Sea to Sky. 
Know before you go
Advisories
Special notes
Sewage discharge is prohibited within the park. Under federal sewage regulations, no one is permitted to discharge sewage within three nautical miles of any shore, or while at anchor in any water.
Use a holding tank and the sewage pump-out station at the public dock in Lund. For more information on green boating, visit the Georgia Strait Alliance website and see our marine visitor guide.
Campfires are not permitted throughout the park. Please observe posted signs.
Boating and anchoring closure areas are in place to protect crucial eelgrass bed habitats. Around Williams Island, boaters must not anchor in the areas delineated by the ‘no anchoring’ buoys. At Copplestone Island, anchoring is not permitted between the buoys.
Bring your own water. Potable water is not available.
Please do not trespass on private land. Check the park map for boundaries.
To learn more about how you can help protect marine parks, read the marine visitor guide.
Review the detailed guides under visit responsibly for more information on staying safe and preserving our natural spaces.
Visit responsibly
Follow these guides to ensure your activities are safe, respectful, and ecologically friendly:
Maps and location
Any maps listed are for information only. They may not represent legal boundaries and should not be used for navigation.
Getting there
Desolation Sound Marine Park is north of Powell River and Lund on the Sunshine Coast, 145 km north of Vancouver. Lund is the closest community.
Camping
Marine-accessible camping
There are 11 designated campgrounds throughout Desolation Sound, the Copeland Islands, and Malaspina Marine Parks. An average of nine tent pads are available at each campground.
For campground locations, download our map of Desolation Sound and Copeland Islands Marine Park designated campsites [PDF]. For more maps, see the maps and location section.
To get detailed information about each campground, visit the Desolation Sound Marine Park: Backcountry camping page. For information about launching your boat, see the boat launch section.
Marine parks protect sensitive ecosystems. When visiting:
- Respect boating and anchoring closure areas to protect crucial eelgrass bed habitats. Around Williams Island, boaters must not anchor in the areas marked by the ‘no anchoring’ buoys. At Copplestone Island, anchoring is not permitted between the buoys.
- Camp only on tent pads and stay on designated trails.
- Campfires are not permitted throughout Desolation Sound, Copeland Islands, and Malaspina Marine Parks.
Fees
| Marine-accessible camping (per night) | $5 per person (age 6+) |
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Camping in Desolation Sound Marine Park requires backcountry permit registration. A backcountry permit for Desolation Sound is valid for overnight stays in Desolation Sound Marine Park, Copeland Islands Park, Roscoe Bay Park, and Malaspina Park. Backcountry registration is not a reservation and does not guarantee you a spot. Campsites are available on a first come, first served basis, and cannot be held for other parties.
You are encouraged to register online, but you can also pay with cash at Okeover Arm Park or in Lund Harbour. Look for registration information at the BC Parks kiosks.
Nearby, Okeover Arm Park offers vehicle-accessible campsites. Many people camp there and get an early start the next day to explore Desolation Sound. You pay a separate fee to camp at Okeover Arm.
When visiting marine-accessible sites, be respectful of the sensitive wildlife habitats, and learn how to stay safe using our marine visitor guide.
Marine-accessible campgrounds
Things to do
There is a short hiking trail to Unwin Lake from Tenedos Bay. This is an easy 10-minute walk one way.
For your safety and the preservation of the park, obey posted signs and keep to designated trails. Taking shortcuts destroys plant life and soil structure.
The warm waters of Desolation Sound offer swimming opportunities throughout the park.
Freshwater swimming is available at Unwin Lake, a 10 minute walk from Tenedoes Bay. Please do not use soaps or shampoos in any freshwater.
There are no lifeguards on duty in BC Parks.
Desolation Sound is a very popular kayaking destination, with numerous guided kayak tours available. Several kayak rentals can be found near Powell River and Lund. All guided visitors must pay overnight camping fees, in addition to any guiding fees. Please discuss this with your guide outfitter before your trip.
For information about launching your kayak, see the boat launch section.
For information about kayak camping opportunities, see marine-accessible camping.
There are several fishing opportunities in this park, including both saltwater and freshwater fishing. Salmon, rockfish, oysters, prawns, cod, and snapper are in the area.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) routinely monitors the level of marine biotoxins, bacteria, and other harmful contaminants. They will also close bivalve shellfish areas when levels of these substances exceed safe limits. When an area is officially closed, it is illegal and unsafe to harvest in that area. Areas that have been assessed and deemed contaminated are posted with signs indicating the area is closed. Check the BC Centre for Disease Control fishing and shellfish harvesting page before harvesting.
Desolation Sound and Copland Island Marine Parks are within federal Rockfish Conservation Areas (RCAs). Hook-and-line fishing is not allowed, and fishing activities are limited in these areas. Before you go fishing, refer to the Rockfish Conservation Area descriptions available from DFO.
Small boating closure areas, marked by ‘no anchoring’ buoys, are in place to protect crucial eelgrass bed habitats.
Anyone fishing in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence. To learn more, see the fishing and hunting guide.
Dogs and other domestic animals must be leashed and are not allowed in beach areas or park buildings. You must always be in control of your pets and dispose of their excrement in waste bins.
Hunting is permitted in this park.
Anyone hunting in British Columbia must comply with BC hunting regulations. To learn more, see the fishing and hunting guide.
Facilities
Desolation Sound Marine Park does not have its own boat launch. Okeover Harbour government dock, next to Okeover Arm Park, offers a boat launch with limited free parking. Launching here is only recommended at high tide with four-wheel drive vehicles.
Lund Harbour offers a boat launch with private pay parking.
Small boating closure areas, marked by ‘no anchoring’ buoys, are in place to protect crucial eelgrass bed habitats.
Pit toilets are located at Prideaux Haven, Grace Harbor, Tenedos Bay, Curme Islands, Bold Head, Hare Point, Feather Cove, Copeland Islands, and Melanie Cove. There are no flush toilets.
Many of the outhouses throughout Desolation Sound are an open-air-privy design. Bring your own toilet paper.
Outhouses in Desolation Sound have above-ground pump-out tanks. Due to the shallow soils and potential for exposing cultural features buried in the ground, digging traditional outhouse holes is not possible. Please do not put garbage in the outhouse tanks. They are for human waste only.
About this park
Desolation Sound falls within the traditional territories of the Tla'amin, Homalco, and Klahoose First Nations. The First Nations have occupied many sites throughout Desolation Sound for thousands of years. The First Nations still rely on the abundant sea life in the waters of Desolation Sound to harvest traditional foods.
Captain George Vancouver first sailed these waters in 1792. Seeing the land and seascape so remote and forbidding, he was inspired to name it Desolation Sound. The park was created in 1973 and continues to be a popular destination in the marine park system.
Desolation Sound Marine Park is home to eelgrass beds that play a crucial role in supporting the marine environment. They are a cornerstone of marine biodiversity, providing essential habitat and food for fish, birds, clams, shrimp, and other invertebrate populations. Eelgrass helps stabilize shorelines to prevent erosion, and improves water quality by filtering out pollutants and excess nutrients from run-off.
Eelgrass beds exhibit remarkable productivity, sequestering ‘blue carbon’ within marine sediments, and delivering a valuable ecosystem service in coastal regions. While generating oxygen, they act as a carbon dioxide repository, aiding in the fight against climate change.
Worldwide, eelgrass beds remain vulnerable to human-induced threats, like urban development, boat anchoring and traffic, dredging, pollution, and sedimentation. Safeguarding and rehabilitating eelgrass beds, both in Canada and worldwide, is of paramount importance.
Area closures in Desolation Sound are marked by ‘no anchoring’ buoys. These help to protect eelgrass beds from damage caused by boat rotor blades and anchors. In collaboration with the Tla'amin, Homalco, and Klahoose Nations and the University of British Columbia, we monitor the closure areas to study their health and recovery.
Due to dry and shallow soils, many areas within this park can be easily impacted by human use. Please refer to the marine visitor guide for more information.
To learn more about how you can help protect marine parks, read the marine visitor guide.
Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples
BC Parks honours Indigenous Peoples’ connection to the land and respects the importance of their diverse teachings, traditions, and practices within these territories. This park webpage may not adequately represent the full history of this park and the connection of Indigenous Peoples to this land. We are working in partnership with Indigenous Peoples to update our websites so that they better reflect the history and cultures of these special places.
Contact
| Park operator | This park is operated by 1312768 BC Ltd. |
|---|---|
| General questions and feedback for BC Parks | We answer emails weekdays from 9 am to 5 pm Pacific Time. |
