The Broken Group Islands is an archipelago of over 100 unique islands and islets in Barkley Sound, off the west coast of Vancouver Island. Each island is unique in terms of terrain, beaches and campgrounds. To protect the fragility of the island’s flora and fauna there are designated campsites and totally funky pit toilets. Some of the campsites are right on the sandy beach while others are nestled under towering red cedars and sitka spruce. The paddling in this area is incredible and includes a bit of everything - open coast, protected passages, warm lagoons, and narrow channels all teeming with intertidal organisms, seals, sea lions, porpoises, and whales. Barkley Sound was the most densely populated region on the west coast prior to the arrival of Europeans. Your guides will help you discover the evidence of ancient villages and defensive sites, stone fish traps, and canoe runs that make the life history of these early inhabitants more palpable and inspiring.

Day 1
We'll met in Ucluelet at 8:00 am and then travel to Toquart Bay which is a wonderful 50 minute drive along Kennedy Lake and through the rain forest. At Toquart Bay your guides will direct you through boat packing and safe paddling techniques and soon you'll be on the water heading out to the Stopper Islands. After a short warm up paddle we'll stop at a beautiful, sandy beach to stretch our legs and have a gourmet picnic lunch, the first of many! Then we'll get back on the water and cross Loudoun Channel to the Broken Group where we'll find an island to serve as our base of exploration. While you set up your tent and get comfortable your guides will be preparing a hearty dinner with fresh ingredients like organically grown veggies and homemade desserts. After dinner there will be plenty of time to get to know each other and make plans for tomorrows adventure.

Day 2 – 4
The next three days will allow us plenty of time to explore the islands, take a hike, relax on beach, and get to know the secrets of the archipelago. On calm days we'll head to the "outside" and explore the marine life on dynamic, wave swept headlands and beaches of the open coast. We often check out the tide pools and look for grey whales and humpback whales out there. On other days we'll explore among the more sheltered islands and waterways, navigating through small passages and islets, and hidden channels. Each day we'll stop at a new beach for a gourmet picnic lunch and perhaps a hike or even a nap. In the afternoons we'll do more paddling and exploring before we head back to our base camp where we'll have dinner and lounge about the campfire.

Day 5
On the final day of our trip we'll pack up and have a hearty breakfast before making our way back to Toquart Bay. Usually everyone is so comfortable paddling at this point that they quietly reflect on their natural surroundings and accomplishments, while soaking up the last yummy goodness of the adventure. Before long we'll be loading boats on the trailer and saying goodbye to the Broken Group Islands before heading back to Ucluelet.

Throughout the summer we often see resident gray whales swimming by the outer islands as well as California sea lions, Steller sea lions, and a plethora of intertidal life - many species of barnacles, mussels, anemones, molluscs, crabs, sea stars, algaes, etc. Among the inner islands we might see humpback whales as well as harbour seals, river otters, and many intertidal species that inhabit the calmer shorelines. We also see bald eagles, cormorants, loons, harlequin ducks, black oystercatchers, pigeon guillemot, common murres, herons and kingfishers to name a few.

The town of Ucluelet is approximately 201 km (125 miles) from the city of Vancouver, exclusive of ferry travel. Whether you take BC Ferries to Swartz Bay or Departure Bay, head north on Provincial Route 19 N (also called the inland Island Highway). Take Exit 60 to Highway 4 and follow the signs approximately 136 km (85 miles) to Ucluelet. For more information about driving, flying and reserving accommodations please visit our Travel Information page.