| Gulf Islands National Park was created to preserve | | | | the light of the day is shorter. Overall, the benefits |
| the unique environment in the chain of islands on the | | | | outweigh the down-sides. The key is to be properly |
| southeast side of Vancouver Island. The larger islands | | | | prepared for the weather. |
| in the park include Mayne, North Pender, South Pender, | | | | Wearing a wet suit, or better still, a dry suit, helps |
| Saturna, and Prevost Islands. Many other smaller | | | | reduce any problems with cold water, especially in |
| islands and islets are in the park along with some very | | | | case of a capsize and immersion. With proper outer |
| important marine protected areas. The Gulf Islands are | | | | clothing and by taking extra dry clothes, paddling in the |
| part of the same chain of islands that include the U. S. | | | | shoulder seasons is no problem. Taking a kayaking |
| San Juan Islands. | | | | course to learn paddling skills and rescues helps build |
| Because the islands are on the east side of | | | | confidence to take on these more challenging waters. |
| Vancouver Island, they are very protected against the | | | | Learning how to obtain weather reports and predict |
| weather that comes in from the Pacific Ocean. This | | | | weather trends are also important skills to take on for |
| fact makes them a favorite summer boating area, | | | | unguided paddling. The other important skill to pick up is |
| including sea kayaking. The passages are filled with | | | | navigation. Being able to orient, set a course, and |
| power boats and sailboats in the warm months. When | | | | adjust for other boat traffic is very important. The |
| the ferry traffic is added to this mix, a kayaker needs | | | | smaller boats can kick up a significant wake, but the |
| to be awake and aware at every moment on the | | | | larger ferries that ply these waters can really set a |
| water. | | | | good sized wake. Learning how to navigate and |
| Paddling in these islands is worth any effort it takes to | | | | negotiate these types of traffic areas helps keep |
| be there, however. The park areas of the islands are | | | | everyone safe. This can be said about paddling most |
| filled with history, the beaches are beautiful, and the | | | | anywhere, but in these waters it is very important. |
| wildlife is abundant. These are the waters of the | | | | Putting into the water can be a challenge in the |
| southern resident Orca pods, travelling through looking | | | | Victoria/Sidney area. Parking is difficult to find for |
| for fish. Large groups of seals can often be found | | | | multi-day trips. Scouting the areas for the best put-ins |
| sunning on rocks around the islands, and sea lions | | | | for you or your group is the best way to make sure |
| travel throughout. River otter are common in the area | | | | your vehicle is where you left it when you return. |
| and can be seen swimming and clambering over the | | | | Putting in on most of the islands in the park helps |
| rock ledges at the edges of the islands. | | | | relieve this problem, or putting in in the Mill Bay or |
| Bird watching can be a good motivation to kayak | | | | Cowichan Bay area is easier for parking, but adds |
| these waters. The number of bird species is amazing. | | | | some miles onto your paddle into the park. Good |
| Common birds are the eagles, geese, herons, crows, | | | | guidebooks can help with these decisions, but don't |
| ravens, robins, and gulls. The variety of water fowl in | | | | forget to scout it out. Some guidebooks are out of |
| the area is tremendous, but they are a bit more shy | | | | date and things do change. |
| than the "common" birds already mentioned. The | | | | Although it takes some skill and some scouting to get |
| hummingbirds are visible hovering around the flowers | | | | into Gulf Islands National Park Reserve for a sea |
| on the islands, as well. | | | | kayaker, it is worth the effort to see the abundance of |
| Paddling in the shoulder seasons, or early spring and | | | | bird life and other wildlife. The geography shows how |
| late summer/early fall relieves a kayaker of much of | | | | rock and sea combine to create magnificent |
| the boat traffic and competition for camping space, | | | | sculptures in the native sandstone. Hanging out on the |
| and these times are also dynamic periods for bird | | | | white shell beaches with a vista of other small islands |
| migration. The down side is that the temperature is a | | | | is inspiring. The Gulf Islands National Park Reserve is a |
| bit lower, the weather is slightly less predictable, and | | | | paddling destination worth visiting. |