Desolation Sound Marine Park is a BC Parks marine park north of Powell River and Lund on the Sunshine Coast, about 145 kilometres north of Vancouver. BC Parks describes more than 60 kilometres of shoreline, several islands, small bays, snug coves, and warm waters.
The three major destination anchorages are Prideaux Haven, Tenedos Bay, and Grace Harbour.
Desolation Sound is a premier boating and kayaking destination at the meeting of Malaspina Inlet and Homfray Channel. Yachters come for calm waters and scenery, while kayakers explore islands, coves, marine camps, and warm swimming water.
Prideaux Haven is a popular anchorage for exploring the sound, but camping is not allowed there. Tenedos Bay has a designated campsite, pit toilets, an information shelter, and the short trail to Unwin Lake for freshwater swimming. Grace Harbour has designated campsites, pit toilets, an information shelter, and an upland hiking shelter.
Activities include kayaking, marine camping, swimming, hiking to Unwin Lake, saltwater and freshwater fishing, snorkeling, self-sufficient scuba diving, leashed-pet travel away from beaches, and hunting during open season. Eelgrass beds are a major conservation focus.
Plan around boat travel, kayaking, designated marine campsites, warm ocean swimming, Unwin Lake freshwater swimming, Prideaux Haven anchorage, Tenedos Bay, Grace Harbour, fishing under current rules, snorkeling, scuba diving, and wildlife-aware coastal travel.
Bring water because potable water is not available. Sewage discharge and campfires are prohibited, eelgrass no-anchoring closures are marked by buoys, private land boundaries matter, and Desolation Sound and Copeland Islands are within federal rockfish conservation areas.
