Vancouver Island: British Columbia Kayaking and Canoeing Heaven
If you've got your own kayak or canoe, your British Columbia kayaking adventure is about to begin! So grab your paddle and get ready to discover this fantastic island! This is one of the most enjoyable adventures to do with kids. (HERE WE ARE ENJOYING ONE OF OUR FAMILY CANOE TRIPS IN EARLY SEPTEMBER!)
Not only is some of the best British Columbia kayaking found right here on the Island, but it's quickly becoming one of the most popular destinations for all paddlers, including canoeists, and whitewater rafting enthusiasts. Our Island is actually one of the few areas where you can enjoy year-round British Columbia kayaking. Exceptionally mild weather, some really diverse areas for ocean, river and lake kayaking, and some of the most spectacular canoeing Canada offers, makes it our favourite place for water sports!
Best Times To Kayak On Vancouver Island
In coastal British Columbia, kayaking can be enjoyed year-round. However, here on the Pacific Coast, we get rain! The Island is NO exception. And rainfall should still be a factor to consider when you're making your Vancouver Island kayaking plans. December and January tend to be our heaviest rain months.
Here in British Columbia kayaking is a popular sport, and July and August are the two busiest kayaking months when tourism is highest. These months also have the least amount of rainfall for the Island. We've found that most Islanders like to take advantage of our two peak paddling seasons: early spring and late autumn. Here on Vancouver Island, the wind generally picks up in the afternoon, as the temperature warms up. So the first half of the day is probably the best time to paddle. You'll have calmer water and it'll generally be easier to navigate yourself around shorelines.
Best Vancouver Island Lake and River Kayaking & CanoeingAlthough you'll find plenty of lakes and rivers in British Columbia, kayaking Vancouver Island's lakes and rivers offers something for everyone, of all skill levels.Popular with all classes of paddlers is Cowichan Lake and the Cowichan River. Cowichan Lake is actually one of the largest bodies of fresh water on Vancouver Island. The lake is really easy to access from the two major Island cities, Victoria and Nanaimo.
GETTING THERE... Cowichan Lake is located 20 minutes west of the City of Duncan on Highway 18. From Victoria, just follow the signs north to Duncan. From Nanaimo, head south and follow the signs to Duncan. From the main highway (Highway 1), watch for the signs and turn onto Highway 18 north of Duncan. After a 20 minute drive you will arive at Cowichan Lake - home to some of the best paddling on the Island!
A BIT MORE ABOUT THE AREA...
Canoeing Cowichan Lake is an absolutely fantastic adventure. This is a stunning and quiet wilderness-like lake, nestled into mountains and forests. Paddling the lake can take from a couple of hours to a couple of days, depends on the length of adventure you want. Kayaking or canoeing the Cowichan River from the village of Lake Cowichan to Duncan takes about two days. From the put-in point at Lakeview Park to your first portage at Skutz Falls is approximately 10 km (6 miles), and you might have to portage around Marie Canyon depending on the water level. From here to Duncan, which is 20 km (12 miles), it's a moderate to easy paddling trip. Hazards you'll encounter include water level changes that occur quickly, log jams and some rapids. The places to watch for on this river are the S-Bend, the Double Whammy and The Last Drop. Another fantastic area to lower a boat into is Campbell Lake, at the Strathcona Park Lodge location. It's a true wilderness British Columbia kayaking destination. Located just 40 km west of Campbell River on Highway 28, The scenery here is incredible - well worth the drive.
Gold River offers really interesting paddling with three different sections. There is the upper canyon run of 6.1 km (3.8 miles) which is a grade or class 3+ to 4+ (not for canoeists or rafters). This means lots of rapids, pools and drops as you work your way through a narrow canyon. The middle section is a grade or class 2+ to a 3+ but becomes a 3+ to 4+ during high waters. There are rapids, rock gardens and drops over this 9.7 km (6 mile) course. The Lower Canyon of Gold River is 5.8 km (3.6 miles) in length and ranges from a grade or class 2 to a 4+ at peak times. Along the way there are surfing waves and some holes that you should avoid, and watch out for The Big Drop.
Best Vancouver Island Ocean Kayaking Areas
Your British Columbia kayaking adventure wouldn't be complete with paddling the ocean surf!
The outside waters of Vancouver Island draws paddlers from around the world and is a whole new experience (and should be for those very experienced only). The open and unprotected areas of the Pacific Ocean can get very rough and unpredictable, that's why it's recommended that ocean kayaking should be only for those highly experienced. If you pick your time, particularly in the summer months, you'll find that the Pacific is more well behaved than at any other time of the year. OUR TOP PICKS ARE...
FRENCH BEACH On the southern Island, the 60 km (37 mile) ocean route west of Victoria between Sooke and Port Renfrew will take a full day to paddle. The great thing is that you don't have to do the entire route to enjoy this experience. French Beach is the best, most easily accessible launch site. Two other good locations include Jordan River and Pacheedaht Beach in Port San Juan (Port Renfrew). French Beach Provincial Park is located on the west coast of southern Vancouver Island, and is accessed via Hwy 14, 20 km west of Sooke.
SAN JOSEF BAY To access gorgeous San Josef Bay on the northern tip of the Island, enter the trailhead of Cape Scott Provincial Park. The trail is flat and is only a 45-minute walk to the bay. This is one of the most scenic British Columbia kayaking locations! When you reach the campground on the banks of the San Josef River, this is the best spot for easy access to this wilderness paradise. At high tide, drop in your kayak. Paddle downstream and when the river breaks into the bay, be prepared to feast your eyes. The water from the river runs into the salt water and this mixing over pure white sand makes the bay a beautiful shade of aqua. Return to Sea Kayaking Vacations / British Columbia Kayaking
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For more advanced kayakers, we'd recommend that you head to Gold River, located in central Vancouver Island, about 90 km west of Campbell River. Take Highway 28 from Campbell River to get there. Gold River offers some of the best and most scenic British Columbia kayaking adventures!