With ten ocean access points and two pristine lakes, Denman Island is a prime spot for boating, swimming, beachcombing, and waterfront picnics.
Scope out the possibilities on the centrefold map included with the annual Hornby & Denman Island Visitor's Guide (available for free on the ferry and local brochure racks).
Swimming
Brave swimmers who can handle cold ocean temperatures wade in from rocky beaches around the island. Most locals, however, prefer relatively balmy inland waters.
Lined with second-growth forest, Chickadee Lake is about a 10-minute drive north of Denman Village on Lake Road (off Northwest Road). Kids plunge into the still, clean water from rope swings. Fishermen cast lines for trout. And canoeists enjoy peaceful outings on a lake where motors are banned.
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Graham Lake (Mallard Way off East Road) also invites swimmers, especially so now that a dock has been built by volunteers from the Denman Conservancy Association.
Kayaking
A pleasant paddle to Sandy Island Marine Provincial Park off Denman's northern tip awaits kayakers who launch from the waterfront access points on Scott Road or Gladstone Way (both off Northwest Road). Known locally as Tree Island, this environmentally sensitive park features sandy beaches, several walking trails and good birdwatching. Three small rocky islands known as the Seal Islets are nearby. The same trip is about 10km/6mi from the Denman ferry dock.
Chrome Island at Denman's opposite end is also a popular destination, and the crossing to Hornby Island is easy when the wind isn't whipping through the Lambert Channel.
Rent a kayak or embark on a guided tour with Denman Hornby Canoes and Kayaks (4005 East Road). Tree Island Kayaking Co in Courtenay also specializes in Denman tours. A few kayaks can be rented from Lognest Retreat B&B (1001 Gladstone Way).
Pleasure Boating
Denman's lack of natural harbours and a marina make it an infrequent stop for sailors cruising the east coast of Vancouver Island. Typically, they enjoy views of the island as they navigate Lambert Channel enroute to neighboring Hornby Island and its three prime moorages: Shingle Spit, Ford's Cove Marina and Tribune Bay. Denman's boat launch is next to the ferry terminal.
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