Copeland Islands

Intriguing island exploration & prolific marine life above and below the surface

Copeland Islands Marine Park is located just north of Lund, BC and offers fantastic island paddling with great marine life & expansive views of rugged Vancouver Island

The Copeland Islands Marine Park is a wonderful collection of islands and islets with protected bays and thriving marine wildlife. The islands can be reached about a day’s paddle from our Okeover Inlet location, and can easily be included in any route planning of a trip into Desolation Sound.

Extend Your Exploration of Desolation Sound

Locally known as the Ragged Islands, kayakers can reach the Copeland Islands after approximately one day’s paddle from our launch site in Okeover Inlet. In fact, the distance from Penrose Bay to the campsite on the North Copeland Island is almost exactly the same distance as to the Curme Islands in the opposite direction.

Once you reach the islands, there are any number of meandering routes to choose from. If the tide is low, visit to the rock pools in between the first and second Copeland Islands. If the weather is calm, the western shore of the first island is another place where nutrient rich waters provide the perfect habitat for all sorts of colourful and interesting marine life.

Kayaks tied up at lunch in Copeland Islands in Desolation Sound during one of our Lund kayak tours
A group of sea kayakers paddling to Major Rock near the Copeland Islands

Meandering Islands & Expansive Views

Pick a route and take your time paddling throughout and between the islands and islets. Countless bays and coves are scattered throughout, great places to stretch your legs and have some lunch on the beaches.

As you paddle through the archipelago from south to north, the larger islands are replaced by rocky islets housing large numbers of sea and shore birds. Many different species of ducks, oyster catchers, sandpipers, gulls and cormorants can be seen. 

The Strait of Georgia is open to the west of the Copeland Islands. Incredible, expansive views are admired towards the rugged spine of Vancouver Island in the distance. In the evening, these views are often filled with some of the best sunsets on the whole west coast, as the sun drops behind the white-capped peaks and colours the sky with yellow, orange and red.

Many Great Camping Opportunities

There are opportunities to camp in the northern most islands of the marine park. Amenities include tent pads, outhouses and comfortable picnic areas. With some of the best sunsets on the west coast, the Copeland Islands are a great addition to a Desolation Sound kayak trip.

Returning to Okeover, it is prudent to check the weather forecast ahead of time, as there is considerably more exposure rounding Sarah Point than returning from the Curmes. In favourable conditions, however, the Copeland Islands are an idyllic island paradise easily accessible for all levels of kayaker. 

A tent with the sunset at the Copeland Islands

The Copeland Islands are easily accessible from Lund, BC. Powell River Sea Kayak offers multiple options for those that wish to visit this wonderful marine park via kayak:

  • Rent a kayak for multi-day adventure from our Okeover location.
  • Join one of our multi-day Desolation Sound Kayak Tours which will often visit the Copeland Islands during a more extensive tour of the Desolation Sound area (please note that our itineraries vary on these tours for many reasons and we do not always visit the Copeland Islands on these tours).