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The Broughton Archipelago and Queen Charlotte Strait are teeming with salmon, halibut and herring. There are many spots where digging for clams, setting crab traps, picking oysters off rocks, or just a rod and line will provide the freshest of seafood dinners. The marine ecosystem that supports these delicacies is one of the most diverse and prolific in the world. With few roads, many places can only be accessed from the sea. This is one of the world's largest temperate rainforests. The Great Bear Rainforest runs north from Knight Inlet, forming a unique habitat for abundant flora and fauna. Cedar, pine, spruce, alder, hemlock and fir dominate the skyline here. In the undergrowth moss, ferns, salal and berries thrive. Wildlife include grizzly and black bear, the rare white kermode bear, deer, elk, cougar, wolf, coyote, raccoon, mink, red squirrel, red fox, bald eagle, loon, great blue heron, cormorant, osprey, kingfisher and raven. This area is also a summer meeting place for Orca whales. Sointula, Malcolm Island Sointula is a fishing and arts community founded in 1901 by Finnish settlers who were trying to create a utopian community. The experiment didn’t work, but the community still has a very independent nature. There is a museum, a pub, and shops to explore including the oldest continuously running co-op in Canada (est. 1906). Alert Bay, Cormorant Island Alert Bay is a First Nations community and home to the world’s largest totem pole! In Alert Bay, you may wish to visit the U’mista Cultural Centre, the museum, an Anglican Church that is over one hundred years old, or the Gator Gardens, where there aren’t any alligators but there are many varieties of local wildlife to be seen from the boardwalks. The U’mista Cultural Centre houses a collection of masks and ceremonial regalia which have been reclaimed from museums all over the world, and stages dances in the summer to show how the masks were used. Robson Bight Robson Bight is an Orca Sanctuary where you stand a good chance of seeing a pod of Orcas. This is also a major logging area – so it’s all hands on deck to watch out for tugs pulling log booms as big as 80 metre x 80 metre, or the occasional stray log and its resident seagull. Blackfish Archipelago Blackfish is a name used by fishermen for Orca. This area is jumping with fish and their predators. Seals, dolphins, Orca and Minke whales can all be found here. There are beautiful small islands, clam shell beaches, calm anchorages and hikes ashore. Mamalilaculla, Village Island The deserted First Nations settlement of Mamalilaculla, and the remnants of totem poles and long houses are on Village Island. This was the location of an illegal potlatch in 1921 where the government seized many headdresses, masks, and copper shields which were on display in museums across North America and Europe until they were returned to the U'mista Cultural Centre on Cormorant Island. There is a fascinating tour of the village bringing the First Nations history to life. Minstrel Island Resort, Minstrel Island in the early 1900s, was home to a hotel saloon, which could attract 500 loggers at a time and where more beer was downed than at any other lounge in BC. There is a marina here now with a pub, hiking trails, and two big friendly dogs. Lagoon Cove Marina, East Cracroft Island Lagoon Cove is always full of boats and everyone comes ashore for Happy Hour, a Potluck Dinner or a campfire with song sheets! The Marina always provides the prawns, and it is a great chance to meet the cruisers who come back to this area year after year. For those who want some exercise, Station No. 4 is a log pile with an axe at the ready! Glendale Cove, Mainland Keeping our eyes open for grizzly bears, we sail up Knight Inlet to Glendale Cove. We explore the area from the deck of our yacht as we sail around the upper inlet, and if you are very lucky you might see the Kermode Bear, also known as the Spirit Bear in the Tsimshian legend that tells of a Spirit Bear who could become human and fight evil. Kwatsi Bay Marina, Mainland is a family run marina with a welcome committee of the resident dolphins and Marieke and Russell, Max and Anca's children, who will tell you all about the area and take you on a walk to one of the waterfalls. There are three waterfalls in the bay, and the sound of falling water will be your lullaby. Wahkana Bay, Gilford Island From the bay, the channel and the world disappears. It is gorgeous here, and if you get tired of the view there is a walk up to a lake to stretch your legs on. Echo Bay Resort, Gilford Island When we arrive at Echo Bay Resort, we might tie up to the main dock – which was once part of the Lake Washington floating bridge, before exploring the area. There is a marine park, hiking trails, an arts and crafts store and a Post Office where you can send a post card home. This is also an opportunity to buy a fishing license, if you didn’t get one in Port Hardy, so that you can catch supper tomorrow! Shawl Bay Marina, Mainland is a floating village made up of converted logging camp cabins, and another family run marina. Happy Hour here is always fun, and the prawning and fishing in the area are great topics of conversation and dinners! Every morning everyone gathers round for coffee and pancakes on the dock before setting off to explore Kingcome Inlet. Sullivan Bay Marine Resort, North Broughton Island This is the place to put your partner in jail, practice your golf swing (there is a one hole golf course) or relax in the community centre. Sullivan Bay is a private floating home village with lots of dock space for a walk and lots to look at. One of the floating homes has a helicopter pad on the roof, and everyone else arrives by boat or one of the daily float plane flights. Turnbull Cove, Mainland A narrow entrance leads into this big bay, which has fabulous sunsets and scenery. There is a short hike to Huaskin Lake which has a float and is great for swimming, trout fishing or just lying back in the sun. Mackenzie Sound, Mainland This is a beautiful sound, wide enough to sail up and with many anchorages to choose from. Our favourite is Steamboat Bay, where we saw eagles, heron, dolphins, seals and deer. Next to the entrance to Mackenzie Sound is Roaringhole Rapids, which really do boil as the water rushes in and out of Nepah lagoon. Blunden Harbour was the site of a First Nations village and is protected by Canadian Heritage Law. This is a large harbour with lots of islands to explore by dingy as well as hikes ashore. Walker Group This is a protected anchorage between two of the islands where you can hear the wind whistle overhead and see the waves in Queen Charlotte Strait. It is a great placed for a lunch or overnight stop while enjoying the great sailing in the Strait.
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