Cortes Island, BC - Kayaking, Sailing, Wildlife Viewing and Hiking.

Lodge Activities

Watch for announcements in the "News" section"

Cortes Island Adventures,
Activities, Services & Events.

Cortes Island forms the western boundary of Desolation Sound, home to warm water lakes, stunning sandy beaches, and quaint harbours. The island's communities consist of Whaletown, which greets you at the ferry dock, Manson's Landing, with its sandy beaches overlooking Vancouver Island, and Squirrel Cove, an anchorage facing Desolation Sound. Cortes Island has a long tradition of being home to an eclectic community of creative people. Browse the local craft stores and galleries for island-inspired drawings, paintings and sculptures by the local artists.

Much of what is special about Cortes Island has to do with the people here. Some have grown up here, and many have been attracted to Cortes from afar, resulting in a rich mix of talents and skills and lifestyles. We all feel that we have found paradise... Life here will remind you of a simpler time. There are community dances, outdoor markets, summer festivals, general stores and a local craft store.

There are no fast food franchises, no malls and no night clubs. You'll find friendly people who make you feel welcome and give you the same sense of security that you might have felt as a child in a small rural town. It still feels that way here!

Adventures can include Hiking, Swimming, Bird Watching,, Beach Combing, Biking, Kayaking, Paddle Boarding, Sailing, Salmon Fishing, Wildlife Viewing and more. We can help make arrangements on request.

Cortes Island Adventures

Misty Isles Adventures

Sailing to Mitlenatch Island or Desolation Sound
The schooner 'Misty Isles' offers a relaxed and leisurely way to see the area. Voyage to Mitlenatch Island, a large seabird rookery and a wildflower paradise where seals and sea lions await. Alternatively, explore Desolation Sound, an area famous for its scenic beauty, where snow capped mountains soar up from the sea. All trips depart from Cortes Island.

Guided Kayak Day Trips & Bioluminescence Paddles
From sunset paddles to gliding over reefs with naturalist guides, explore the natural and human history of Cortes Island and the surrounding waters.

For a magical evening during the warm months of summer, marvel at the plankton which produces bioluminescence, the fairy dust sparkling as it swirls away from your paddles while you kayak under the stars.

Booking: 250-935-6756
[email protected]
www.mistyislesadventures.com

Cortes Island Fishing Adventures
Guided fishing trips run by a professional experienced guide with a fully-equipped boat as well as guided sightseeing trips in Desolation Sound.

Call Romney Shipway: 250-202-3414
www.cortesfishingadventures.com

Heriot Bay’s Island Adventures
Experience whale watching tours, grizzly bear tours, and kayak day tours. Pick-up and drop-off at Whaletown on Cortes Island can also be arranged by request.
www.islandadventurecentre.com

Holistic Health Arts & Transformational Bodywork with Jocelan Coty
Jocelan Coty has been one of the foremost yoga teachers on Cortes for many years, teaching at Hollyhock as well as in her own studio. She draws on a life-long interest in health & well being. Extensive training in yoga, massage, cranial/sacral therapy, lymphatic drainage, aromatherapy, naturopathic healing, Reiki, & spa techniques allow Jocelan to synthesize these modalities into a unique and wonderful bodywork style.

Cell: 250-203-264
[email protected]

Cortes Island Activities

Hiking & Biking Cortes Island is crisscrossed with old logging roads, many of which are overgrown. These 'recycled' trails allow outdoor enthusiasts an opportunity to explore the island off the beaten track. Carrington Bay and Von Donop Inlet provide a maze of trails, and Gunflint Lake and Hague Lake are surrounded mostly by parklands, with a series of marked trails at the end of Kwas Bay Road and across the road from the Cortes Motel. When hiking on Cortes, please remember that most small roads lead to private residences, so take care when choosing your path. Ask us for a trail map.

For a brisk 60 to 90 minute walk in good company on local trails, a “walking group” leaves Mansons Community Hall Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 9:00 a.m. sharp.

Swimming, Sunbathing,
Beachcombing & Exploring

Oceanside Beaches
As the tide comes in during summer afternoons, the water is warmed by the sun-drenched sand and rocks, making the beaches ideal for a swim or to do some exploratory snorkeling. Great beach walks include Sutil Point from Smelt Bay Park, the sandy shoreline at Manson's Landing beach and lagoon, and the oyster rich shores at Shark Spit on Marina Island. Seals, sea lions, bald eagles, great blue herons and an abundance of seabirds are common sightings.

Hague Lake Provincial Park on the eastern shore of Hague Lake has a sandy beach and is perfect for swimming and sunbathing. For a delightful walk, follow the Kw’as Park trail system offering various loops and types of terrain…. Take a dip at the Swim Rock along the way. Explore a bit of local logging history at the site of an old steam donkey. Start your walk at the park entrance across from the Cortes Motel. Experience the majesty of the 500-Year-Old Big Fir as you hike through second growth forest around Hague Lake and up to Cedar Ridge. You can also start your walk at the park entrance off Hague/Lowe Road.

Cruising Desolation Sound from T’ai Li Lodge
Leave some of the gang to enjoy land activities, or take everyone along, returning at the end of a blissful day on the water to a hot shower and the comforts of home. A short hop away is Refuge Cove, offering fuel, lunch, and an excellent coastal store or Squirrel Cove with its lagoon, store and restaurant. If you feel like venturing further, cruise to Toba Inlet, Pendrell Sound, the village of Lund, the long white beach at Savary Island, or a myriad of hidden lakes and anchorages. Depending on your boat speed, all of these can be a day cruise from the Lodge.

Von Donop Provincial Marine Park is a marine wilderness, home to saltwater lagoons, tidal passes and the old-growth forest Coast-Salish people call Ha'thayim. Von Donop Inlet is a long, narrow sheltered anchorage on the northwestern tip of Cortes Island. Popular with cruising boats, wilderness camping is permitted, and opportunities for rugged hiking and exploration abound.

Mitlenatch Island Nature Provincial Park
Mitlenatch, which means "calm waters all around" in the Coast Salish language, is a small rocky island that features semi-arid conditions caused by the island's location in the rain shadow of Vancouver Island. Accessible only by boat, Mitlenatch Island Nature Provincial Park offers excellent opportunities to observe and photograph wildflowers and birds. Birders should approach observation blinds slowly and quietly. The island is a very sensitive ecosystem that is extremely prone to damage by visitors who venture off the designated trails. Pets are not permitted on the island. Some of the largest garter snakes in British Columbia reside on Mitlenatch Island. These harmless snakes may grow to more than 90 cm (36 inches).

Kayaking from T’ai Li Lodge
There are a number of delightful paddle routes using the Lodge as your “base camp”. Ask us about the B.C. Marine trails map or the Desolation Sound map and Trip Planner.

Cortes Island Annual Events

Spring Bird Count Cortes Museum & Archives

Wellness Fair Mansons Hall

Seafood Fest Saturday, May 16, 2024 Gorge Harbour Marina
Local food from the sea; crafts, music & more.

Disk Golf Tournament TBA

Museum’s Creative Spaces- Garden, Studio, Workshop
Showcasing Cortes craftspeople, artists, and gardeners reflecting the creativity, resourcefulness, and ingenuity of Cortes Islanders. You'll find colourful gardens, fish ponds, winding forest trails, a heritage farm, wood crafts, sculptures, ceramics, paintings, collages, quilting, and weaving. Tickets available at The Museum, Info Center and Island Stores

Canada Day July 1, Gorge Harbour Marina

Cortes Day , Smelt Bay Park
Community Picnic, food, games, music, prizes and a dance.

Sandcastle Day , Smelt Bay Park

Oysters, Authors and Ale TBA

Shark Spit Regatta Shark Spit, Marina Island

Gorgeous Bike Ride Gorge Harbour Marina

Harvest Fair Linnea Farm

Winter Bird Count Museum

Cortes Island Community Information

www.ourcortes.com
Information on Cortes Island Activities, accommodations, shops, restaurants, services and activities.

www.cortesisland.com
Check out the Community Calendar, Rideshare board, articles of local interest, and more.

Cortes Island Information Book

www.cortesmuseum.ca
Cortes Island Museum and Info Centre

www.gorgeharbour.com
Gorge Harbour Marina, Store, Restaurant and Activities

www.hollyhock.ca
Hollyhock learning and retreat Centre: meals, store, day spa