Discovery Islands

The Discovery Islands are the islands in the Discovery Passage between Vancouver Island and the mainland in British Columbia. These islands are sometimes considered to be part of the Northern Gulf Islands.

This article is about the archipelago near Campbell River, B.C.. For other islands with a similar name, see Discovery Island (disambiguation).
Discovery Islands view from the air
Discovery Islands, between Vancouver Island and continental British Columbia, north of Strait of Georgia

Most of these islands have very few residents. The primary attraction to visitors is the salmon fishing and there are numerous fishing lodges. Only Quadra Island and Cortes Island have ferry service. The remainder are served by private boat or float plane.

The islands are a tourist attraction in the summers, with several remote lodges and wilderness tour opportunities. Kayaking Desolation Sound is a very popular activity in the area. Cortes Island is a great destination for those looking to explore off the beaten path.

Geography

The Discovery Passage starts where the Strait of Georgia narrows between Quadra Island and Vancouver Island and continues north to Chatham Point, where it meets the Nodales Channel and Johnstone Strait. The complex geography of the area can make it difficult to determine when travelling by boat if a sighted coastline belongs to the mainland, Vancouver Island, or one of the Discovery Islands.

Major islands
Cortes Island sunrise

The Discovery Islands are all located within the Strathcona Regional District, except for a few of the southernmost, such as Hernando Island and Savary Island, which are in the Powell River Regional District. The larger islands within the Discovery Islands are:

Strathcona Regional District
Powell River Regional District

See also

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