The Rover-Landers of BC

Has anyone been to Haida Gwaii in the past few years? I've heard a bit of info about trail access to shoreline areas in some areas and I'd like to know a bit more about it. Sounds like it might make a good week long holiday :D Any info would be appreciated

I was there in the summer of 2009 and was highly impressed with the spectacular scenery. The whole place is extremely rural and you can access beaches and recreation sites all over. Driving on the beach from Tow Hill Point east of Masset all the way to Rose Spit is definitely a highlight. You can pick up a crab license and scoop big dungerness right out of the surf with a net. There is a pretty nice campsite just west of Tow Hill with sites right on the verge above high tide. Roads on the Island are few but you will still need a week to explore them all. Best access to the Pacific side is at Rennel Sound on the South Island. I highly recommend Gray bay just down the coast from Sandspit. You can camp right at the beach and there was no-one to be seen for miles when we were there.


Here's my truck near the end of Rose Spit East of Masset on Graham Island in 2009
Bill

http://roverlanders.bc.ca/gallery-photo ... 09_064.jpg


Parked in downtown Queen Charlotte City

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Dozens of Eagles and Ravens were regularly seen on the beaches

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On the Aliford Bay ferry that connects Graham Island in the North to Lyall Island in the South

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Here's the junction on the South Island that points you to access on the Pacific Ocean side

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Parked outside the Skidegate museum, a must see.

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Nice Shots Bill.

I went up there with my son back in 2007 (pre-Land Rover) and like Bill drove on the beach at Rose Spit, didn't get down to the south islands but would love to go back and do some more exploring there.

Our highlight was the first morning camping at Agate Beach when we awoke to some locals asking for our help moving a baby humpback that got stranded at low tide. We couldn't move him, but after the entire town of Masset came out with an Elder singing whale songs later during the day at high tide we eventually freed him and he swum off to his waiting mom.

Very, very magical place. Highly recommended.

Here is a link to some of my pictures...I'm the guy in the wet suit pushing the whale.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/6301ycsv5u8500a/1KxI5n4hmp

Wow! Nice photos, guys. The place looks great! :D

Thanks very much for that input Bill! Much more detailed then I had before. Can you tell me what ferry you used to access the island (from where?). It looks like there may be a few directions to come from.....

Thanks again....

cheers, Bill Inch

I took the ferry that leaves from downtown Prince Rupert and arrives at the terminal just a few blocks east of Queen Charlotte City. It was more or less an overnight run. You can rent a cabin to sleep in if you want or you can join the locals like I did and just throw your sleeping bag down on the floor of the sitting lounge. You are not allowed to stay below in your vehicle, they are very strict about this since the Queen of the North sinking. I had to sign out, then back in when I went down to grab my sleeping bag.

http://roverlanders.bc.ca/gallery-photo ... 09_018.jpg

There is only one way to take a vehicle to Haida Gwaii...Drive north on Hwy 97 to Prince George, take a left and go straight on Hwy 16 until you hit the Coast at Prince Rupert...and then catch the 8(?)hour ferry across Hecate Straight.

Usually you are looking at 1 day to PG, then another day to Prince Rupert, then another day on the Ferry to Haida Gwaii.

Ferry cost is around $160+ and MUST be reserved.

Really this trip should be a 2 week'r....minimum.

Worth every second and every penny however.

PS...be prepared with some Gravol as Hecate Straight can go from 2 meter swells to 14 meter swells in less than 2 hours. We were lucky and the sailing was uneventful.

http://goo.gl/maps/f0hz9

Ferries: http://www.bcferries.com/schedules/inside/

I had a look at the sites John posted and it looks like there are a couple of options there for a holiday. Port Hardy to Prince Rupert and then over to Haida Qwaii. Shortens the Driving time and puts the miles down at sea instead. One option for a holiday.

I see they also have package deals for the south half of the island too, where I'm interested in heading. And they include the ferry fares.

Did find looking through the fare schedule a bit tough as there is no interactive map showing the route and assciated fares. Would make life much easier especially when you need a BC coastal map to figure out where all the "unfamiliar names" are, for the fare schedules. Still.....Looks like a great potential for a summer holiday :P

Beautiful pics... Makes me want to go for a road trip...

binch wrote:I had a look at the sites John posted and it looks like there are a couple of options there for a holiday. Port Hardy to Prince Rupert and then over to Haida Qwaii. Shortens the Driving time and puts the miles down at sea instead. One option for a holiday.

I also checked into this option but the ferry from Prince Rupert to Port Hardy is pricey around $600.+, for 1 passenger and vehicle...plus then you still have another ferry crossing to get back to the lower mainland.

Yup, that's true. But it's only a days drive for me to vancouver and it's another option to include on a holiday. And besides.....sounds like a nice bit of boating :mrgreen:

After we returned to Prince Rupert we traveled south to Port Hardy on the inside passage run, stayed overnight in Port Hardy, drove south down Vancouver Island then across to Tsawwassen. The whole trip was pretty arduous and pricey but if you've not seen much of the coast it's worthwhile. The open water off Queen Charlotte Sound Entrance can be quite rough with a Pacific swell off the starboard beam for a few hours. Take Gravol. These two pictures are pretty much indicative of the other 100 I took. If your lucky you'll see Humpbacks, Orcas and Dolphin all along the route as well as picturesque lighthouses, waterfalls and abandoned fishing camps.

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http://roverlanders.bc.ca/gallery-photo ... 09_370.jpg

This is one of my dream trips that I have been planning for years. The rover is getting a new 200 Tdi and this would be fun to test it out on. Great pictures and thanks for sharing.