Guides › Sidney to Desolation Sound: a 10-night plan

Sidney to Desolation Sound: a 10-night plan

One of the classic BC coast runs: leave the Saanich Peninsula, work north through the Gulf Islands, cross the Strait of Georgia, and finish in the warm anchorages of Desolation Sound. Here's a relaxed ten-night version with a marina to tie up at most evenings — and an honest note on how each one actually books.

Distances below are rough rhumb-line estimates for planning only. This is an awareness guide, not a passage plan: the crossings and the rapids north of Desolation demand your own up-to-date charts, current tables, and weather — check official sources and local advice before every leg.

Nights 1–3 — the Gulf Islands

Provision and depart from Sidney; Port Sidney Marina is the natural jumping-off point right downtown. From there it's a short hop into the southern Gulf Islands. Poets Cove at Bedwell Harbour is a comfortable first or second night (and a Canada customs point if you're coming up from the San Juans). Work north through Ganges on Salt Spring, Montague Harbour, and the Pender/Galiano marinas — browse them all in the directory to see which take requests and which are first-come.

Nights 4–5 — up-island and the crossing staging point

Continue north toward Nanaimo to stage for the Strait of Georgia crossing. Top up fuel and water; the next stretch has fewer services. Pick a settled-weather window for the crossing — it's open water and can build quickly.

Nights 6–7 — Sunshine Coast / Lund

Across the Strait, the Sunshine Coast and Lund mark the gateway to Desolation Sound. Lund is the last fuel and groceries before the Sound proper — stock up here.

Nights 8–10 — Desolation Sound

Now the payoff: warm water, deep anchorages, and a handful of welcoming marinas. Gorge Harbour on Cortes Island is the hub; Squirrel Cove and Refuge Cove are the classic stops. Many of these are first-come or arrange-by-radio, so hail ahead on VHF and have an anchoring backup. Heading further? The rapids toward the Discovery Islands (Yuculta, Gillard, Dent) require slack-water transits — consult the official current tables and local guidance; never time them from an app.

Plan it in one tap

Open this route in the Hailport planner: pick your start, destination, and dates, and it builds the night-by-night itinerary with the bookable stops flagged — then request your nights where the marina takes requests. Browse every marina on the corridor →