Vancouver Island and the "Sunshine Coast"
All, Thank you to everyone who, last year, gave us some great suggestions for our trip to the Kooteny region of SE British Columbia. This September we were thinking of taking a loop up Vancou...
Forum Discussion
Sounds like you have found the main canoe routes in this area.
The first time we did this loop with a 4yr old child but no dog, we camped a couple of nights at Marine Prov Parks (i.e. small beaches) on Sechelt inlet.
http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/sechelt/
Then up to Powell River, over to the island, out to Tofino. At that time there was camping on the beach at Long Beach, now that access is blocked. We returned via Victoria to Vancouver.
On a later trip, we spent a night at one of the drive campgrounds on Powell Lake. On Vancouver Island we camped at Buttle Lake (and latter at the Ralph River campground). While staying in Victoria we drove out to Port Renfrew and the Botanical Beach. That trip we returned to Washington via the Port Angeles ferry.
In the Campbell River area, Elk Falls PP is a nice overnight stop.
In the south Island, the Gulf Islands have lots of kayaking options. Ruckle PP is one of my favorites in the area, though most of its camping is walk-in. Montague Harbor may be easiest park to camp on land, and kayak.
In recent years they paved the Lake Cowichan - Port Renfrew road, so it is easy to make the Duncan - LC - PR - Victoria loop. In fact the drive along the coast, hwy 14, may be roughest part, since it is old pavement.
I've also done Bamfield and Carmanah, but that involves a lot of gravel (and rougher) driving.
There are some good books on hiking and driving Vancouver Island. Most of the ones I have I've bought at gift shop on ferries. Backroads Mapbooks are also a must. Clubtread is the main BC hiking forum.
The first time we did this loop with a 4yr old child but no dog, we camped a couple of nights at Marine Prov Parks (i.e. small beaches) on Sechelt inlet.
http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/sechelt/
Then up to Powell River, over to the island, out to Tofino. At that time there was camping on the beach at Long Beach, now that access is blocked. We returned via Victoria to Vancouver.
On a later trip, we spent a night at one of the drive campgrounds on Powell Lake. On Vancouver Island we camped at Buttle Lake (and latter at the Ralph River campground). While staying in Victoria we drove out to Port Renfrew and the Botanical Beach. That trip we returned to Washington via the Port Angeles ferry.
In the Campbell River area, Elk Falls PP is a nice overnight stop.
In the south Island, the Gulf Islands have lots of kayaking options. Ruckle PP is one of my favorites in the area, though most of its camping is walk-in. Montague Harbor may be easiest park to camp on land, and kayak.
In recent years they paved the Lake Cowichan - Port Renfrew road, so it is easy to make the Duncan - LC - PR - Victoria loop. In fact the drive along the coast, hwy 14, may be roughest part, since it is old pavement.
I've also done Bamfield and Carmanah, but that involves a lot of gravel (and rougher) driving.
There are some good books on hiking and driving Vancouver Island. Most of the ones I have I've bought at gift shop on ferries. Backroads Mapbooks are also a must. Clubtread is the main BC hiking forum.
