Destinations
Way Back Wednesday
Octopus Islands Marine Park | Way Bay Wednesday
Wednesday, December 28, 2016TheCambrians
It’s Way Back Wednesday, an opportunity to dig through the
files and pull out an old blog post to
shed some new light on it. Over the years, I’ve written several posts about
anchorages we’ve stayed in, including first-hand anchoring information (i.e.
holding, protection, GPS coordinates), historical information and things to do.
To date, I’ve done 26 of these (they can all be found on our Destinations page)
and they’re some of my favourite posts. For the next six months, I’ll be
highlighting one every Wednesday (from south to north) and adding a few new ones
in where I can. This week, it’s a return to Octopus Islands Marine Park on Quadra Island (you can read the original post here).
Disclaimer: This blog article is not to be
used for navigation. It is solely an
account of our personal experience anchoring off Mitlenatch Island during calm weather
conditions. What worked for us at one
particular time is no guarantee or indication that it will work for others.
The Octopus Islands Marine Park on the northeast side of Quadra Island has a lot to offer the visiting boat:
The anchorages are well-protected and have good holding. The kayaking is
exceptional. And, at the head of
adjacent Waiatt Bay, there’s a well-maintained trail that leads to Small
Inlet on the west side of Quadra and beautiful Newton Lake.
So, what’s the
downside?
To get there, you have to transit one of three tidal rapids –
Beazley Passage to the south, Hole in the Wall to the east, or Upper Rapids to
the north. And then it’s a matter of navigating one of two entrances.
The most straightforward approach is from the north through what
the Dreamspeaker cruising guide calls “Tentacle Pass”.
The channel offers plenty of depth but is narrow and, during the height
of summer, lined with thick kelp beds so an alert eye is necessary. The approach from the south is more difficult
and requires careful navigation through islets, shoal and reefs. In our experience, the entrance is
well-charted, however, and can be safely transited at any time. A bow watch for either entrance is always a
good idea.
Once inside, you’ll find plenty of anchoring opportunities. We like to drop our hook within the park
boundaries; but if it’s too crowded, adjacent Waiatt Bay is large and offers generous swinging
room for boats. Both spots have
protection from most winds, though westerlies might be uncomfortable in Waiatt Bay.
The holding is good in mud throughout in depths of 5 to 15 metres (16 to
50 feet).
A trail at the head of Waiatt Bay leads to Small Inlet, an anchorage on
the west side of Quadra Island just off Discovery Passage. At one point, the trail forks to the left and
leads to Newton Lake. The hike to the
lake is 1.5 miles long (from Waiatt Bay) and can be steep in parts, but is
well-marked and groomed. For easy access
to the lake, follow the trail to Granite Bay and turn left at the fist set of large
rocks you see. The water is refreshing,
especially after the hike up!
The many rocks, reefs, islets and islands inside the park
boundaries make for interesting kayaking.
If you go out at low tide, it’s not uncommon to see raccoons foraging
along the shoreline. And don’t forget to
stop at the kayakers’ cabin for a look around.
Over the years, passing boats have left their (very artistic) marks
behind and the cabin has grown into a wilderness museum of sorts.
Waypoints of Interest:
50°16.979’ N,
125°13.359’W (northern approach)
50°16.104’ N,
125°12.816’W (southern approach)
50°16.310’ N,
125°13.417’W (kayakers’ cabin approximate)
2 comments
What a serene place. I love the raccoons! Such cute faces. The entrance looks tricky on the chart, but comfortable and roomy once inside. Is this park in Canada as well, Stephanie?
ReplyDeleteI love all the names; Tentacle Pass, Octopus Islands, Hole in the Wall. Looks like another fantastic destination!
ReplyDelete