BC Marine Trails

Along with seven other BC sea paddling clubs, SKABC is one of the founding members of the BC Marine Trails Network Association (BCMTNA).

Goals: The Association's goals are to preserve and enhance access to vital coastal locations that have been used by paddlers (mostly but not exclusively kayakers) as rest stops, safe havens, campsites or launch sites. The plan is ambitious in scope – the entire BC coastline - inlets, fiords and islands included!

Vision: Approximately 90% of the shoreline of British Columbia is Crown land. However, due to commercial and private pressures, more and more demands are being made on these lands. In BC, by law, the foreshore below the high tide line cannot be privately owned, but in the more populated coastal areas, much of the land above high tide is private. It can sometimes be very difficult for paddlers traveling the coast in their kayaks or canoes to find accessible uplands suitable for camping in these areas.

As the population of BC increases, pressures on coastal lands will also increase. This is why steps are being taken now, to identify and secure necessary camping areas along the coastline of British Columbia. These campsites, together with frequent accessible launching sites, will become the basis of the BC Marine Trails Network: a network of marine trails along the British Columbia coastline, for the public recreational use of present and future generations.

Sites will be carefully selected with the following factors in mind:

• They each provide a refuge off the water in case of sudden weather changes, fatigue, etc.
• They are within reasonable paddling distances apart
• They have scenic beauty
• Beaches are accessible at high and low tides
• They each have an upland area suitable for camping.

Webmaster's note: A special thanks to Nick Heath, SKABC Conservation Officer, for spearheading our club's role as a founding member of the BC Marine Trails Association.

Update and request for help

• Letter to SKABC members and other supporters from Stephanie Meinke, President of BCMTNA. She gives a progress report and the Association's plans for 2011.
• List of sites to be checked in 2011.
• Form to submit site information
• Email to submit site photos (give direction, location, state of tide).
• Also, site information can be submitted, discussed and critiqued on the West Coast Paddler discussion forum.

2011 location checks

Any paddlers visiting the following areas are asked to check first with Nick Heath, SKABC (nheath@sfu.ca). Some on this list are potential sites, some are well-known but need a bit of specific information. The sites are:

Pender Harbour

Francis Point

Scotch Fir Point 

Texada Island

Bay east of Pocohontas Bay

Pocahontas Bay

Discovery Islands

Maud Island

Bay south of Von Donop

Nichols Bay

Whitebeach 

Broughton Islands, Johnstone Strait

Whitebeach Passage

Dead Point north & south 

Queen Charlotte Strait (North shore)

Cullen Harbour

Dobbin Bay

Cockatrice Bay

Polkinhorne Island

Boyles Point

Lewis Cove

Kenneth Bay

Howcraft Point

Raynor Island Group

Blunden Harbour 

Queen Charlotte Strait (centre)

Deserters Group 

West Coast Vancouver Island South

Tsusiat Falls

Carmanah Point

Chez Monique Café

Thrasher Cove

Payzant Creek

Sooke River Campground

Pacific Lions Marina

Frazer Island 

SKABC's mission is to promote fellowship, safety, the exchange of information and skills, encourage concern and respect for the environment and above all to enjoy sea kayaking.