Lund, BC - top of the Sunshine Coast - end of the road - start of your kayaking adventures!
The historic community of Lund, just 20 minutes drive north of Powell River, offers a variety of services and is as an excellent launch site for magnificent day and multi-day trips. Since 1891, when the first hotel was built, Lund has maintained its small coastal community appeal. Services in Lund include a pub, two restaurants, a well maintained hotel, art gallery, liquor store, post office, cafe/bakery, well stocked grocery store, and, Powell River Sea Kayak's full service kayak shop: Rockfish Kayak. There are also coin operated showers at the wharfingers building looking over the marina. For those looking to camp nearby, the Sun Lund campground is just a stones throw away from the hotel and marina.
As mentioned, Lund serves as an excellent launch site for several paddling adventures. First, however, we suggest starting your adventure with a fresh blackberry cinnamon bun from Nancy's Bakery - right at the launch site.
Savary Island
Savary Island, locally called the "Hawaii of the north" is just a few miles paddle from Lund and is different in formation than any other island between Vancouver and Alaska. Savary is basically a long clay ridge covered with a sandy layer. Because of the warm soil and sheltered position, the island is home to flora not found elsewhere in the area. It is also on Savary where you will find the largest arbutus tree in North America. The white sand beaches which surround Savary are rivaled only by those found on the front of travel brochures and the shallow waters lend themselves to endless drifting and daydreaming.
While on Savary we recommend experiencing some of the many unique features, such as the massive boulder strewn reefs around the southwest side of Savary Island. This glacial moraine extends miles from the shores of Savary Island and acts as excellent haul-out sites for seals and sea lions and perches for Bald Eagles and a variety of sea birds. This area is excellent to explore by sea kayak as power boaters don't want to risk this area due to the risk of hitting a rock. In addition, the many large boulders provide shelter for a variety of intertidal marine life and the shallow waters provide excellent viewing from a sea kayak.
Savary Island is also unique in that it is said to have one of the best examples of coastal dune ecosystems in Canada. This can be hard to believe considering this is the Pacific Northwest - where significant rainfall creates lush rainforest - not sand dunes! To read more about the Savary Island dune ecosystem and how it came to be protected from development, please follow this link.
*Remember that we are all responsible for keeping this area beautiful. Please practice low-impact camping.
A great way to learn and experience this great destination is to join one
of our guided kayak day tours to the glacial reefs and dunes of Savary Island.
Please go to Rockfish Kayak day tours for more information.
This destination is a Powell River Sea Kayak Ltd. tour destination!
Copeland Islands Marine Park
The Copeland Islands Marine Park lies just a few miles north of Lund. Locally known as the Ragged Islands, this cluster of islands is an oasis envied by visitors and home to fertile marine gardens, a diverse range of wildlife and of course, the oh-so-curious harbour seal. The Raggeds are excellent for day trips, overnighters, or as an interesting stop over on route to Desolation Sound or Cortes Island.
This destination is a Powell River Sea Kayak Ltd. tour destination!
Mitlenatch Island
Mitlenatch Island lies approximately 9 miles to the west of Lund, in the middle of the Strait of Georgia! This barren, rocky, 88-acre island is perhaps best described by the Kwakiutl name for the island - MAH-KWEE-LAY-LA, meaning "it looks close, but seems to move away as you approach it". This Kwakuitl description suggests perhaps some caution is necessary when paddling to Mitlenatch from Lund (think winds...).  Its isolated location in the Strait of Georgia means there will be some exposed paddling on route. It is also this isolation that aids in it's uniqueness. Mitlenatch is an ideal breeding ground and nesting site for thousands of birds as predatory mink and raccoon are kept at bay by the long swimming distances from nearby islands. Mitlenatch is home for over 3,000 breeding pairs of Glaucous-winged Gulls as well as Pelagic Cormorants, Pigeon Guillemots and Oystercatchers. Sheltered, sandy beaches on the island welcome paddlers ashore, where well marked trails lead to view sites and bird blinds. Visitors to Mitlenatch should contact the park naturalist before exploring the island. It should also be noted that there is no camping on the island and remember, it is 9 miles from Lund 1 way - be sure to check local wind conditions or Drop Us a Line!
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