Port Hardy info

Hi Helen,

There is a boat launch. It’s meant for cars to back in boats in tow. However, we backed in with our boats on until it was feeling like it was getting too steep. We took off the boats, unloaded gear, and then organized on the side to allow others to launch. The boaters were friendly and nice.

There is paid parking as well.

The campground we stayed in was nice but I’m sure the others are too.

while you’re there check out the visitor centre and museum, if you have time. Also there is a cafe with a craft/art store upstairs with wonderful local wares. Great for gifts.

another piece of information, we found that the wind forecast was a little bit stronger than what we experienced on the water. Perhaps God‘s pocket shelters things a little bit. We wanted to cross the first day to avoid having to deal with bears. So we took a look, saw the water was calmer than the forecast suggested, and went for it. It got a little wavy in the middle, but we were fine. we had a couple of fairly new paddlers with us, in a double. so we were particularly cautious. Anyway, another thing we did was bring rope in case of fog. Sometimes there can be quite a bit of fog there. We didn’t run into that, but we did run into a lot of overcast cool weather. Even though just a little bit south it was sunny and hot, we wore all our clothes that week!

another pointer, on the right side of Nigei Island we saw loads of humpbacks and a herring ball. It was quite the amazing site. We heard wolves but never saw them. We also saw ocean otters, mink and goose neck barnacles

I did the Port Hardy to God’s Pocket area back in 2010, so my information might be stale.  We launched out of the harbour in Port Hardy, then traveled up to Songhees Creek before making the crossing over to Nolan Point, which is a well established site and well protected from most storms.  The site already had lots of packed areas for tents,  as well as cobbled-together drift materials made into a kitchen and seating area.  We appreciated this.  We used this site as our base for three nights before moving up to Vansittart Island (sadly, no longer an allowed stop) where we stayed until the weather forecast forced our hand to return to Nolan Point, and then a hot shower, cold beer, and soup in Port Hardy.

You can launch from Bear Cove

Facilities