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Locarno Beach to Wreck Beach Paddle
Quick Facts This is a great paddling route that takes you from the hubbub of Spanish Banks with views of downtown Vancouver to the surprisingly remote cliffs of Pacific Spirit Park and Wreck Beach with Vancouver Island and Bowen Island in view. It is quite exposed. Early morning starts are generally met with calmer conditions.…
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Camping at Ruckle Provincial Park on Salt Spring Island
Quick Facts: I have done two awesome paddle camping trips this summer, once in Indian Arm, and another time in Sechelt Inlet. Both were fantastic trips, but I wished I could share the awesome experience of rustic marine camping with my family. It’s truly a whole different experience camping with the ocean as our front…
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Kinsol Trestle Trail
Quick Facts: AllTrails link: Kinsol Trestle Trail, 3km with negligible change in elevation if you stay on the trestle Difficulty: very easy, stroller friendly Traffic: moderate Facilities: portable toilet at the trail head View: very cool looking trestle Overall score: 5/10 During our camping trip outside Victoria, we took a little detour and visited the…
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Paddling Victoria Harbour and the Gorge Waterway
Quick Facts Parking and Launching: Banfield Park Dock Launching type: dock Difficulty – very busy working harbour Boat traffic – heavy in the inner harbour View – great forest-lined rocky shores north of Selkirk Trestle, industrial activities in the upper harbour, and glances at the Parliament Building in the inner harbour Facilities: no toilets near…
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Camping at Goldstream Provincial Park
Goldstream Provincial Park features a campground just 25 minutes outside Victoria via Highway 1. It has what we call the “deluxe” facilities by provincial park standards: hot shower, flush toilet, deep sinks for dish washing, and even decent cellular reception. But our first impression of the campground was less than perfect. At around 2pm, there…
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Paddle Camping in Sechelt Inlet
Since our successful, even transformative paddle camping trip to Indian Arm, Johnny and I have been eager to go again. We narrowed our destinations down to two options: Pitt Lake and Sechelt Inlet. After doing ample research on both, and watching the forecasts for weather and air quality like hawks, we finally settled on Sechelt…
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One Mile Lake Paddle
Quick Facts Parking and Launching: One Mile Lake Launching type: dock and sandy beach Difficulty – very easy, beginner friendly Boat traffic – no motor boats View – nice views of the surrounding mountains, some snow-capped peaks in the background Facilities: pit toilet Overall score – 5/10 (good spot for beginner paddlers to practice if…
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Duffey Lake Paddle
Quick Facts Parking and Launching: Duffey Lake Viewpoint Launching type: pebbly beach Difficulty – windy and small waves made it more of an intermediate paddle Boat traffic – no motor boats View – majestic, snow capped Mt Rohr accompanies the outbound paddle Facilities: none. Overall score – 5/10 Duffey Lake sits on Highway 99, halfway between…
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Nairn Falls Hike
Quick Facts: AllTrails link: Nairn Falls Trail, 2.6km out-and-back trail with 108m elevation gain Difficulty: easy, but unprotected steep slopes down to the river requires close supervision for a toddler Traffic: heavy Facilities: pit toilets at trail head View: powerful waterfall cutting deep into a gorge Overall score: 8/10 Nairn Falls Provincial Park has a…
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Nairn Falls Camping
Quick Facts: Nairn Falls Provincial Park is situated on the Sea to Sky Highway just south of Pemberton. It’s a fairly rustic campground, with only pit toilets, no showers, and hand pumps for water. Probably due to the simple amenities, the nightly fee here was $22/night compared to the usual $35 in BC Parks. However,…