These paddling routes follow the Pender Islands shoreline or originate from North or South Pender, crossing to neighbouring Southern Gulf Islands.

Bedwell Harbour Circle Tour • Last paddled by RP: January 2026 • Circle Tour • INTERMMEDIATE • MAP • Launch/Landing Coordinates (Medicine Beach Nature Sanctuary): 48.76127, -123.26754 • Tide Station: Bedwell Harbour • CHS Nautical Chart 3477 • 9-10 km (approx. 5 nmi) • 2-2.5 hrs • Parking at Medicine Beach Nature Sanctuary • Services along route: Bathrooms, gift shop, restaurant and bar, coffee bar, wine and beer store at Poets Cove Resort & Spa; Parks Canada information stations (NO camping at this time) and pit toilets at Beaumont Marine Park (GINPR) • Freshwater Availability: Poets Cove Resort & Spa • Birders: Medicine Beach Nature Sanctuary—136 species since 2013 (eBird) • Highlights/Notes: Beaumont Marine Park beaches; it’s a bit tricky walking on the slippery rocks in the Medicine Beach shallows at low tides • Best time of year: Anytime, but summer’s low tides offer the best intertidal exploration.

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Around South Pender Island • Last paddled by RP: January 2026 • Circle Tour • EXPERIENCED • MAP • Launch/Landing Coordinates from Mortimer Spit: 48.76740, -123.25596 • Tide Station: Bedwell Harbour • CHS Nautical Charts: 3477 & 3462 • 16-18.5 km (approx. 9-10 nmi) • 4-5 hours • Parking on Mortimer Spit • Services along route: Mortimer Spit beach, picnic table, and pit toilet (near Canal Road); Brooks Point Regional Park/Gowlland Point walking trails and pit toilet; Poets Cove Resort & Spa facilities, fresh water; Beaumont Marine Park information signs, beaches, benches, trails, and pit toilet​s • Highlights/Notes: Watch for Pacific Harbour seals swimming on or below the ocean surface around Blunden Islet and orca transiting Boundary Pass.; shoreline in Camp Bay offers some intriguing rock composition; Brooks Point Regional Park (CRD) and Beaumont Marine Park (GINPR) are great picnic spots; eddies and overfalls can present a challenge as you round Gowlland Pt, as can boat traffic coming and going through narrow Teece Passage; below the rock outcrop just past Tilley Point are caves reaching nine metres below the sea surface, which attract SCUBA divers; current flow under the canal bridge can reach three knots • Best time of year: Spring through fall.

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Kadonaga Bay/St. John Point Regional Park (Mayne Island) • Last paddled by RP: March 2026 • There & Back • INTERMMEDIATE • Launch/Landing Coordinates (Hope Bay, North Pender Island): 48.80285, -123.27633 • Launch/Landing Coordinates (Kadonaga Bay, Mayne Island): 48.82001, -123.24281 • Tide Station: Hope Bay • CHS Nautical Chart 3477 • Trail to Hope Bay beach launch • 3.4 km each way (1.8 nmi) • 45 mins • Launch Parking: South of the Canada Post boxes at the Hope Bay Store • Route: Pass Fane Island and its green-and-white navigational marker, then cross Plumper Sound to Kadonaga Bay (the last bay before St. John Point); the west-side entrance to Kadonga Bay is marked by colourful floats hanging from an Arbutus tree; beach your watercraft atop the mass of driftwood, below two beautiful homes • Services: North Pender - Hope Bay Store; Mayne Island - Hike the St. John Point Regional Park ŦÁ,WEN Trail • Birders: 58 species seen since 2023 (eBird) • Highlights/Notes: Easy paddling, other than when standing waves are present mid-channel (during a strong current); pay attention for powerboaters and ferries in Plumper Sound • Best time of year: Anytime. 

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Thomson Park/Sage Hayward Vineyards (Saturna Island) • Last paddled by RP: July 2025 • There & Back • INTERMMEDIATE • Launch/Landing Coordinates from Mortimer Spit: 48.76740, -123.25596 • Launch/Landing Coordinates (Saturna Beach/Thomson Park, Saturna Island): 48.77654, -123.20044 • Tide Station: Narvaez Bay • CHS Nautical Chart: 3477 • 4.2 km each way (2.3 nmi) • 45 mins • Parking on Mortimer Spit • Route: Carefully cross powerboat-busy Port Browning Harbour to Razor Point, continue due east until past the red hazard buoy to avoid the plentiful subsurface rocks, then cross Plumper Sound on a north-east heading to Croker Pt and Saturna Beach (at Thomson Park) • Services: Mortimer Spit—beach, picnic table, and pit toilet (near Canal Road); Thomson Park—beach, pit toilet, disc golf course (loaner discs), covered picnic area; Sage Hayward Vindyards—bistro with outdoor patio, wine tasting/sales, souvenirs, bathrooms, fresh water • Highlights/Notes: Follow gravel road one km to vineyard, explore the Taylor Point Historic Trail or hike with feral goats on the Brown Ridge Trail (Mount Warburton Pike); spring winds can be strong winds from the southeast in Plumper Sound and fall/winter can present dense morning fog • Best time of year: When the Sage Hayward bistro and wine tasting is open (June through mid-September).

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Portland Island  (GINPR)  • Last paddled by RP: May 2026 • There & Back • EXPERIENCED • Launch/Landing Coordinates from Thieves Bay Marina: 48.76985, -123.31122 • Launch/Landing Coordinates (Arbutus Point Beach, Portland Island): 48.73456, -123.36737 • Tide Station: Bedwell Harbour, Fulford Harbour, Sidney • CHS Nautical Chart: 3441 • 3.2 nmi (approx. 6 km each way) • 60 mins • Parking lot at Thieves Bay Marina • Route: Due to the open-water distance, only undertake this crossing in windless, flatwater conditions; current direction and strength will dictate your ferry angle to and from Portland Island; depart at ten past the hour to allow BC Ferries’ vessels west and east bound to move out of your path (if you’re unsure if a ferry, commercail vessl/tanker, or private boat is a threat to your safety, pause in place until it passes) • Services: Thieves Bay—beach, picnic tables, and pit toilet; Portland Island (SXEĆOŦEN)—information/educational signs, hiking, three camping areas, beaches, picnic tables, and pit toilets • NO potable water • Birders: 133 species since 2002 (eBird) • Highlights/Notes: Shoreline paddle or hike (or both), sand beach at Shell Beach, intertidal life, wildflowers, and fascinating history • Best time of year: Spring for the wildflowers; Summer for the low tides and intertidal life (finest in the SGI); Fall for the quiet.

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​Ruckle Park, Salt Spring Island (BC Parks) • Last paddled by RP: May 2025 • There & Back • EXPERIENCED • Launch/Landing Coordinates from Thieves Bay Marina: 48.76985, -123.31122 • Launch/Landing Coordinates (Grandma’s Beach, SSI): 48.76948, -123.37904 • Tide Station: Fulford Harbour, Sidney • CHS Nautical Chart: 3441 • 2.7 nmi (approx. 5.5 km each way) • 60-75 mins • Parking lot at Thieves Bay Marina • Route: Choose a flatwater, wind-free day; aim west of the green-and-white marine navigation beacon at the Ruckle Park campground (current direction and strength will dictate your ferry angle); depart at ten-fifteen minutes past the hour to allow BC Ferries’ west and east bound vessels to move out of your path (if any vessel is a threat to your safety, pause in place until it passes); Grandma’s Beach is at the head of the first bay west of the campground • Services: Thieves Bay—beach, picnic tables, and pit toilet; Ruckle Park—information/educational signs, extensive hiking trail system, beaches, picnic tables, campground, pit toilets, roadside farm stand • Drinking water stations • Birders: 154 species since 1979 (eBird​) • Highlights/Notes: Paddle or hike along the campground shoreline, heritage farm with free-roaming sheep and turkeys, farm stand, wildflowers, and intertidal life • Best time of year: Spring for the wildflowers; summer for the low tides and intertidal life.; fall for the farm stand selection.

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Russell Island (GINPR) • Last paddled by RP: September 2025 • There & Back • EXPERIENCED • Launch/Landing Coordinates from Thieves Bay Marina: 48.76985, -123.31122 • Launch/Landing Coordinates (Russell Island/northwest midden): 48.74776, -123.41261 • Tide Station: Fulford Harbour, Sidney • CHS Nautical Chart: 3441 • South Russell Island route: 5 nmi (approx. 9.3 km each way) • 90 mins • Parking lot at Thieves Bay Marina • Route: The preferred route is to cross to the Salt Spring Island, follow it west to Eleanor Point, then cross to the east end of Russell (BC Ferries, private boaters or other commercail vessels may dictate extra time in the high-traffic, open-water channel (be patient/err on the side of caution); undertake in calm ocean conditions • Services: Thieves Bay—beach, picnic tables, and pit toilet; Russell Island—information/educational signs/map, hiking, GINPR dock, midden/beaches, pit toilet, heritage building and orchard, and seasonal park host program • NO potable water or camping • Birders: 80 species since 2009 (eBird) • Highlights/Notes: Shoreline paddle with high sandstone bluff on the island’s south side, EASY 2.3 km Haumea Trail with offshot paths to great south-facing views and Out & Back extension to historic homestead and Mahoi Orchard (allow 45-60 mins), orchard apple picking • Best time of year: Fall for the apples and peace and quiet.