GET AWAY FROM IT ALL

Desolation Sound

One of the best ways to get away from it all is to go to a place where there are no roads. You have to work to get there, but there’s a payoff in being away from the crowds. Desolation Sound Marine Park is the largest marine park in British Columbia. It is not easy to get to; on the other hand, it’s not so far away as to be completely inaccessible. Located about 150 kilometres northwest of Vancouver on the B.C. mainland near the end of Highway 101, the park covers about 60 kilometres of shoreline, a handful of islands and several bays and coves at the confluence of Malaspina Inlet and Homfray Channel. Most visitors are boaters, kayakers or scuba divers, drawn by the warm sea water, the abundant wildlife and the spectacular scenery of the Coast Mountains. Part of the charm of the park is that it is accessible only by water. Most visitors launch their craft from Lund harbour, on the west side of the Malaspina Peninsula, or Okeover harbour on the east side. Either way, they have to sail or paddle a ways to get to the park. There are three major destination anchorages (Prideaux Haven, Tenedo’s Bay and Grace Harbour) as well as 11 designated campsites (with an average of nine tent pads each) for kayakers and marine-access camping. For information on the park, see www.env.gov.bc.ca/ bcparks/explore/ parkpgs/desolation/#Location or www.thesunshinecoast.com/ about/ desolationsound.html. To reserve a campsite, call 1-800-689-9025.