BC’s largest marine park has over 60 km of shoreline with several islands & coves

Among Discovery Islands is BC’s largest marine park – Desolation Sound, with over 60 km of stunning shoreline and multiple islands to explore. If you’re looking for a complete getaway from the city’s hustle and bustle along the Sunshine Coast, look no further.

A popular kayak and boating destination, Desolation Sound offers park visitors practically endless opportunities for water activities. The warm waters are perfect for swimming and scuba diving, and there are multiple snug coves that kayakers can paddle to and explore.

Park areas and activities

The park can be split up into three major destination anchorages: Prideaux Haven, Tenedo’s Bay and Grace Harbour. Prideaux Haven is not open to camping, but the scenic anchorage contains multiple islands and coves. Tenedo’s Bay provides visitors with excellent freshwater swimming opportunities, including Unwin Lake (10-minute walk from the Bay).

And Grace Harbour is nestled in the Malaspina Inlet, surrounded by the scenic Gifford Peninsula with camping opportunities and a hiking shelter. The forested upland contains numerous shaded trails for hikers to take advantage of, all with spectacular vistas to reward you at the end of your journey.

Campers can enjoy 47 boat-accessible campsites, or register for backcountry camping at 11 designated campgrounds, including Copeland Islands, Roscoe Bay, and Malaspina Parks. Note that there are an average of nine tent pads at each campground.

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To get to Desolation Sound, you can hop on a ferry at Horseshoe Bay to Nanaimo, take the Island Link Bus (or drive) to Campbell River, then take a water taxi from Discovery Launch to the Toba Inlet. Or if you want to shave off a good amount of travel time, you can catch a flight from the Vancouver Harbour to Powell River.

So there you have it, Vancouver! If you need another bucket list destination in BC this summer, you know where to look.

Desolation Sound

Where: North of Powell River, nearby Lund, BC

Information on Desolation Sound is from BC Parks, and is accurate as of publication date.