Powell River Sea Kayak: Toba Inlet & the Redonda Islands

Sea Kayak Toba Inlet, West Redonda Island and East Redonda Island on the west coast of British Columbia, Canada.

The land of extremes: massive islands, tall mountains, deep fjords and thick rainforest.

Toba Inlet

Carving it's way into the towering Coast Mountains, Toba Inlet is a seldom travelled escape devoid of marinas or parks. As the adventurous kayaker paddles towards Toba from Desolation Sound, the waters begin to take on a markedly glacial greenish hue. The enclosed, isolated feeling of Toba Inlet compels one to forget about everyday life. The wise paddler has consulted with 'the local sea kayak company' regarding winds. An afternoon wind may blow up a 6 foot wave and with few escape routes this may not be your idea of a relaxing vacation. Kayaking up Toba you will feel the thundering power of crushing waterfalls and experience the humbling effect of this intensely glaciated fjord. Writing for the Geological Society to Canada in 1911, J. Austen Bancroft described Toba and Bute Inlets in this manner:
"In the grandeur of their scenery these inlets surpass all the others within this area and must rival in their magnificence all examples of the fiord type in the world."

With proper planning, confident skills, and good equipment, Toba Inlet can provide an unmatched sea kayaking experience. Drop Us a Line for more information on Toba Inlet.

This destination is a Powell River Sea Kayak tour destination!

East and West Redonda Islands

East Redonda Island is an awesome site when viewed from Desolation Sound. Not only does it offer an incredible view, but it has many interesting features. East Redonda Island is one of the largest islands in total volume of land mass for its surface area in British Columbia. At 5,200 feet it is the highest point of any of the islands lying off the mainland coast (excluding Vancouver Island). This uniqueness has created a distinctive ecosystem. The eastern half of the island is protected as an Ecological Reserve, set aside to provide a study of the four bio-geo-climatic zones. Oceanographically, the waters surrounding East Redonda are unique as well. Humphry Channel is the second deepest sounding on the British Columbia coast - 399 fathoms (6' per fathom). Pendrell Sound dissects East Redonda Island in half. The adventurous paddler entering this deep island-fjord will be welcomed with unusually warm waters, almost no currents and the protection from wind due to high surrounding mountains. Separating East Redonda from West Redonda is Waddington Channel, with marine parks located at either end: Roscoe Bay (at Black Lake) and Walsh Cove near the northern end.

West Redonda offers two distinct destinations: Teakerne Arm (Cassel Falls) and Refuge Cove. Teakerne Arm has a small marine park at Cassel Lake. Here the main draw is Cassel Falls and exploring around Cassel Lake itself. Refuge Cove provides some level of interest for those interested in remote marinas with a historical feel (eg: old boardwalks line the marina). The main draw is definitely the well stocked store and the funky restaraunt. Refuge Cove is located on the more southern area of West Redonda and is definitely an accessible paddle from Desolation Sound for those who may have forgot, or run out of, essential supplies.

A great way to experience this wonderful fjordland is to join the guides of Powell River Sea Kayak Ltd. on a 5 day, all-inclusive sea kayak tour of the area.

Please read about our multi-day tours for more information.

This destination is a Powell River Sea Kayak Ltd. tour destination!