Southern Two Thirds: 10 Days
This trip is excellent for those who want to see the UNESCO site of SG̱ang Gwaay and the exposed shorelines of the southern end of Gwaii Haanas but also take the time to relax in the more sheltered waters around Burnaby Island and Hotsprings Island.
Itinerary
This itinerary is based on a trip travelling from North to South. You can also do this route in reverse, beginning in the south and heading north.
Day 1:
Moresby Explorers will pick you up from your accommodations in Sandspit at about 7:30 a.m. You will load your gear into a van and drive for about one hour down the logging roads to Moresby Camp. Here you load gear and kayaks into one of our open Zodiacs and head into Gwaii Haanas. After about two hours in the boat, we reach the Juan Perez Sound area, the start of your kayak expedition. After unloading from the Zodiac, you are on your own for the rest of the trip.
Day 2-9 (or 2-10):
When you are dropped off by the Zodiac, you can choose to get dropped off near Hotsprings Island or near Marco Island on the other side of Juan Perez Sound so that you do not have to make the exposed crossing over Juan Perez Sound. The hot pools at Hotsprings Island had dried up due to an earthquake in 2012, leaving only “footbaths” of hot water; however, they are now full enough to sit in. Haida Watchmen are stationed here as well, making it a very interesting site to visit. If you start here, you may need to wait for good weather or backtrack a little to get across Juan Perez Sound. You will make your way down to K’iid Xyangs K’iidaay Burnaby Narrows, where at low tide, you can see the beautiful intertidal life that this area is famous for. As you make your way south out of the mouth of Skincuttle Inlet, you will quickly get into some more exposed shorelines and will have to keep a close eye on the weather each day. There are several sheltered bays and inlets in this area where you can wait out a storm if necessary. After making your way through Huston Stewart Channel, you will come out onto the west coast of Moresby Island, where you can experience the exposed shorelines of the open Pacific.
One of the biggest draws of this area is the UNESCO World Heritage Site of SG̱ang Gwaay, which can be reached in a day paddle from one of the campsites in the Huston Stewart Channel area (provided the weather cooperates).
You may have to wait several days for the ideal conditions to get out to SG̱ang Gwaay, so it is wise to leave yourself some extra time in this area. Plan to end your trip at one of the campsites near Rose Harbour in Huston Stewart Channel (we suggest Raspberry Cove).
You can camp wherever you like (except in a few closed areas set out in your Parks orientation). However, there are some long stretches of rocky shoreline without good beaches in the southern part of Gwaii Haanas, so you will want to be sure to find a campsite before too late in the day in case another group is already at your planned destination.
Day 10 (or 11):
Before heading out on your trip, you should check with our office about expected pick-up times and where you plan to be on your pick-up day. In general, you should have most of your gear packed up and organized by mid-day (leave a tarp or tent for shelter if it is raining). Wait for the Zodiac on the beach you agreed on before departure, or if you are unsure, go to the big beach at Raspberry Cove across from Rose Harbour. As weather, tides, wildlife sightings etc., all impact our speed, we cannot give you a precise ETA, but we usually arrive early to late afternoon. When we arrive, we will unload our outgoing guests, load your group and head back to Moresby Camp, which is about four hours on the Zodiac. On arrival at Moresby Camp, we will trailer the boat, load the gear into the van, head back to Sandspit and drop you off at your accommodations.
Other Route Options
Important Logistics
Transportation for this trip: For this itinerary, you will need boat transportation to Juan Perez Sound and from Rose Harbour (or vice versa). Prices and availability can be found on our Transportation schedule. To calculate the total price, be sure to note that each price is per person, one-way.
Rental kayaks for this trip: We rent high-quality, Canadian-made, fibreglass kayaks. These kayaks have been chosen for their reliability, stability and performance. We suggest that you include at least one double kayak in case someone in your group gets hurt or can't paddle.
VHF Radio rentals for this trip: If you do not have your own Marine VHF Radio, you must rent one from us. As well as all the weather and marine frequencies, our radios are programmed with a private repeater frequency allowing kayakers to communicate directly with our boats and office from most places north of K’iid Xyangs K’iidaay Burnaby Narrows.
Marine Charts: For this trip, you will need chart numbers 3853 and/or all of 3808, 3809 and 3825. Marine charts are available from most marine stores and online.
Need More information? These resources might help!
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Transport to Gwaii Haanas
Because of the vast size of the Gwaii Haanas area, most kayakers choose to get dropped off and/or picked up by our high-speed Zodiacs allowing you to maximize your paddling time!
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Kayak & Gear Rentals
We rent high quality single and double fiberglass sea kayaks. We also rent and sell essential paddling and outdoor equipment. The minimum rental time is one week.
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Trip Planning Information
If you are planning a kayak trip in Gwaii Haanas, we've got great resources to get you started! Here is important information on organizing your trip, including suggested itineraries.
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Frequently Asked Questions
We've helped kayakers run self guided trips for over 20 years and we've heard nearly every question in the book. Here, we give you our best answers and advice.
