As your paddle strokes through the water, you gaze down beyond the surface with visibility reaching 60-80 feet deep. In the winter months, as the hours of daily sunlight lessen, the waters of Ucluelet become a window to an entire ecosystem that is usually hidden behind a wall of seaweeds that rely on sunlight to grow. Scenes like this make winter many peoples’ favourite time of year to paddle, including Kevin Bradshaw, who has spent nearly 20 years paddling and guiding sea kayak trips in Ucluelet with Hello Nature Adventure Tours. Ucluelet is one of many amazing coastal winter paddling destinations where you can explore serene harbours, marvel at stunning wildlife, or paddle among misty islands.
For most Canadians, paddling during winter conjures images of frozen waterways and biting cold. But on the West Coast of British Columbia, winter paddling isn’t just possible, it can be comfortable, too. The mild coastal climate is caused by ocean currents flowing from the North Pacific, bringing warm air over the coast; this keeps coastal temperatures in winter months averaging between two and ten degrees Celsius. This article will cover a few of the best places to paddle this winter.
Tips and Tricks for Winter Paddling
It’s recommended to go out with a guide in the winter for safety reasons. They will know the safest spots to go and will recommend the following:
- Dress as if you might go swimming. If a full wet suit or dry suit isn’t an option, choose underlayer fabrics that breathe and wick away moisture, layer appropriately, and wear rain gear and gumboots. Avoid wearing cotton, as it tends to trap moisture and cold compared to wool, which can stay warm while wet. Also, wear neoprene gloves to keep your fingers warm.
- Be aware of the shorter days and plan accordingly. With less daylight, there is a smaller margin for error, and rescue becomes more challenging in the dark.
- Double-check the weather and then check it again. For many paddlers, winds above 12 knots (22 km/hr) feel challenging. And potential rain and wind add safety concerns.
- Have an exit strategy for a fast transition to get dry and warm.
- Be conservative when leaving a sheltered bay and be on watch for rough conditions.
- Pack a warm drink in an insulated thermos.
- Know how to self-rescue in case you do capsize.
5 AREAS IN BRITISH COLUMBIA WHERE YOU CAN COMFORTABLY PADDLE IN THE WINTER
1. Ucluelet
The word Ucluelet comes from a Nuu-chah-nulth (Nootka) word meaning, “People of the Safe Harbour.” This refers to Ucluelet Harbour, a 7-kilometre-long waterway that’s protected from the open Pacific by the Ucluth peninsula, making it a great place for beginners to paddle on the West Coast of Vancouver Island.
Highlights: The Ucluelet Harbour provides a winter refuge for trumpeter swans, seals, otters, and sea lions. The winter is also a great time to see full-flowing waterfalls.
Ability level: This is a beginer-friendly option, though there are more advanced options beyond the harbour in the Broken Group Islands.
Outfitters and more info: https://paddlebc.ca/community/ucluelet/
2. Tofino
Tofino is a short drive north of Ucluelet and is an excellent place to go for a paddle when high-pressure systems invite calm, sunny days in the middle of winter. A great option here is paddling from Tofino Harbour to Meares Island to view the towering old-growth cedar forest during the rainy season when the forest is extra lush. When the waves get higher, though, head to Cox Bay and paddleboard surf the swells.
Highlights: Tofino is a charming surf town where you can take in the rugged coastline with views of Vancouver Island’s snow-capped mountains in the distance. Wildlife that inhabit the area include sea and river otters, herons, bald eagles, wolves, porpoises and, on rare occasions, orcas.
Ability level: This option is better suited to intermediate/advanced paddlers as it is subject to stronger ocean currents, wind, and waves.
Outfitters and more info: https://paddlebc.ca/community/tofino/
3. Vancouver’s North Shore
Deep Cove is a sheltered body of water within Indian Arm, BC’s southernmost fjord. It extends about 20 km north from the Burrard Inlet and is a nature paradise located just outside the big city of Vancouver.
Highlights: Deep Cove’s lake-like conditions make this a winter paddler’s dream. Especially when you consider the backdrop views of Indian Arm’s steep mountain walls and shorelines dotted with waterfalls and old-growth forests, You can have all the excitement of paddling in a marine environment with less worry about potential winter storms creating challenging conditions.
Ability level: The sheltered Deep Cove is the perfect place for beginners to introduce themselves to saltwater paddling. At the same time, intermediate and advanced paddlers will enjoy venturing deeper into Indian Arm to explore one of the many islands.
Outfitters and more info: https://paddlebc.ca/community/vancouvers-north-shore/
4. Southern Gulf Islands
The Southern Gulf Islands are comprised of a number of islands but the largest are Salt Spring, Galiano, Pender, Mayne, and Saturna. Each of these has its own unique character and opportunities for a peaceful, intimate experience on the water. Galiano Island is a great destination with paddling options out of Montague Harbour for both beginners and more advanced paddlers.
Highlights: A popular destination from Montague Harbour is the Ballingall Islets, a nature reserve frequented by cormorants, black oystercatchers, harlequin ducks and other sea birds. It’s also a popular haul out for harbour seals. Along the way, you can expect to see honeycombed sandstone cliffs that have been weathered from thousands of years of saltwater wave action.
Ability level: Beginners will enjoy a paddle within Montague Harbour, which is extremely sheltered due to the nearby Parker Island that blocks most weather. Intermediate to advanced paddlers can venture beyond the Harbour to discover more of what the island has to offer.
Outfitters: Gulf Island Kayaking (https://seakayak.ca/tours/guided-tours)
5. Sunshine Coast
The Sunshine Coast stretches along the west coast of BC’s mainland and reaches from Howe Sound to Desolation Sound. Although part of the mainland, the Sunshine Coast is only accessible by ferry due to the surrounding inlets and mountain peaks. During the winter season, the Sunshine Coast turns into a quiet winter paradise for paddlers.
Highlights: Jamie Mani from Alpha Adventures has been guiding trips on the Sunshine Coast for twenty-five years and offers private guided winter sea-kayaking trips that explore the Shoal Channel between Gibsons and Keats Island. Jamie’s favourite part about paddling in the winter is how quiet it is and how the solitude on the water makes wildlife sightings extra special. On his tours, there are chances to see seals, sea lions, pacific white-sided dolphins, and killer whales.
Ability level: The area between Gibsons and Keats Island is generally quite sheltered from winds. This, paired with the experience of Jamie and his guiding team, makes this a great experience for beginners looking to explore winter paddling for the first time.
Outfitters: Alpha Adventures (https://www.outdooradventurestore.ca)
Event Details
As your paddle strokes through the water, you gaze down beyond the surface with visibility reaching 60-80 feet deep. In the winter months, as the hours of daily sunlight lessen, the waters of Ucluelet become a window to an entire ecosystem that is usually hidden behind a wall of seaweeds that rely on sunlight to grow. Scenes like this make winter many peoples’ favourite time of year to paddle, including Kevin Bradshaw, who has spent nearly 20 years paddling and guiding sea kayak trips in Ucluelet with Hello Nature Adventure Tours. Ucluelet is one of many amazing coastal winter paddling destinations where you can explore serene harbours, marvel at stunning wildlife, or paddle among misty islands.
For most Canadians, paddling during winter conjures images of frozen waterways and biting cold. But on the West Coast of British Columbia, winter paddling isn’t just possible, it can be comfortable, too. The mild coastal climate is caused by ocean currents flowing from the North Pacific, bringing warm air over the coast; this keeps coastal temperatures in winter months averaging between two and ten degrees Celsius. This article will cover a few of the best places to paddle this winter.
Tips and Tricks for Winter Paddling
It’s recommended to go out with a guide in the winter for safety reasons. They will know the safest spots to go and will recommend the following:
- Dress as if you might go swimming. If a full wet suit or dry suit isn’t an option, choose underlayer fabrics that breathe and wick away moisture, layer appropriately, and wear rain gear and gumboots. Avoid wearing cotton, as it tends to trap moisture and cold compared to wool, which can stay warm while wet. Also, wear neoprene gloves to keep your fingers warm.
- Be aware of the shorter days and plan accordingly. With less daylight, there is a smaller margin for error, and rescue becomes more challenging in the dark.
- Double-check the weather and then check it again. For many paddlers, winds above 12 knots (22 km/hr) feel challenging. And potential rain and wind add safety concerns.
- Have an exit strategy for a fast transition to get dry and warm.
- Be conservative when leaving a sheltered bay and be on watch for rough conditions.
- Pack a warm drink in an insulated thermos.
- Know how to self-rescue in case you do capsize.
5 AREAS IN BRITISH COLUMBIA WHERE YOU CAN COMFORTABLY PADDLE IN THE WINTER
1. Ucluelet
The word Ucluelet comes from a Nuu-chah-nulth (Nootka) word meaning, “People of the Safe Harbour.” This refers to Ucluelet Harbour, a 7-kilometre-long waterway that’s protected from the open Pacific by the Ucluth peninsula, making it a great place for beginners to paddle on the West Coast of Vancouver Island.
Highlights: The Ucluelet Harbour provides a winter refuge for trumpeter swans, seals, otters, and sea lions. The winter is also a great time to see full-flowing waterfalls.
Ability level: This is a beginer-friendly option, though there are more advanced options beyond the harbour in the Broken Group Islands.
Outfitters and more info: https://paddlebc.ca/community/ucluelet/
2. Tofino
Tofino is a short drive north of Ucluelet and is an excellent place to go for a paddle when high-pressure systems invite calm, sunny days in the middle of winter. A great option here is paddling from Tofino Harbour to Meares Island to view the towering old-growth cedar forest during the rainy season when the forest is extra lush. When the waves get higher, though, head to Cox Bay and paddleboard surf the swells.
Highlights: Tofino is a charming surf town where you can take in the rugged coastline with views of Vancouver Island’s snow-capped mountains in the distance. Wildlife that inhabit the area include sea and river otters, herons, bald eagles, wolves, porpoises and, on rare occasions, orcas.
Ability level: This option is better suited to intermediate/advanced paddlers as it is subject to stronger ocean currents, wind, and waves.
Outfitters and more info: https://paddlebc.ca/community/tofino/
3. Vancouver’s North Shore
Deep Cove is a sheltered body of water within Indian Arm, BC’s southernmost fjord. It extends about 20 km north from the Burrard Inlet and is a nature paradise located just outside the big city of Vancouver.
Highlights: Deep Cove’s lake-like conditions make this a winter paddler’s dream. Especially when you consider the backdrop views of Indian Arm’s steep mountain walls and shorelines dotted with waterfalls and old-growth forests, You can have all the excitement of paddling in a marine environment with less worry about potential winter storms creating challenging conditions.
Ability level: The sheltered Deep Cove is the perfect place for beginners to introduce themselves to saltwater paddling. At the same time, intermediate and advanced paddlers will enjoy venturing deeper into Indian Arm to explore one of the many islands.
Outfitters and more info: https://paddlebc.ca/community/vancouvers-north-shore/
4. Southern Gulf Islands
The Southern Gulf Islands are comprised of a number of islands but the largest are Salt Spring, Galiano, Pender, Mayne, and Saturna. Each of these has its own unique character and opportunities for a peaceful, intimate experience on the water. Galiano Island is a great destination with paddling options out of Montague Harbour for both beginners and more advanced paddlers.
Highlights: A popular destination from Montague Harbour is the Ballingall Islets, a nature reserve frequented by cormorants, black oystercatchers, harlequin ducks and other sea birds. It’s also a popular haul out for harbour seals. Along the way, you can expect to see honeycombed sandstone cliffs that have been weathered from thousands of years of saltwater wave action.
Ability level: Beginners will enjoy a paddle within Montague Harbour, which is extremely sheltered due to the nearby Parker Island that blocks most weather. Intermediate to advanced paddlers can venture beyond the Harbour to discover more of what the island has to offer.
Outfitters: Gulf Island Kayaking (https://seakayak.ca/tours/guided-tours)
5. Sunshine Coast
The Sunshine Coast stretches along the west coast of BC’s mainland and reaches from Howe Sound to Desolation Sound. Although part of the mainland, the Sunshine Coast is only accessible by ferry due to the surrounding inlets and mountain peaks. During the winter season, the Sunshine Coast turns into a quiet winter paradise for paddlers.
Highlights: Jamie Mani from Alpha Adventures has been guiding trips on the Sunshine Coast for twenty-five years and offers private guided winter sea-kayaking trips that explore the Shoal Channel between Gibsons and Keats Island. Jamie’s favourite part about paddling in the winter is how quiet it is and how the solitude on the water makes wildlife sightings extra special. On his tours, there are chances to see seals, sea lions, pacific white-sided dolphins, and killer whales.
Ability level: The area between Gibsons and Keats Island is generally quite sheltered from winds. This, paired with the experience of Jamie and his guiding team, makes this a great experience for beginners looking to explore winter paddling for the first time.
Outfitters: Alpha Adventures (https://www.outdooradventurestore.ca)