Kayaking in Victoria offers the accessibility of an urban centre as well as hidden coves, secluded spots, the challenge of open water and an abundance of marine wildlife.
Victoria is almost completely surrounded by water and its location on Vancouver Island's southern tip creates several great paddling locations.
To the southwest is the Juan de Fuca Strait, which opens to the Pacific Ocean and is home to boat-access only Discovery Island Marine Provincial Park. To the southeast, Haro Strait leads to dozens of small islands and islets. Victoria's Inner Harbour and the adjacent Gorge Waterway allow kayakers to begin saltwater adventures directly from downtown.
For smooth paddling, the Gorge Waterway provides a narrow, protected inlet. Meanwhile, Elk, Beaver and Thetis lakes offer beaches, forested trails and calm waters further outside the city core. Other popular paddling areas include Cadboro Bay, Sidney, and Sooke.
Ocean Kayaking Areas
Cadboro Bay is a partially protected bay with long sandy beaches that offer easy launches and convenient shoreline exploring. The water is generally calm, although high winds occasionally create enough of a stir to make the bay hazardous for novice kayakers. In the summer, it’s quite busy with marine traffic on weekends, as this is a favourite among locals. Cadboro-Gyro Park is a 25-minute drive northeast of downtown Victoria.
Discovery Island Marine Provincial Park is a sensitive seabird nesting area and ecological reserve. Seals, sea lions, otters and birds call it home. Book a kayaking tour of the island; experienced kayakers can rent kayaks and go it alone. There are no anchorage or moorage facilities in the park, and landing on any of the Chain Islets that lie between Oak Bay and Discovery Park is strictly prohibited. Depending on the tides and currents, this area is rated moderate to difficult for paddlers. Waters can be treacherous – make crossings at slack tide in calm weather.
The Gorge Waterway passes four bridges to connect Victoria's Inner Harbour to Portage Inlet, a designated waterfowl protection area. The waterway is calm and protected up to Tillicum Narrows, where currents are so strong it should only be crossed at slack tide. Novice and intermediate kayakers should avoid Tillicum Narrows entirely, unless accompanied by an experienced guide.
Victoria's Inner Harbour is generally calm, so it's a good place for novice paddlers to hone their skills. A kayak is ideal for taking in the city's skyline and viewing harbour seals. Intermediate kayakers may want to venture further to the Outer Harbour and along the unprotected coastline. The Inner Harbour is a 5-minute walk from downtown Victoria. The harbour is busy, so watch out for other marine traffic.
Inlets, bays and a maze of islands make Sidney’s shoreline particularly scenic for kayakers. The tides and currents through the channels and between the islands can be dangerous, however, so exercise caution. Inexperienced kayakers should take a guided tour. Sightings of Orcas, Dall's porpoises and harbour seals are common.
The large sheltered bay of Sooke Basin is ideal for beginner to intermediate paddlers to explore quiet coves, access waterfront parks and spot abundant wildlife. Sooke's location along the open ocean provides a more challenging experience for advanced paddlers.
A popular route is along East Sooke Regional Park with its jagged coastline and pocket beaches. Paddlers may spot Orcas, sea lions, porpoises and seals in these waters. Rentals are conveniently located at the marina.
Lake Paddling Areas
Connected by a narrow waterway, Elk and Beaver lakes make up a recreation hotspot just outside Victoria's city limits. Elk Lake acts as a training centre for Olympic-calibre rowing teams producing athletes such as Silken Laumann. Kayak rentals are available at Hamsterly Beach on Elk Lake.
Depending on the winds, kayaking on these waters ranges from easy to intermediate. Elk and Beaver lakes are approximately a 15-minute drive from downtown.
Paddling on Thetis Lake, a popular local summer hangout, is ideal for beginners and companies will deliver kayaks right to the put-in spot. Sandy beaches, wooded trails, rock cliffs, and Douglas-fir forest dominate this park minutes outside of downtown Victoria.
Two lakes, Upper Thetis and Lower Thetis, are connected only by a short, narrow waterway and provide numerous secluded spots along the shoreline. A small island in the middle of Lower Thetis is a perfect viewpoint and picnic spot. In summer and on weekends, this park gets very busy.
Guided Tours and Rentals
Renting a kayak is easy and convenient, and a downtown departure point means paddlers can spend an hour or more on the water and have time to take in Victoria's shops, restaurants and attractions. Rental periods range from an hour to several days.
Guiding companies will also transport kayaks to prime locations just outside the city core such as Thetis Lake, Cadboro Bay, Oak Bay, Sidney and Sooke. Others offer rentals directly on the lakeshore.
When to Paddle
The best time for kayaking in Victoria is April through October, but thanks to the city's mild climate, it's possible to paddle year-round. Choosing to paddle in the early morning may allow paddlers to have the lake all to themselves.
Practical Points and Safety
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