Experience the natural wonders of Vancouver Island's Clayoquot Sound located on the west coast of Vancouver Island, BC. Kayak clear coastal waters with migrating grey whales, sea lions, and porpoises. View the rugged and beautiful coastline, comprised of sandy beaches, old growth forest and mountains from the kayak and campsite. Paddle among 'ancient giants,' slipping past the old-growth cedars that help make up this unique coastal temperate rainforest, of which only .2% still remain on Earth's surface. Explore the rich marine life and surrounding forests. Take a break from kayaking to visit the native village of Ahousat. Come experience the Northwest to its fullest and witness the beauty of Clayoquot Sound.
Sample Itinerary
Please note: While the itinerary presented is an accurate depiction of what your trip will be like, it is only an example. Our trips are real adventures in the outdoors--not pre-packaged tours that happen on a schedule.
DAY 1: From Nanaimo, drive four hours across Vancouver Island through old growth Douglas Fir and breathtaking vistas to the scenic town of Tofino. Launch the kayaks and paddle past the lush slopes of Meares Island to our first campsite.
DAY 2: Paddle around Rossier Point while watching for wildlife ranging from starfish to porpoise. Set up camp on Vargas Island and explore the sandy beach and surrounding forest.
DAY 3: Get an early start and make an isle studded crossing to Flores Island. Make camp at Whitesand Cove and spend the afternoon relaxing on the beach or heading down the coastal hiking trail.
DAY 4: On this day, paddle as little or as much as you'd like. Choose to explore the rich marine life of Cow Bay or visit the native village of Ahousat. Return to our camp in Whitesand Cove.
DAY 5: Get an early start and cross back to Vargas Island. Set up camp at Milties Beach and poke around some terrific tide pools at low tide.
DAY 6: Pack up camp and paddle to Tofino. Drive to Nanaimo, arriving in the early evening.
Travel, Terrain, Etc...
TERRAIN/ROUTE CHOICES: Clayoquot Sound's environment is varied and unique: rocky bluff shorelines, lush green vegetation, and towering cedar trees. We will land and camp on sandy beaches. Clayoquot Sound offers a wide range of route options.
TYPE OF TRAVEL/DISTANCE: You will travel in 21-foot Grand San Juan sea kayaks, which hold 2 or 3 people plus all necessary gear. The average day's travel consists of 4-6 hours of paddling, depending on weather conditions. Travel distances vary from 4-10 miles per day with the exception of layover days. To protect the environment, WI uses "minimum impact" camping techniques.
WEATHER: Temperatures in the summer months range from 45 to 75 F. The climate is moderated by the Pacific Ocean. Summer rainfall can vary, but you should expect at least a day or two of rain.
LODGING/BATHROOM FACILITIES: This is a camping trip. At night, you will sleep in tents. Bathroom facilities consist of a foldable commode chair or an outhouse. We make every effort to ensure privacy and cleanliness. Bathing is done the "old-fashioned" way - by soaping up and washing with a bucket of water.
GROUP SIZE: The group size ranges from 6 to 11 participants, plus 2 or more Wilderness Inquiry staff. Each group consists of people of various ages, backgrounds and abilities, including people with disabilities.
CAMP CHORES: Our trips are cooperative in nature. WI staff will assist you in whatever areas you need, however most people pitch in where they can. Part of the adventure involves learning about daily camp activities.
EQUIPMENT AND CLOTHING: If you are new to outdoor activities, you need not spend a lot of money on gear. Wilderness Inquiry will provide all necessary kayaking and camping equipment. All you need to provide is your personal gear, such as clothing and a sleeping bag. A detailed equipment list will be sent to you upon confirmation of your participation. If you need to borrow personal gear, that can usually be arranged.
LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY: No previous experience is needed to complete this trip.
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Wilderness Inquiry is proud to serve Caribou Coffee on all our trips. Great food, great coffee, and great company are just some of the ingredients that make Wilderness Inquiry trips special.
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[ Dates & Fees ]
Environment
Clayoquot Sound receives approximately 13 feet of rain a year. The land is covered in temperate rain forest -- areas of old growth forest that are still untouched. Few places are so compelling. Clayoquot Sound has applied to become a United Nations Biosphere Reserve. The UN has not yet approved the application. Clayoquot is the traditional territory of the Tla-o-qui-aht, the Ahousaht and the Hesquiaht.
First Native People - Tla-o-qui-aht
Called Clayoquot Sound "Looking out over everything." The coastal waters were an important source of seafood . They were dependent on Cedar for every aspect of their lives like: transport, clothing, weaving, shelter. The Tla-o-qui-aht are apart of the Nuu-chah-nulth a larger First Nations language group made up of 14 coastal tribes.
Potlatch
The potlatch is a traditional gathering held by many of the coastal native groups. The word itself is a Chinook word that means, "to give." A potlatch was the primary means for the Pacific Coast tribes to bear witness, a means of confirming in public any changes in status such as marriages, birth, death, and coming of age. It is also a primary means of distributing wealth. The ceremony culminated with the host presenting gifts to every quest, which strictly corresponded with each individual's social rank. Gifts could include canoes, slaves, carvings, totem poles or eulachon oil. The more wealth distributed the greater prestige was conferred upon the host. In return, the higher status quests were expected to hold their own potlatches where they would give even more lavishly. Thus, even if an individual hosting a potlatch completely impoverished himself, he could expect the return of wealth when he attended subsequent potlatches as a quest. Today potlatches still occur, but the gifts tend to be money or practical household items and they usually last only a weekend, while in the past they may have gone on for two or three weeks. The potlatch was a vital and integral part of the social structure of the Pacific Coast tribes.
Surrounding Islands and Passages
Morphues Island - municipally protected with lush rain forest
Meares Island - Big tree walk is located on Meares and takes about 20 minutes to complete. The trees are the largest in Canada and are thousands of years old. Lone Mountain and Mount Colnett are located on Meares.
Arakin Mudflats - Important stop over for migrating birds
Deadman's Island - Resident eagles
Opitsaht - Tla-o-qui-aht people live here. There is a permanent village site that is protected, as well as, some traditional totem poles.
Clayoquot Island - Site of the 1st trading post
Wickaninnish Island - Tla-o-qui-aht summer village is located here, called Echachis.
Vargas Island - Vargas is a provincial park and is distinctly flat with wonderful sandy beaches. The west coat of Vargus is tricky paddling.
Whaler Island - Is said to be the most enchanting. The island is almost all sand.
Sydney Inlet - This Island is a spectacular example of a Fjord. It is long and straight and is surrounded by mountains.
Marine & Wildlife
The following may be seen in the coastal waters or along the shoreline:
Basking sharks, Kinnikinnick, Goose-neck barnacles, Oracs, sea lions, harbor porpoises, Humpback whales, Grey whales, harbor Seals, wild salmon, deer, moose, bear.
For more information, visit these links:
Clayoquot Sound
West Coast Vancouver Island
Friends of Clayoquot Sound
Central Westcoast Forest Society
[ Dates & Fees ]
WI leads sea kayak trips to the Vancouver Island but typically only for pre-existing groups (schools, clubs, families, friends who travel together, etc...).
If you have a group of 8 to 12 people interested, we can set up a trip to Vancouver Island just for you! Typical cost for a 5-day trip is about $795 per person, which includes everything except transportation to and from the start of the trip.
Please contact us if you are interested in a group trip to Vancouver.
info@wildernessinquiry.org
612-676-9400
800-728-0719
(Join our waiting list to be notified when WI schedules a trip to Kayak Vancouver Island's Clayoquot Sound)
