Volume 1

A kayaking, hiking and recreation guide for North and West Vancouver Island

The Wild Coast series all began with a look at the area of British Columbias coast with a well-deserved reputation as the wildest and most rugged area of BC's coast.

Rugged yet serene, the coast of Vancouver Island is unlike anywhere else: wave-pounded rocks, foaming water, an array of wildlife, and miles of white sandy beach. It takes only one trip to get hooked but a lifetime to explore.

The Wild Coast is the perfect guide for those who want to traverse the coast. While whale watching on a tour boat on Johnstone Strait, John Kimantas noticed a pod of orcas surfacing around two kayakers. Kayaking looked so peaceful that he was inspired to give it a try. Shortly afterwards he was setting off in his own kayak to remote places around Vancouver Island. On many of his trips he was entirely unsure where to spend the night, there being so little information available about the coastline. This lack of information inspired him to create a resource for himself, other kayaking enthusiasts, and anyone keen to explore the wonders of Vancouver Island’s coast. John waded through obscure publications to discover all he could about Vancouver Island’s rich history, ecology, and geography. Then came the bulk of the first-hand research: he kayaked the coast of Vancouver Island over 86 days, providing him with a wealth of information, experience, and photographs.

The Wild Coast covers Vancouver Island from Port Hardy to Esquimalt and explores best-kept secrets such as hiking trails, sea caves, and private campsites. Each chapter examines a part of the coast and discusses the regions’ attractions, history, and ecology. Detailed maps show all the major points of interest—from the best campgrounds to the ideal spot to view wildlife Although The Wild Coast provides specific information for kayakers such as beach locations, launch points, reefs, and hazards, anyone interested in exploring the coast will find this comprehensive guide useful. It’s an informed and beautiful resource for adventurous travellers, curious tourists, and armchair readers alike.

>> Volume 1 Updates >> Volume 2 >> Volume 3

A few samples:

It's about easy-to-read and informative maps, such as this example for the index. In all you'll find about 130 detailed maps of the outer Vancouver Island coast showing camping locations, launch sites, former First Nations village sites and other points of interest for kayakers and coastal explorers.

It's also about photography. Wild Coast 1 has about 150 photos of every region of Vancouver Island's outer coast, including all five major sounds and even the most remote and inaccessible shoreline. It is a veritable menu of the outstanding sites to see, such as this image of kayaking towards Nasparti Inlet south of Brooks Peninsula.

And lastly, why this book exists...

Here is an excerpt from the introduction:

By John Kimantas

The west coast of vancouver island is a magical mixture: wavepounded
rocks, foaming water, miles of white sand beach, majestic
fjords twisting deep into mountain passes and a parade of wildlife—
from playful sea otters munching on crabs to gray whales arcing as
they surface.
It takes only a visit to become hooked. Getting to know the coast
well can take a lifetime.
This book is designed for those who want to get to know the coast
better—whether by kayak, boat, foot or RV (though the emphasis on
kayaking will be obvious). The outer coast from Port Hardy in the
north to Esquimalt in the south is divided into 11 sections. Each
chapter offers background on the attractions, history and ecology of
the region, as well as launching and camping options. Detailed maps
show the location of all the major points of interest—from campsites
to the best places to view wildlife.
Vancouver Island stretches 500 km (300 miles) end to end. But
between Cape Sutil in the north and Rocky Point to the south, there
are thousands of miles of coastline, thanks to five distinct major
sounds. Three of those sounds have become internationally popular
travel destinations. The southernmost, Barkley Sound, is liberally
sprinkled with islands and protected as a national park. It has grown
to become one of the top kayaking and tourism destinations in North
America. Each year thousands are drawn to the protected channels,
the sea caves, the beaches and the abundant wildlife.
To the north is Clayoquot Sound, an area that became the focal
point for an international logging demonstration in 1993. The
protests were destined to become the nation’s largest case of civil
disobedience. Hundreds would be arrested in a bid to protect
Clayoquot’s old-growth forests. The attempt would eventually fail,
but public outcry would lead to two significant events for the sound:
first, an appeasement to protect virtually all of Clayoquot Sound’s
outer coast, then the creation of a scientific panel to review all
logging and commercial use of the sound.
A network of provincial parks now stretch along most of
Vancouver Island’s southwestern coastline, from Hesquiat Peninsula
in the north to Juan de Fuca Provincial Park.
North of Clayoquot Sound is Nootka Sound. The recreational
focal point is Bligh Island Provincial Marine Park. Growing popular
with kayakers seeking an alternative to the more crowded Broken
Island Group in Barkley Sound, Bligh Island offers protected waters
and channels to explore. It’s also a gateway to some of Vancouver
Island’s most intriguing history, including the historic native village
of Yuquot on Nootka Island.
Nootka Island is the most geographically imposing of the islands
along the coast. Tucked in against Vancouver Island are numerous
sheltered passages: Tahsis, Esperanza, Zeballos and Espinosa inlets, to
name a few. But the best attractions are toward the open ocean: the
wild and exposed Nuchatlitz and Catala provincial marine parks.
Here kayakers can enjoy sheltered waters or explore wave-pounded
reefs in one of the most inspiring wilderness settings on the coast.
Farther north, travellers will find the route less ventured. Brooks
Peninsula is a massive physical barrier, with little land access and
even less shelter. Many of the most rare and exotic birds along British
Columbia’s coast nest there. Tucked in around the peninsula are
islands and waterways to explore, including Kyuquot Sound and the
off-lying Mission Group Islands. To the north lie the Bunsby Islands,
which have many attractions of the more popular archipelagos without
the crowds.
The northernmost of the sounds is Quatsino, with its long passages
and rolling hillsides. Here can be found features from the unique
character of Kwakiult-Lawn Point Provincial Park to the six-gill
sharks of Drake Island.
Perhaps the most exotic location, though, is the very northern tip
of Vancouver Island. Remote to the point of being desolate, visitors
will find miles upon miles of uninhabited white sand beach and more
wildlife per square foot than anywhere else on Vancouver Island. Too
wild and distant to be considered a destination by most people, it is
still surprisingly accessible—from the white sands and sea stacks of
San Josef Bay to the serenity of God’s Pocket Provincial Park and the
myriad of islands just north of Port Hardy.
No two areas of Vancouver Island’s wild coast are the same. And
no matter which part of the island you choose to visit, be sure it will
change the way you view the great outdoors.