Introduction
Imagine meandering the Pacific shoreline from the urban setting of Victoria to immerse yourself in a network of idyllic islands, running the Vancouver Island shore north through the Gulf Islands into the wilds of the North Georgia Basin, jumping islands to reach the Sunshine Coast, then crossing the wild mountainous backdrop of Howe Sound before arriving in the urban setting of Vancouver.
The Salish Sea Marine Trail joins two of the great British Columbia cities by a paddling route that leads into some of the great wilderness locations of the Salish Sea as part of the Trans Canada Trail’s Great Trail. Experience the elegance of Victoria, the serenity of the Gulf Islands, the wilderness of the Georgia Basin, the beaches and sunsets of the Sunshine Coast, the magnificence of Howe Sound and the vibrancy of Vancouver. It’s a marine trail like none other. Experience it today.
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Trail information
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Leg One - Victoria to Sidney
Distance: 39 km.
Description: Clover Point is the starting point for the Salish Sea Marine Trail logistically as well as symbolically, being KM Zero of the Trans Canada Trail. However, for protection and logistics, travellers may wish to begin in Victoria Harbour or any number of other launch locations possible along the nearby shoreline. From Victoria the route follows the Saanich Peninsula north adjacent to the Vancouver Island shoreline, an area bordered by island groupings containing numerous parks and marine-accessible campsites ideal for use by paddlers. Watch for wonderful wilderness areas including two major bird sanctuaries, one provincial park with camping facilities and three sections of the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve with camping facilities.
Where to camp:
Discovery Island Provincial Park. An established provincial park. It is approved as an official site of the Salish Sea Marine Trail.
D'Arcy Island. This is a section of the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve. It is approved as an official site of the Salish Sea Marine Trail.
Sidney Spit. This is a section of the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve. It is approved as an official site of the Salish Sea Marine Trail.
Isle de Lis (Rum Island). This is a section of the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve. It is approved as an official site of the Salish Sea Marine Trail.
Where to launch:
A launch strategy for the Salish Sea Marine Trail is currently being undertaken by the BC Marine Trails Network Association. When a launch site is formalized, it will be added here and to the BCMTNA map. Many unofficial launches are already indicated on the map. Grey flags indicate proposed launch sites yet to be ratified.
What to see:
This section of the Vancouver Island coastline, the Saanich Peninsula north of Victoria, is a pleasant mix of urban and rural shoreline as well as island clusters that can make for perfect paddling, if you watch for the currents at key locations. Note the warning signs on the Salish Sea Marine Trail map! This presents a wonderful mix of day paddles from places like Oak Bay and Sidney to overnight stays hopping across the islands to multi-day regional treks taking in all the best sites. Among those are Trial Islands, a wonderful example of the rare coastal bluff ecology of southern Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands; Chain Islands, a major seabird nesting area; Mandarte Island, another seabird nesting location; and D'Arcy Island for its leper colony ruins.
Local hazards:
Victoria Harbour. Traffic scheme, congested travel.
Strong currents, turbulence. Found at frequent locations along Juan de Fuca and Haro Strait. Watch for turbulence, rips and standing waves numerous areas including nearshore.
Ferries. Crossing from Saanich Peninsula or the nearby islands south of Swartz Bay means passing near the busy BC Ferries terminal at Swartz Bay and potentially crossing one or more ferry lanes depending on your route. Ferries can be frequent and fast with sightlines short due to the many islands and turns required by the ferries. In addition, the Washington State ferry leaves Sidney and travels between Sidney and Forrest islands at high speed with short sightlines.
Leg two - The Gulf Islands, Sidney to Nanaimo
Distance: 92 km.
Description: On this stretch the Salish Sea Marine Trail duplicates the central route of the Gulf Islands Marine Trail, running east and north of Salt Spring Island then along Trincomali Channel through False Narrows to Nanaimo. There are a multitude of side routes, possible, of course, with one being the inside route along the west side of Salt Spring Island through Sansum Narrows, as well as side routes through Stuart Channel taking in possibly the communities of Chemainus and Ladysmith. These locations are also prime day kayaking trips from the marine trail launch sites, as are many of the locations through Swanson Channel on the east side of Salt Spring Island. The camping options here are a mix of Gulf Islands National Reserve and BC Parks campgrounds, with the notable addition of Tent Island thanks to the Penelakut First Nation making it available for public use for a fee. The waters here can be generally described as some of the most placid on the Pacific coast of North America, though attention should be paid to strong currents in channels and select locations and to the high number of ferries and other marine traffic at key locations, particularly Swanson Channel.
Where to camp:
Portland Island. This is a section of the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve. It is approved as an official site of the Salish Sea Marine Trail.
Shingle Bay. This is a section of the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve. It is approved as an official site of the Salish Sea Marine Trail.
James Bay. This is a section of the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve. It is approved as an official site of the Salish Sea Marine Trail.
Montague Harbour Provincial Park. An established provincial park. It is approved as an official site of the Salish Sea Marine Trail.
Wallace Island Provincial Park. An established provincial park. It is approved as an official site of the Salish Sea Marine Trail.
Pirates Cove Provincial Park. An established provincial park. It is approved as an official site of the Salish Sea Marine Trail.
Descanso Bay Regional Park. An established regional park on Gabriola Island. It is approved as an official site of the Salish Sea Marine Trail.
Newcastle Island Provincial Park. An established provincial park. It is approved as an official site of the Salish Sea Marine Trail.
Where to launch:
A launch strategy for the Salish Sea Marine Trail is currently being undertaken by the BC Marine Trails Network Association. When a launch site is formalized, it will be added here and to the BCMTNA map. Many unofficial launches are already indicated on the map above. Grey flags indicate proposed launch sites yet to be ratified. Primary Salish Sea Marine Trail launch sites officially designated include the following:
Crofton Boat Ramp.
Kinsman Chemainus Park.
Transfer Beach, Ladysmith
Descanso Bay Regional Park, Gabriola Island
Brechin Boat Ramp, Nanaimo
What to see:
The Gulf Islands feature some incredible shoreline and in particular fretted sandstone that has eroded over the eons into remarkable honeycomb patterns and other formations. Sea birds and sea mammals abound, so expect a wide selection of seals, sea lions, eagles and even the occasional orca and humpback. The shoreline is a pleasant mix of arbutus, Garry oak, Douglas-fir and other trees as well as unique vegetation that thrives in the dry Mediterranean climate of the Gulf Islands.
Local hazards:
Strong currents, turbulence. Found at frequent locations along narrow channels. Watch for turbulence, rips and standing waves at numerous areas. While narrow channels will have more violent water, currents can run strong along island shorelines and can be a considerable advantage or disadvantage to travel depending on your circumstances.
Ferries. Crossing from Saanich Peninsula or the nearby islands south of Swartz Bay means passing near the busy BC Ferries terminal at Swartz Bay and potentially crossing one or more ferry lanes depending on your route. Ferries can be frequent and fast with sightlines short due to the many islands and turns required by the ferries. Frequent ferries along various traffic lanes in various directions and at various times means uncertainty in Swanson and Satellite channels.
Alternative route options:
Samsum Narrows Route: Part of the Gulf Islands Marine Trail, it uses a narrow, scenic, curving and mountainous tidal channel to travel the inside route south and west of Salt Spring Island.
Ladysmith Connector: A side route to the Salish Sea Marine Trail includes the Town of Ladysmith and Stuart Channel south to Tent Island to connect with the Salish Sea Marine Trail at Wallace Island. It can also be used to connect to the Sansum Narrows route.
Ladysmith Connector North: A side route to the Salish Sea Marine Trail includes the Town of Ladysmith and Stuart Channel north to connect with the Salish Sea Marine Trail at Pirates Cove.
