12 Incredible Bowen Island Sea Kayaking and Stand-Up Paddling Adventures
Bowen Island sea kayaking and stand-up paddle boarding are year-round activities for many Islanders. The Bowen Book has pulled together this list of fantastic routes you might like to try.
Being on the water is always an adventure. You never know what you’ll see next! Paddlers can observe Orcas and humpbacks, seals and sea lions, marine birds, herring and salmon, especially during the morning and evening feeding times.
You can also discover hidden coves, tiny islets and amazing views up and down Howe Sound and looking west to the Salish Sea and Vancouver Island.
Here are some of the best Bowen Island sea kayaking adventures:
Table of Contents
Whether you start from Snug Cove with a rental from Bowen Island Sea Kayaking on the pier or bring your own gear and set in from a secret cove, there are so many nooks and crannies to explore.
Bowen Island Sea Kayaking and SUP – West Side Routes
Bowen Bay – Onion Island – Tunstall Bay
A natural launch is Tunstall Bay on the west side of Bowen Island.
For SUP paddlers, you can make your way over to Bowen Bay in 20-30 minutes, do a loop around Onion Island, wrap your way around to Cape Roger Curtis, watch the tourist pantomime on the beach or listen to the shrieks and hoots of locals enjoying a cold-water swim in late fall.
There’s lots of free parking at Tunstall Bay, especially in the Spring and Fall. Carry your board or kayak down to the water. Watch out for rocks on the left side of the beach, swimmers in the water, and small boat traffic.
The Northwest Passage: Crayola Beach
Another launch option for Bowen Island sea kayaking and SUP is the northern cove at Crayola Beach within close reach of Keats Island and the Pasley Islands. Parking is limited parking here and the water launch is definitely more challenging to access with a long, sometimes steep trek down to the shore.
Enjoy water conditions that are often crystal clear and normally calmer conditions than other spots on a typical summer’s day.
Probably the pinnacle of paddling on the West side of Bowen Island is to be on the water as the sun sets over the mountains of Vancouver Island.
The Pasley Islands Archipelago – Keats Island
“We’re off to the Pasley Islands Archipelago!”
The Pasley Islands — or “Paisleys,” as they are often pronounced by locals, includes Whorlecombe and a few others, and though they’re not really an Archipelago, it does sound great to say it.
Conditions can get rough when you venture several kilometres off shore, so be warned!
If you launch from Crayola, King Edward Bay or Bowen Bay Beach, you can shorten the distance between Bowen Island to the Pasleys to just over one kilometre of exposed paddling before you reach the shelter of the Pasley Islands.
If you’re prepared, you can use the Pasleys as a stopover to visit Keats Island and Gibsons on the Sunshine Coast.
Remember to bring a friend, bring a phone, food and water, first aid supplies, weather gear, and let people know where you’re headed.
Bowen Island Sea Kayaking and SUP – East Side
Launching near Snug Cove
While most tourists start their Bowen Island sea kayaking or SUP outing from Snug Cove, one drawback is the ferry and marina traffic that can make your initial paddle out a little more nerve-wracking if you’re not that comfortable keeping your water craft stable in boat (or ferry) wake. Timing is everything!
Cates Bay to Snug Cove Paddle
To escape the traffic, drive up to Cates Bay with a roofrack or inflatable SUP and set in at high tide from the public beach. Be sure to bring water shoes for the rocks.
Enjoy exceptional views of the north shore mountains, Anvil Island, Bowyer Island and Howe Sound.
If you can persuade a friend to pick you up, you can do a downwind paddle and catch some wind swell from the north side down to Snug Cove (especially if you paddle a surf-ski or SUP). You could even wrap around all the way to Seymour Bay on the south western side of Bowen Island.
Bowen Island sea kayakers have often sighted whales on the East Side of Bowen Island. Orcas, humpbacks, sea lions and seals are becoming more common as the water quality in Howe Sound has improved steadily over the last decade or two.
You should definitely try for a morning dawn patrol paddle with the sun rising over the mountains.
From Cates Bay you can also paddle across to the shelter of Bowyer Island or Pam Rocks and Anvil Island. But conditions can change quickly with a strong outflow wind and tide change, so come prepared for a long day on the water with a pack, water, and signalling/phone options.
Bowen Island Sea Kayaking – One Way Routes
There’s nothing like paddling from point A to point B with a convenient pick-up for you and your kayak or paddle board at the terminus.
If you can bribe your significant other or best friend with a promise to return the favour, here are some routes you should definitely try:
Cates Bay south to Alder Cove (5 km )
We already mentioned this above, but this has to be one of the most exhilarating Bowen Island sea kayaking or SUP paddles when the wind is at your back.
It’s about a 5km paddle, assuming you follow the shoreline most of the way.
Egress Points: You could exit the water at Eaglecliff Beach (long stairwell up to the road) or Miller’s Beach (small uphill path to the road).
Crayola Beach – Bowen Bay Beach – Tunstall Bay (4 km)
All the best of west side Bowen Island sea kayaking! You can easily stop for a rest on the calm sandy shores of Bowen Bay Beach. You’ll probably run into a few people you know there.
One thing to bear in mind: with a strong tide and swirling headwinds from the south or west, this can actually become a more strenuous paddle on a paddle board. Prepare to break a sweat!
Egress Points: King Edward Bay and Bowen Bay Beach.
Cates Bay south to Seymour Bay (9.5 – 10km)
The highlight of this paddle is undoubtedly the promise of a hot meal at the end when you finish in Seymour Bay (or a beverage) at The Shed at the Golf Course.
Be mindful of some significant cross-chop (refracted waves) on the south side of Bowen Island, which can make Bowen Island sea kayaking (and especially SUP) more annoying at times when there’s lots of summer fishing and pleasure boat traffic combined with wind chop, ocean swell and large tanker traffic.
Egress Points: Miller’s Beach, Snug Cove, September Morn Beach.
Marine Life Encounters
If you’re drawn to Bowen Island sea kayaking and stand-up paddling because you would like to see marine wildlife, there are some important things to keep in mind before you set out on the water.
Check with the current DFO guidelines on your responsibilities as a kayaker or paddler when it comes to whale or cetacean encounters. Currently, you need to stay 100 metres away from whale and cetaceans, 200 metres if they have calves swimming alongside.
When in doubt, stay where you are and don’t pursue any whale or dolphin.
Humpback whales tend to be sighted most often in Howe Sound from early to late fall as they come in to feed on krill and baitfish.
Orcas and white-sided dolphins can be seen year-round, but especially in the summer.
Sea lions and particularly seals can be seen year round in Howe Sound.
Long-Distance Paddles and Day Trips
The Salish Sea Marine Trail
Hungry to spend multiple days on the water island hopping and camping? Perhaps you would like to try the Salish Sea Marine Trail, which is an extension of the Trans Canada Trail.
Check in with locals who have explored this trail. Ask around!
Swing Around the Pasley Islands to Cape Roger Curtis (12-14 km)
Depending on how scenic you like your paddling adventures, you can plan for your own ‘three hour tour’.
Paddle from King Edward Bay to Ragged Island, then onward to investigate Hermit Island, Little Popham and Popham Islands. From there, you explore the backside (west side) of Pasley Island and then finally drop south to check out Worlcombe Island before making a final bid for Bowen Island with a landing at Cape Roger Curtis.
It is a beautiful excursion with lots of small coves to pull into for a quick rest on the beach.
Paddle Around Bowen Island in a Day (35-40 km)
You can definitely paddle around Bowen Island on a SUP board or sea kayak. You need to be prepared. May we suggest you build up to the distance gradually if you haven’t done any long paddles over 15km?
It’s approximately 36km to circumnavigate Bowen Island. And there are many egress points if you need to abort your journey. But the distance doesn’t tell the whole story. Given Bowen’s location at the mouth of Howe Sound (see Ron’s cartoon below), it is subject to changing winds and tides, eddies and of course, boat traffic, that can impact your journey in unexpected ways.
Attempting this adventure by sea kayak will be much easier.
Chat with experienced paddlers and sea kayakers before giving it a try.
Can You Catch Waves on Bowen Island?
Bowen Island has many surf ski enthusiasts. Surf skis are similar to kayaks or canoes, but are super light and designed to slice through waves easily.
They can get going fast enough to surf down ocean swells but are notoriously unstable and require a fair amount of skill to use in waves and ocean swell.
You can often see surf ski paddlers out on a windy day. If you’re curious, stop them after a paddle for a quick chat to discover the best downwind runs.
Basic SUP and Sea Kayaking Safety
Wearing a PFD is required by law in BC for all boaters for Bowen Island sea kayaking and stand-up paddling. And it’s always a good idea in case you fall off your board and hit your head!
Here are a few other key pieces of safety gear for any paddling excursions that take you beyond your launch point:
- Signalling device: a whistle, phone in a dry case and/or mirror.
- Water bottles and packs
- Easy to eat snacks to keep your energy up.
- Wetsuit: being damp can lead to hypothermia, even on a warm day. Bowen Island waters are not uniform in temperature. In one cove you might encounter lovely 20 Celsius surface water, while in another, it could well up in a strong tidal period and suddenly become a chilly 14 Celsius.
- Sun protection: wide-brimmed hat, sun block for nose and ears, and rash guards. There’s a reason surfers wear rash guards to protect themselves.
- Watching out for swimmers. There are more and more swimmers venturing further away from shore. Steer clear and assume that they aren’t paying attention.
- Balance: chop and wave refraction will give your core muscles a workout in a kayak and on SUP, your legs and feet will burn if you have to paddle for any significant length of time in these conditions. Take that into consideration if you’re not an experienced paddler.
- Trash bag: please pack out whatever you take with you out on the water.
What Kayaks are Best Suited for Bowen Island Sea Kayaking?
Sea kayaks are the only kayaks that are suitable for extensive Bowen Island sea kayaking.
Unless you’re already skilled at using a river kayak in ocean or onshore wave conditions, it’s best to leave it at home.
Open kayaks that you might get at a local sporting goods store are only really suitable for having fun close to shore.
Bowen Island is surrounded by ocean and conditions can change quickly. While Howe Sound doesn’t have big ocean rollers or surf, when north wind outflows from Squamish blow south toward Bowen Island, kayaking can quickly turn into a challenging and technical endeavour.
A sea kayak is your best tool for navigating ever-changing waters.
What SUP Paddleboards work best for Bowen Island conditions?
Given the variability of conditions and strong tides at some times of year, you’re best to limit inflatable SUP board for paddling relatively close to shore. Wide board shapes will be a struggle if you have to paddle against a headwind or wind chop on longer paddles.
Choose longer touring fiberglass SUP board for paddling offshore or island hopping.
For messing around with the kids or watching the fish in the shallows, anything goes.
Always be mindful that 99% of Bowen Island beaches have rocky shores. You can easily break your fin as you come in to shore.
Bowen Island Sea Kayaking and SUP – A Diverse Playground!
There you have it. There are many adventures to be had on the water with your SUP or sea kayak.
One thing you’ll find is that the regular paddlers aren’t necessarily looking to check off a bucket list of paddling adventures. They venture out to see what new experiences the sea will provide.
Even if they paddle the same route every day.
