This park is a boater’s paradise at the confluence of Malaspina Inlet and Homfray Channel. Yachters have been enjoying the spectacular vistas and calm waters for generations. In recent years, kayakers have enjoyed exploring the islands and coves that make up the unique shoreline. Desolation Sound Marine Provincial Park has more than 60 km of shoreline, several islands, numerous small bays and snug coves. The warm waters of the park are ideal for swimming and scuba diving; the forested upland offers a shady refuge of trails and small lakes and designated campgrounds.
This park can be split up into three major destination anchorages: Prideaux Haven, Tenedo’s Bay and Grace Harbour.
Desolation Sound is a very popular kayak and boating destination. There are 11 designated campgrounds throughout Desolation Sound, the Copeland Islands and Malaspina Provincial Marine Parks.
These three parks are grouped together for the backcountry registration system and described as Desolation Sound Parks .
The BC Parks reservations system allows you to purchase a backcountry permit before leaving home. Although the system does not reserve a campsite, the system provides visitors the convenience of prepaying for their trip and not having to carry cash. We encourage all visitors to register online so we can reduce the need to collect fees in the field. If the online system is not available to you then you can pay with cash at Okeover Park or Lund Harbour. Look for the registration information at the BC Parks kiosks.
A Desolation Sound Parks backcountry registration is valid for overnight use in the Copeland Islands, Malaspina, Roscoe Bay, and Desolation Sound Provincial Marine Parks.
Most kayaker and boaters launch their vessels and start their adventure from either Lund Harbour or Okeover Harbour Government Dock to access the Desolation Sound Parks . Many boaters will arrive by boat from Georgia Strait.
Okeover Provincial Park is located next to the Okeover Harbour Government Dock. There are 21 vehicle access campsites at Okeover Provincial Park. Many people will camp at Okeover Park and get an early start the next day to explore the Desolation Sound Parks. There is a campground attendant at Okeover Park. Camping at Okeover is captured under a separate fee and is not on the backcountry registration system.
Kayak Rentals and Guided Tours: There are several kayak rentals available in the Powell River and the Lund area. There are several guided kayak tours available. All guided visitors are required to pay overnight camping fees, in addition to any guiding fees. Please discuss with your guide outfitter prior to your trip.
To purchase a backcountry camping permit, click on the “Get A Backcountry Camping Permit Now” button. Thank you for your support!
Please Note:
There are 11 designated campgrounds [PDF] throughout Desolation Sound, the Copeland Islands, and Malaspina Marine Parks. There is an average of nine tent pads at each campground.
Details about these campgrounds, including campground maps, access descriptions, facilities and features, are available here.
The BC Parks backcountry permit registration service allows you to purchase a backcountry camping permit before leaving home. Although this does not reserve a campsite, it provides the convenience of prepaying for your trip and not having to carry cash. We encourage all visitors to register online so we can reduce the need to collect fees in the field.
Pit toilets are located at 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. This simple outhouse design is a cost effective way of providing a sanitary camping experience. While the open-air-privy design experience may be slightly more adventurous than the traditional outhouse building, it will also provide a much more pleasant view and allow for a fresh air experience. Please bring your own toilet paper.
Please note that all 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! It is very costly to pump out tanks, so please only human waste in the tanks.
This is a very popular kayak destination. There are 11 designated campsites throughout Desolation Sound, the Copeland Islands and Malaspina Provincial Marine Park. There are several kayak rentals available in the Powell River and Lund area. There are numerous guided kayak tours available.
Most kayaker and boaters launch their vessels and start their adventure from either Lund Harbor or Okeover Harbor Government Dock to access Desolation Marine Park. Okeover Provincial Park is located next to the Okeover Harbor Government Dock. There are 21 vehicle access campsites at Okeover Provincial Park.
There are several fishing opportunities in this park including both saltwater and freshwater fishing for salmon, rockfish, oysters, prawns, cod, snapper etc. The Department Of Fisheries routinely monitors the level of marine biotoxins, bacteria and other harmful contaminants and closes 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. As a morf general rule, areas that have been assessed and deemed contaminated are clearly posted with signs indicating the area is closed. It is your responsibility to find out if an area is closed to shellfish harvesting.
Desolation Sound and Copland Island Provincial Marine Parks are within Rockfish Conservation Areas (RCAs). Hook and line fishing is not permitted in RCAs. Fishing activities are limited in RCAs. Before you go fishing please refer to the Rockfish Conservation Area descriptions available from Fisheries and Oceans Canada DFO. Anyone fishing or angling in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence.
North of Powell River and Lund on the Sunshine Coast; 90 miles north of Vancouver. Lund is the closest community, town or city.
Boat Launch and Kayak Launch: Most kayakers and boaters launch their vessels and start their adventure from either Lund Harbor or Okeover Harbor Government Dock to access Desolation Marine Park. Okeover Provincial Park is located next to the Okeover Harbor Government Dock. There are 21 vehicle access campsites at Okeover Provincial Park.
Prideaux Haven: Strategically located as a base for exploring the Sound, this anchorage is an elongated bay dotted with islands and small coves at the far north end of the park. A pit toilet is also located here. There is no camping allowed in this area. This is a very popular anchorage. Yachters are reminded that it is illegal to dump sewage in the protected waters of Desolation Sound Provincial Park.
Tenedos Bay: A sheltered bay east of Mink Island in Homfrey Channel. Nearby Unwin Lake provides a great opportunity for a freshwater swim. Tenedos Bay is a designated campsite with pit toilets and an information shelter is located here. Yachters are reminded that it is illegal to dump sewage in the protected waters of Desolation Sound Provincial Park.
Grace Harbour: A large sheltered bay located in Malaspina Inlet and surrounded by Gifford Peninsula. This area provides pit toilets, designated camp sites, an information shelter and an upland hiking shelter. Yachters are reminded that it is illegal to dump sewage in the protected waters of Desolation Sound Provincial Park.
This park proudly operated by:
1312768 BC Ltd
DesolationSound.Camping@outlook.com
History: Desolation Sound falls within the traditional territories of the Sliammon, Hamalco, 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 waters of Desolation Sound to harvest traditional foods.
Captain George Vancouver first sailed these waters in 1792 – and 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.
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.