Broken Island Group Kayak Tours

Broken Group Islands (Pacific Rim)

Kayaking the Broken Group Islands provides a true west coast experience in sheltered waters. Kayakers of all ability levels come to explore the hundreds of tidal pools and observe marine life ranging from tiny plankton to Pacific grey whales.

Located on the southwest coast of Vancouver Island, in the middle section of Pacific Rim National Park, the Broken Island Group is an archipelago of more than one hundred islands and rocks. The islands are scattered throughout Barkley Sound between Loudoun Channel and Imperial Eagle Channel and total 10,607 hectares, of which 1,350 hectares is land.

Facing the waves of the Pacific Ocean, the islands are a maze of pocket beaches, exposed reefs, lagoons, densely forested islands and bare, windswept rocks. Although the outer islands are fully exposed to the force of the Pacific Ocean, the inner ones are ideal for canoeing, kayaking, and snorkeling. This part of the park encompasses an area of approximately 130 square kilometers.

This unique cluster of islands have been summer hunting sites for the ancestral First Nations Nuu-chah-nulth people for centuries and former native stone fish traps can still be found. Their sheltered environment is attractive to first time paddlers wanting to experience the Canadian west coast. Our kayaking tours of the Broken Islands usually begin their exploration at Gibraltar Island and make their way through the chain, stopping at designated campsites on Gilbert, Benson, Clarke, Turret, Willis, and Hand Islands. All of these sites are easily reached within a day's paddle of each other. The only way to reach this area is by boat from Bamfield, Ucluelet or Port Alberni. Some of our kayak tours of the Broken Islands include transportation on the historic vessels MV Lady Rose or MV Frances Barkley to Sechart, on the edge of the Islands.

Barkley Sound is home to whales, sea lions, bald eagles and a large variety and abundance of intertidal sea life including sea arches, sea urchins, sea anemones, sea cucumbers, and sea stars.