting multiple shoreline and cliffs of nesting cormorants. Cross the sand bar connecting to Tent Island and make one mone-mileile crossing of Houstoun Passage back to Southey Point.

Thetis Island Circumnavigation …….. 15.0 NM (counterclockwise)

Plan on a close to mid-day high tide. Head for Penelakut Spit and continue north following the shoreline of Thetis. After rounding Pilkey Point and crossing North Cove to Fraser Point, turn south and find a small sand beach for lunch. Current always flows south along this shore (they say!). Possible pit ststopsop at a small tombolo before reaching Preedy Harbour. Beware of ferry traffic serving Thetis. Continue south and cross the sand bar connecting to Tent Island, then make one mile east crossing of Houston Passage back to Southey Point.

Reid Island and Secretaries …….. 3.5/7.0 NM

Paddle north towards Penelakut Spit through the Secretaries to Reid Island’s good sand/gravel south-facing beach. Possible trip extension to a good beach at Cardale Point on the southwest end of Valdes Island. Return south, crossing the main channel approach for Porlier Pass (nb. traffic and currents) to Hall Island and south Secretaries, to Southey Point.

Tent Island …….. 1.5/3.0 NM

An easy one-hour crossing of Houston Passage to a couple of small sandy beaches on the NW corner of Tent Island. There is a larger west-facing beach, but often popular with power boats. Possibleible trip extension (2.0) on return by crossing Houston Channel to Idol Island on the west shore of Salt Spring and continuing up to Southey Point.

Crofton Marshes …….. 4.5/9.0 NM

This paddle involves two main crossings, each way. Cross Houston Passage to Tent Island and then Stuart Channel to the east shore of Vancouver Island, and enter the marsh area between off-lying small islands north of the mill. Depending on the height of the tide, explore various marsh channels (warm water swimming?). Limited landing spots inside, but lunch/pit stops are possible on the off-lying islands. Return the same route as outbound.

Launch from    2 – Hudson Point

Wallace Island …….. 3.0/6.0 NM

Cross to Panther Point at south end of Wallace Island and head north up the east shoreline of Wallace Island. Best done on a flood. There is only one reasonable landing mid-way before reaching the top of Wallace. Chivers Point offers good shelter for a lunch stop, with toilet facilities in the adjacent campground. Possible trip extension northwards to the Secretary Islands. Waters along the west shore of Wallace Island are well protected by low islands and reefs. Pass well-sheltered anchorages for yachts at Princess Cove and Conover Cove, and can land at the latter to walk a good trail the length of Wallace Island. Short crossing back to launch site.

Launch from    6 – Long Harbour (Ontario Pl.)

All trips out of Long Harbour involve a 2-mile paddle, out and back, to Nose Pt. This is included in the estimated distances below.

Montague Harbour, Galiano Island. …….. 5.5/11.0 NM

At the entrance to Long Harbour (Nose Point), head east for the one-mile crossing of Trincomali Channel to Montague Harbour entrance. These waters adjacent to Active Pass can be busy with boat traffic including BC Ferries’s direct service into Long the harbour. Montague Harbour is spacious and a very popular anchorage for yachts, with a marina, fuel dock and restaurant at the head of the bay. Landing is possible on a small beach against the north side of the marina main ramp. On the outside of the north arm of the har,bour there is a wide sand beach, with access to campground facilities nearby. Depart via several adjacent islands before making the return crossing of Trincomali to Nose Point.

Miners Bay, Active Pass …….. 7.0/14.0 NM

At Nose Point cross over to Peile Point on Prevost Island and head south along the shoreline to Hawkins Islands. Cross Trincomali Channel to a point on Galiano Island about one-quarter mile west of Collinson Point. From there carefully observe and assess ferry traffic both in and approaching Active Pass and choose when best to enter. Pass close to Helen Point on the Mayne Island side and follow along the shore to Miners Bay. Land on the sandy beach beside the wharf. Take the trail to restaurant pub above, for lunch. Return after high tide for favourable ebb through Active Pass, cross Trincomali to Nose Pt. and head north two miles to cars at the launch-site flood. (Choose a fload tide around 13:00 hrs.) 

Prevost Island …….. 12.0 NM …….. circum.(clockwise)

At Nose Pt., cross to Peile Point. on Prevost Island and follow the shoreline south to behind Hawkins Islands for a break. Continue south around Portlock Point to explore a variety of interesting bays along the southern shore of Prevost, all of them land-able and able at the head. Pleasant lunch stop on Red Rocks. Continue round Liddell Point and paddle north through Glenthorne Passage then across Captains Passage to Nose Pt., to complete the circumnavigation.
Prevost Island also offers a variety of bays to explore at its north end.

Launch from    16 – Fullford Harbour (Hamilton Beach)

Ferries:
Satellite Channel, at the head of Fulford Harbour, is one of BC Ferries’s busiest routes in and out of Swartz Bay Terminal.  Most ferries travel at close to 20 knots, and those leaving Swartz terminal to take only about 20 minutes to appear off Fulford Harbour. While the crossing to Portland Island is little more than a mile (about 45 minutes steady) It is prudent to know ferry departure times and be prepared to wait for an expected ferry to pass ahead before crossing. The same caution applies for inbound ferry traffic approaching from the west. Always “wait and see”.

Portland Island …….. 3.5/7.0 NM …….. circum. 3.0

Portland is a popular day paddle destination with good beach landings and toilet facilities at both north and south ends. Circumnavigating the island is an interesting and pleasant paddle. It also has an extensive network of hiking trails.
However, a notable characteristic of Portland island is that it happens to be surrounded by “ferry priority waters” on all sides.

Piers Island …….. 6.5/10.0 NM

Usually reached after a short stop-over at Portland Island to minimise time spent in “ferry priority waters.” Cross Shute Passage and head between Knapp and Pym islands to enter Colburne Passage, which contains Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal. With caution head west towards densely populated Piers Island and find a) sandy beach on the west side facing Satellite Channel, with a good view of all departing ferry traffic as it rounds Arbutus Rock to enter Satellite Channel. With this knowledge, the choice of when and where to cross back to Fulford Harbour is much easier.

Moresby Island …….. 8.0/15.0 NM circum. (clockwise)

Usually reached after a short stop at Arbutus Point on Portland Island, before crossing Moresby Passage, via Canoe Rock Light in mid-stream, to Reynard Point, Moresby Island. The island is privately owned and appears largely undeveloped except for a farm located adjacent to Reynard Pt. There is virtually no sign of any habitation down either side, only a rocky shoreline with limited opportunities to land. At the bottom is Point Fairfax, with its important navigation light set on crown land, and immediately north of this is an excellent west-facing sand beach backed by shade trees; for a pleasant lunch stop. Head north along an interesting ‘natural’ shore to Seymour Point. Pause and take time to check for ferry and boat traffic before crossing to Portland Island and heading north or south around it. Check again for traffic before crossing Satellite Channel to enter Fulford Harbour.

Tsehum Harbour …….. 6.5/14.0 NM

Cross Satellite Channel to Portland Island. then head south across Shute Passage to enter Colburne Passage. Check for ferry traffic before crossing to the Goudge Island light. Head south with a choice of sheltered routes between small islands, pass Canoe Bay to Curteis Point and turn west into Tsehum Harbour with its multiple small boat marinas. There is a small beach right at the entrance, but the harbour itself offers no public beach landing opportunities. Shore access is possible only on floats at the head of each marina. There are better opportunities for a beach landing by heading due east to Little Group islets. A return route around Coal Island towards Fulford Harbour would avoid tackling the congested waters of Colburne Passage again.

Launch from    19 – Baders Beach

Maple Bay …….. 3.0/7.5 NM

Cross over to Vancouver Island side and head south to follow the shoreline to the jetty and beach in front of the” Lion Rampant” pub in Maple Bay. After lunch paddle, the foreshore of marinas in Maple Bay then circle back and cross to Salt Spring shore and up to Baders Beach launch site.

Launch from    18 – Burgoyne Bay

Genoa Bay …….. 5.5/11.0 NM

Choose an ebbing tide with a low around noon. Paddle west to Bold Bluff Point at the entrance to Sansum Narrows. Prefer the east side of the narrows to avoid rocks and reefs off Sansum Point. Towards the end, head across to the west shore and round Separation Point to head up to Genoa Bay. There is a good sand/gravel landing beach beside the restaurant, on the land side o of the marina float complex. Possible extension west to Cowichan Bay village about a mile away.

Cape Keppe …….. 12.0 NM one way

Choose a day with a late afternoon ebb. Also involves car- pooling between the start and finish points. A long paddle with one good beach stop. Paddle Bold Bluff Pt. and enter Sansum Narrows. Prefer east shore to avoid the reef off Sansum Point then follow Salt Spring shoreline with caution to Musgrave Landing then continue half a mile to a sand/gravel beach behind Musgrave Rock. Continue south to a (rare) beach landing about halfway to Cape Keppel. At Cape Keppel several beaches are accessible. Round the cape and follow the south shore to Isabella Islands shortly before turning into Fulford Harbour.

  Charts

We have a large collection of Hydrographic Charts available for borrowing and planning.  To keep them in a usable state we ask that the originals do not get taken on the water. Apple Photo (on Island) can make copies and laminate them for that purpose. Contact Jason for more information or to arrange borrowing charts at 250-221-9465 or email ja.moggridge@gmail.com

• Chart One
  is essential to the correct and accurate use of Nautical Charts.  More than a chart, it is a book that defines the symbols, abbreviations and terms used on charts.  It also provides important information about buoys, light visibility (range) and aids to navigation…  (link to item)
• Canadian Hydrographic Service  Index Chart  (Our Charts are Highlighted) … (link to item)

Online Charts  (a great trip planning aide)

1. 1. 1. Click on the Chart name to view it in an online window.
      2. Charts in our collection are Highlighted in RED and are available for borrow. (email link)

• CHS3000 – Juan de Fuca Strait to Dixon Entrance

• CHS3001 – Vancouver Island / Juan de Fuca Strait to Queen Charlotte Sound

• CHS3002 – Queen Charlotte Sound to Dixon Entrance

• CHS3410 – Sooke Inlet to Parry Bay

• CHS3411 – Sooke

• CHS3412 – Victoria Harbour

• CHS3419 – Esquimalt Harbour

• CHS3424 – Approaches to Oak Bay

• CHS3440 – Race Rocks to DArcy Island

• CHS3441 – Haro Strait, Boundary Pass and/et Satellite Channel

• CHS3442 – North Pender Island to Thetis Island

• CHS3443 – Thetis Island to Nanaimo

• CHS3447 – Nanaimo Harbour and Departure Bay

• CHS3456 – Halibut Bank to Ballenas Channel

• CHS3458 – Approaches to Nanaimo Harbour

• CHS3459 – Approaches to Nanoose Harbour

• CHS3461 – Juan de Fuca Strait, Eastern Portion

• CHS3462 – Juan de Fuca Strait to Strait of Georgia

• CHS3463 – Strait of Georgia, Southern Portion

• CHS3473 – Active Pass, Porlier Pass and Montague Harbour

• CHS3475 – Plans – Stuart Channel

• CHS3477 – Plans – Gulf Islands

• CHS3478 – Plans – Saltspring Island

• CHS3479 – Approaches to Sidney

• CHS3493 – Vancouver Harbour Western Portion

• CHS3494 – Vancouver Harbour Central Portion

• CHS3495 – Vancouver Harbour Eastern Portion

• CHS3496 – Approaches to Vancouver Harbour

• CHS3512 – Strait of Georgia, Central Portion

• CHS3513 – Strait of Georgia, Northern Portion

• CHS3514 – Jervis Inlet

• CHS3515 – Knight Inlet

• CHS3526 – Howe Sound

• CHS3527 – Baynes Sound

• CHS3534 – Plans – Howe Sound

• CHS3535 – Plans – Malaspina Strait

• CHS3536 – Plans – Strait of Georgia

• CHS3537 – Okisollo Channel

• CHS3538 – Desolation Sound and Sutil Channel

• CHS3539 – Discovery Passage

• CHS3540 – Approaches to Campbell River

• CHS3541 – Approaches to Toba Inlet

• CHS3542 – Bute Inlet

• CHS3543 – Cordero Channel

• CHS3544 – Johnstone Strait, Race Passage and Current Passage

• CHS3545 – Johnstone Strait, Port Neville to Robson Bight

• CHS3546 – Broughton Strait

• CHS3547 – Queen Charlotte Strait, Eastern Portion

• CHS3548 – Queen Charlotte Strait, Central Portion

• CHS3549 – Queen Charlotte Strait Western Portion

• CHS3550 – Approaches to Seymour Inlet and Belize Inlet

• CHS3552 – Seymour Inlet and Belize Inlet

• CHS3554 – Plans Desolation Sound

• CHS3559 – Malaspina Inlet, Okeover Inlet and Lancelot Inlet

• CHS3564 – Plans – Johnstone Strait

• CHS3598 – Cape Scott to Cape Calvert

• CHS3601 – Juan de Fuca Strait to Vancouver Harbour

• CHS3602 – Approaches to Juan de Fuca Strait

• CHS3603 – Ucluelet Inlet to Nootka Sound

• CHS3604 – Nootka Sound to Quatsino Sound

• CHS3605 – Quatsino Sound to Queen Charlotte Strait

• CHS3606 – Juan de Fuca Strait

• CHS3623 – Kyuquot Sound to Cape Cook

• CHS3624 – Cape Cook to Cape Scott

• CHS3625 – Scott Islands

• CHS3646 – Plans – Barkley Sound

• CHS3647 – Port San Juan and Nitinat Narrows

• CHS3651 – Scouler Entrance

• CHS3668 – Alberni Inlet

• CHS3670 – Broken Group

• CHS3671 – Barkley Sound

• CHS3673 – Clayoquot Sound, Tofino Inlet to Millar Channel

• CHS3674 – Clayoquot Sound, Millar Channel to Estevan Point

• CHS3675 – Nootka Sound

• CHS3676 – Esperanza Inlet

• CHS3677 – Kyuquot Sound

• CHS3679 – Quatsino Sound

• CHS3680 – Brooks Bay

• CHS3681 – Plans – Quatsino Sound

• CHS3683 – Checleset Bay

• CHS3685 – Tofino

• CHS3686 – Approaches to Winter Harbour

• CHS3721 – Plans Pitt Island

• CHS3726 – Laredo Sound and Approaches

• CHS3727 – Cape Calvert to Goose Island including Fitz Hugh Sound

• CHS3728 – Milbanke Sound and Approaches

• CHS3733 – Catala Passage

• CHS3744 – Queen Charlotte Sound

• CHS3794 – Stewart

• CHS3795 – Langley Passage, Estevan Group

• CHS3800 – Dixon Entrance

• CHS3807 – Atli Inlet to Selwyn Inlet

• CHS3808 – Juan Perez Sound

• CHS3809 – Carpenter Bay to Burnaby Island

• CHS3811 – Harbours in Queen Charlotte Islands

• CHS3825 – Cape St. James to Houston Stewart Channel

• CHS3853 – Cape St. James to Cumshewa Inlet and Tasu Sound

• CHS3854 – Tasu Sound to Port Louis

• CHS3855 – Houston Stewart Channel

• CHS3857 – Louscoone Inlet

• CHS3858 – Flamingo Inlet

• CHS3859 – Tasu Sound

• CHS3860 – Harbours on the West Coast of Graham Island

• CHS3863 – Port Chanal

• CHS3864 – Gowgaia Bay

• CHS3865 – Vicinity of Englefield Bay

• CHS3868 – Port Louis to Langara Island

• CHS3869 – Skidegate Channel to Tian Rock

• CHS3890 – Approaches to Skidegate Inlet

• CHS3891 – Skidegate Channel

• CHS3892 – Masset Harbour and Naden Harbour

• CHS3893 – Masset Inlet

• CHS3894 – Selwyn Inlet to Lawn Point

• CHS3895 – Plans – Dixon Entrance 

• CHS3902 – Hecate Strait

• CHS3908 – Kitimat Harbour

• CHS3909 – Plans Chatham Sound

• CHS3910 – Plans – Milbanke Sound and Beauchemin Channel

• CHS3911 – Plans Vicinity of Princess Royal Island

• CHS3912 – Plans, Vicinity of Banks Island

• CHS3920 – Nass Bay, Alice Arm and Approaches

• CHS3921 – Fish Egg Inlet and Allison Harbour

• CHS3931 – Smith Inlet, Boswell Inlet and Draney Inlet

• CHS3932 – Rivers Inlet

• CHS3933 – Portland Canal and Observatory Inlet

• CHS3934 – Approaches to Smith Sound and Rivers Inlet

• CHS3935 – Hakai Passage and Vicinity 

• CHS3936 – Fitz Hugh Sound to Lama Passage

• CHS3937 – Queens Sound

• CHS3938 – Queens Sound to Seaforth Channel

• CHS3939 – Fisher Channel to Seaforth Channel and Dean Channel

• CHS3940 – Spiller Channel and Roscoe Inlet

• CHS3941 – Channels Vicinity of Milbanke Sound

• CHS3942 – Mathieson Channel Northern Portion

• CHS3943 – Finlayson Channel and Tolmie Channel

• CHS3944 – Princess Royal Channel

• CHS3945 – Approaches to Douglas Channel

• CHS3946 – Grenville Channel

• CHS3947 – Grenville Channel to Chatham Sound

• CHS3948 – Gardner Canal

• CHS3955 – Plans – Prince Rupert Harbour

• CHS3956 – Malacca Passage to Bell Passage

• CHS3957 – Approaches to Prince Rupert Harbour

• CHS3958 – Prince Rupert Harbour

• CHS3959 – Hudson Bay Passage

• CHS3960 – Approaches to Portland Inlet

• CHS3963 – Work Channel

• CHS3964 – Tuck Inlet

• CHS3974 – Dean Channel, Burke Channel and Bentinck Arms

• CHS3975 – Caamaño Sound and Approaches

• CHS3976 – Principe Channel to Douglas Channel

• CHS3977 – Douglas Channel

• CHS3978 – Bonilla Island to Edye Passage

• CHS3980 – Laredo Sound

• CHS3981 – Laredo Channel and Laredo Inlet

• CHS3982 – Caamaño Sound to Whale Channel

• CHS3983 – Caamaño Sound to Principe Channel

• CHS3984 – Principe Channel Southern Portion

• CHS3985 – Principe Channel Central Portion and Petrel Channel

• CHS3986 – Browning Entrance

• CHS3987 – Kitkatla Channel and Porcher Inlet

• CHS3994 – Portland Inlets

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Camping Tarp  is big enough to cover the whole picnic table at a campsite, yet light enough to carry. It can shelter  people for sleeping, cooking and eating.  When rigged, its unique 7-point inverted wing design stays taut and stable in high winds. Pitch it with the included poles or use paddles, trees, lines or trekking poles. ( note there is NO Centre Pole, using a centre pole will ruin this tarp ) –   7-point inverted wing shape is stable in windy settings. –   Includes 2 lightweight 22 mm diameter aluminium poles that compact to 64 cm. –   Reinforced guy out points let you support it with trekking poles, trees or paddles. –   Provides 18.6 square meters (200 square feet) of coverage.

Compact 2-burner camp stove that can fit into a cooking pot. It has a unique folding hinge (sort of like a waffle maker) so can be stashed in a small space. It features 2 powerful burners to satisfy even the most demanding back-country chef de uisine. As efficient as it is powerful. , 2 burners each rated at 10,000 BTU, Simmer controls., Piezo ignition.,–   Carry bag, fuel regulator & wind deflector.,  Uses Coleman style fuel

First-aid Kit Foldable Sink Large Pot VHF Radio VHF-Guide (linked) Compacting  Table Ideal for base-camping Kayak Repair Kit (generic field bits)