Visiting BC's Marine Parks

A lot of people are exploring the more outdoor and open areas of the coast this summer, as a way to safely social distance and yet still enjoy summer. Marine parks are a great option for those who have boating access - whether power boats, sailboats or kayaks.

The coast of BC has over 40 designated marine parks. These are parks that include both water and land areas but are generally accessible by float plane or boat only (with some exceptions). Many of them allow wilderness camping but only a few offer even basic services (an outhouse, water, cleared campsites). 

Raft Cove Marine Park, northwest Vancouver Island

These marine parks run along the entire coast of BC and among the numerous islands that dot the coast. They are an attraction for boaters, kayakers, hikers and many others. The largest marine park on the coast is the Broughton Archipelago Marine Park, off the NE coast of Vancouver Island, which consists of dozens of small islands and the waters around them. This park is very popular with kayakers and for whale watching.



Marine parks often provide a welcome refuge for people traveling along the coast, and are common meet-up spots for boaters.  Desolation Sound Marine Park, along the central mainland coast, is very popular with boaters due to its protected waters, easy access to the Discovery Islands and beautiful beaches.

private properties within Desolation Sound Marine Park



Some of the remote and recreational properties we have listed through the BC Oceanfront office either border or are very near to marine parks. A select few are even lucky enough to be private property within a marine park - very rare.

flying over Surge Narrows Marine Park

It's a Coastal Lifestyle ... Live It!

What are Marine Parks?

The coast of BC has over 40 designated marine parks. These are parks that include both water and land areas but are generally accessible by float plane or boat only (with some exceptions). Many of them allow wilderness camping but only a few offer even basic services (an outhouse, water, campsites).

Rebecca Spit Marine Park, accessible by road as well as boat on Quadra Island.
 

These marine parks run along the entire coast of BC and among the numerous islands that dot the coast. They are an attraction for boaters, kayakers, hikers and many others. The largest marine park on the coast is the Broughton Archipelago Marine Park, off the NE coast of Vancouver Island, which consists of dozens of small islands and the waters around them. This park is very popular with kayakers and people whale watching.

 



Marine parks often provide a welcome refuge for people traveling along the coast, and are common meet-up spots for boaters.  Desolation Sound Marine Park, along the central coast, is very popular with boaters due to its protected waters, easy access to the Discovery Islands and its beautiful beaches.

private properties within Desolation Sound Marine Park



Some of the remote and recreational properties we have listed through the BC Oceanfront office either border or are very near to marine parks. A select few are even lucky enough to be private property within a marine park - very rare.

flying over Surge Narrows Marine Park

It's a Coastal Lifestyle ... Pass It On!

Coastal Gems: Desolation Sound

Desolation Sound, a name recognized world-wide, is one of the most beautiful areas along the British Columbia mainland coast. Naturally beautiful and diverse, the area is also known to have some of the warmest summer time ocean temperatures anywhere along the west coast of Canada. The predominately calm waters of Desolation Sound are home to a variety of indigenous marine wild life and the mainland with some of its most spectacular inlets such as Toba inlet to the north about 10 miles, is home to all types of mainland wildlife.

 This is a popular region with boaters, and access to the region from local communities providing a variety of services is relatively quick and easy. Lund with marina facilities and road access to Powell River is located approximately 15 miles south and east from the properties and Campbell River on Vancouver Island is approximately 28 miles to the southwest.  

Another great region to explore.

It's a Coastal Lifestyle ... Pass It On!

Accessing Remote Properties

"So, how long does it take to drive there?" "Can I take the ferry there?"

BC Oceanfront transportation

If there is one thing we know at the BCO office, it's that remote properties mean different things to different people. Whenever someone tells Ed they are looking for remote property, the first thing he works to clarify is just how remote they mean.

Bute Inlet

 

BC Central Coast properties, such as Jervis Inlet, Bute Inlet or Phillips Arm, are logistically the most isolated. These are water access only properties, which can be reached by boat or float plane. While there may be some logging roads in the vicinity, there is not any possibility of road access from an urban area to anywhere near the property. If you own your own boat or float plane, then getting there is relatively straight-forward. Otherwise there are water taxis and float plane charter companies that can provide transportation - for a fee of course.

Phillips Arm

 

Many other properties, although in a more populated area, are still water access properties. The Discovery Islands or further north in the Broughton Archipelago on the east side of Vancouver Island and Kyuquot and Barkley Sound on the west side of Vancouver Island are examples of these types of properties. In these cases you can often drive to the nearest community and then use a public boat launch to travel by boat. Again there are charter options for all these properties.

Kyuquot

Another important factor to keep in mind is that travelling to these properties will be weather-dependent. While coast regulars do get used to travelling in poor weather conditions, there are still days that even charter planes and water taxis can't run. If you are using personal transportation, the weather factor will also depend on the size and type of boat you are using.

Remote properties are enticing and appealing to many people, for many different reasons. It's just important that logistics come into play when actually moving forward on purchasing a remote property, and a big logistic is how to access the properties.

 

It's a Coastal Lifestyle ... Pass It On!

Marine Parks in British Columbia

The coast of BC is fortunate to have over 40 designated marine parks. These are parks that include both water and land areas but are accessible by float plane or boat only. Many of them allow wilderness camping but only a few offer even basic services (an outhouse, water, campsites).

Rebecca Spit Marine Park

These marine parks run along the entire coast including the islands. They are an attraction for boaters, kayakers, hikers and many others. The largest marine park on the coast is the Broughton Archipelago Marine Park, which consists of dozens of small islands and the waters around them. This park is very popular with kayakers and people whale watching.

 



Marine parks often provide a welcome refuge for people traveling along the coast, and are common meet-up spots for boaters.  Desolation Sound Marine Park, along the central coast, is very popular with boaters due to its protected waters, easy access to the Discovery Islands and its beautiful beaches.

private properties within Desolation Sound Marine Park



Some of the remote and recreational properties we have listed at BC Oceanfront either border or are very near to marine parks. A select few are even lucky enough to be private property within a marine park - very rare.

flying over Surge Narrows Marine Park

Marine parks are an important part of the BC Parks portfolio, they protect some of the most beautiful and remote areas on our large coast, keeping them safe for future generations to enjoy.

It's a Coastal Lifestyle ... Pass It On!

Hidden Coastal Gems: Okeover Inlet

Desolation Sound and the Discovery Islands have an international reputation as a place of stunning natural beauty. Whether you explore by power boat, sail boat or kayak, this region offers limitless exploration and wonder. Okeover Inlet, on the mainland coast, is just next to the marine park as well as Malaspina Peninsula, and offers tranquil waters and easy access.

There is road access to the area, with a marina, resorts, residential areas and campsites along the inlet. Due to its protected waters, many Desolation Sound boaters stop in Okeover Inlet.

There are some excellent hiking trails in the region, and you are just a short distance away from both Lund and Powell River. This is definitely a coastal gem worth exploring!

It's a Coastal Lifestyle ... Pass It On!