West Coast North America Boat Camping

[Boydo]

Can we get a running thread going to share information on our west coast boat-in camping or day tripping experience. Hope to exchange info on where did you camp (with coordinates), launch locations, routing, anchoring conditions, your equipment setups that work, good day tripping lunch stops, fueling locations, tips and tricks, surfing spots, sources of information, hiking possibilities, fishing spots you’d like to get back to… Hoping “west coast” can get enough traffic but still be relevant to folks. I’ve been to a lot of places along the BC coast I’d be happy to share if we can get some back and forth going here without too much insipid banter. Personally I’m after more good boat-in camping spots. Whatcha got?

[Boydo]

Here’s something to get the thread started. Not camping, but a great boat-in location some folks would like, especially if you have kids. We stayed at this cabin for several days summer 2024. Highly recommend, great owners and host, excellent base for excursions in every direction, great fishing, lots of whales. It’s on the south end of Swanson Island, BC, facing out on Blackfish Sound.

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/737251508335038073?viralityEntryPoint=1&s=76

Parking, launching, fueling out of Telegraph Cove was easy and is less than 30 minutes to Swanson Is. However, the fuel dock side of the cove burned in December so you might have to buy fuel in Port McNeil this year.(?) No fuel dock in Alert Bay. Lagoon Cove Marina south of Swanson Island is a good fuel stop if you go down that way. Probably best you take a bunch of fuel cans over to Swanson snd leave them on the dock while you’re there as we did.

Alert Bay is a fantastic day trip, tie up on the public dock, have lunch, buy groceries, go to the U'mista Cultural Center museum, and on Saturdays in the summer you need to go the longhouse for the potlatch dance performance.