BC Marine Trails: Linking and Protecting the BC Coast

One of the more complicated parts of organizing a big trip is connecting routes to campsites. Especially when you’re adventuring outside of the boundaries of formal parks. It requires tons of research and planning to find a safe (and achievable) route, and generally you end up taking any advice you can get.

I came across an incredible organization called BC Marine Trails, and they’ve become an invaluable asset for planning a kayak trip in BC.

BCMT is working hard to connect the BC coast, all the way from Washington to Alaska, with safe and clean campsites. The organization’s goal is to have an unbroken chain of well-maintained sites, each no more than a day’s paddle apart. And they’re doing this without owning a single square foot of land.

Between the complexity of negotiating across private/public/First Nations landowners, and managing a database of sites in some of the coast’s most remote areas, it’s a hell of an ambition. It was so inspiring that I joined the board of directors in 2021 to offer any help I could.

If you’re planning a kayaking trip in BC, this is an organization you’re going to want to support. Here are a few reasons why.

In connecting the coastline, BCMT has amassed a deep database of campsites of all kinds. You can access the map for free online, and paid members have some extra features including a route planning tool, and the ability to download site data for GPS devices.

The BCMT Map tool

Our organization is working hard alongside First Nations, governments, and private landowners to grow the list of sites across and make travelling the coast even more accessible. Our Code of Conduct helps educate paddlers on how to visit the coast responsibly and respectfully.

Removing ivy at Gerald Island. Photo by V. GIbberd.

Sites are regularly visited to take condition reports and tidy them up from garbage and invasive species. Where possible, we work to add some level of infrastructure to make your trip even more comfortable. (Like the new composting toilet at Freedom Point in the Discovery Islands!)

Lastly - members get some amazing discounts on tours and kayak rentals all along the coast.

A membership will cost you $30 a year, and I will tell you (in a completely unbiased way…) that it’s worth its weight in gold - especially as you plan your next adventure in BC.

Paddle the Rouge 2019

Earlier this year, I got connected to the Wildlands League - a really impressive organization that works with governments and communities across Canada to protect critical natural habitats from development.

It’s an uphill battle, for sure, but they’ve made amazing progress in helping us retain important blocks of Canadian wilderness. They’re actively working to get logging out of Algonquin Park, to protect species like the Boreal Caribou, and to develop new urban parks that bolster our connection with nature even in highly populated areas.

One of the Wildlands League’s most recent successes is helping secure Rouge National Urban Park - a 50km² park system at the base of the Rouge River watershed, on its way into Lake Ontario. The park runs from Stouffville and the Oak Ridges Moraine right down to the lake. In between, you’ll find a stunning tract of endangered Carolinian Forest, over 1700 species of plants and animals, and the last intact watershed in the area.

I ended up volunteering to be a paddling instructor for the Wildlands League’s annual ‘Paddle the Rouge’ event - the intent being to bring city folk out into the woods and help them connect with nature. The park’s entry points may have been underwater, but that didn’t stop us.

We spent the day exploring the watershed, teaching kids (and some adults!) how to canoe and kayak, and hearing from leaders of the community on why spaces like Rouge Park are so important to maintaining our connection with the land. Thanks to the Grand River Rafting Company for hooking up the boats!

I went into Paddle the Rouge, really, without any knowledge of the Wildlands League itself. Any excuse to get on the water was good enough for me. But hearing more about their successes made me realize that it only takes a small group of strong voices to make a massive impact for nature conservation in Canada.

If you get a chance, rent a kayak or canoe and do some exploring yourself this summer. You can access the park just East of the Rouge Hill GO Station, or straight in from Lake Ontario. In the meantime, keep an eye out for updates on next year’s event and come join us on the water!

https://paddletherouge.com/
https://wildlandsleague.org/