Vancouver’s North Shore Road Trip

Jug Island

We paddled out of Deep Cove into the main channel of the Indian Arm over to Jug Island. To get there, we paddled along the south shore of Deep Cove until we rounded the corner where the cove opened up to the main channel of the fjord. From there, we crossed the Indian Arm Channel directly to its east shore. We then followed the east shore north until we reached Jug Island. It was the perfect day for a paddle. Sunshine, no clouds, a light breeze, and warm temperatures that were much appreciated after a colder-than-usual spring. As we paddled, we saw seals, moon jellyfish, schools of minnows and blue herons hanging out on the shoreline. 

Honey Doughnuts & Goodies

We then popped across the street to Honey Donuts, a shop that has been a fixture in Deep Cove since 1996. Nothing is better than ending a great day of paddling with some tasty treats from a local business. 

Cates Park Beach

We prebooked paddleboard rentals from Takaya Tours, and the staff already had the paddleboards on the beach waiting for us. Before we knew it, we were out on the water. Fortunately, on this day, the beach did not live up to its traditional name, and there was very little wind, making for a pleasant paddling experience. 

Mike walked us through some instructions, such as how to stand on the board for proper balance, how to paddle, and some water safety. He taught us that we were legally required to wear a life jacket or PFD while travelling from one location to another out on the paddle board, which was news to me. Additionally, he shared the importance of wearing the leash so that you do not lose your board if you fall in the water. We also brought essential items, such as our cell phone, sunscreen and snacks, in a dry bag for obvious reasons. Finally, he shared with us the often-overlooked importance of safety in numbers. It is best to paddle with at least one other person whenever possible so that you are not alone should you capsize or run into any other problems.  

Wally’s Burgers

After receiving our lesson, we put our new skills to the test and paddled around the beach before stopping to enjoy a swim in the clear ocean water. All the time spent in the sun called for another ice cream cone. Fortunately, we only had to walk up the beach to Wally’s Burgers to get what we sought. Wally’s Burgers serves delicious ice cream cones from their little hut on the beach, along with burgers, hot dogs, and milkshakes. We sat at a nearby table and enjoyed our treat under the hot afternoon sun. 

The Raven Pub

After everyone parted ways, Dave and I headed to the nearby Raven Pub, a staple in the community since 1979. Dave enjoyed a pint of Guinness, which happened to be on sale, and I had an ice-cold, non-alcoholic Heineken. As the road trip was coming to an end, I reflected on the last two days. Deep Cove provided easy access to explore a seemingly endless stretch of remote feeling natural spaces. It was hard to believe that we were so close to the city. Cates Park was less sheltered from the city as we could see Burnaby on the other side of the Burrard Inlet, but it did offer a spacious beach with lots of space to hang out. It’s a much better destination if you’re looking for a beach day with the family. That being said, both locations offered easy access to paddling and had an ice cream shop within walking distance. What more could you ask for?