Twelve acres of Douglas fir, arbutus trees and even prickly pear cactus sit in the Haro Strait, less than a mile from the U.S.-Canada border. Isle-de-Lis — once nicknamed Rum Island for its Prohibition-era smuggling past — is one of the least visited of British Columbia's Gulf Islands, and there's a simple reason why: no ferries, no roads, no airport. You arrive by paddle or boat, or not at all.
The island is part of the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve, east of the town of Sidney on Vancouver Island. A flat, easy 0.8-mile trail loops the whole shoreline, with views across the strait and a rugged, cliff-backed windward coast. Because the surrounding waters are protected, wildlife is the main draw: seals, otters and bald eagles are routine sightings, and the area is year-round critical habitat for the endangered Southern Resident orcas, so whale encounters are a real possibility rather than a lottery win.
Overnighting here is properly rustic. Paddlers land at the gravel beach that links Isle-de-Lis to neighbouring Gooch Island (privately owned, so stay on your side), where three primitive campsites and pit toilets are the extent of the facilities. There's no drinking water — bring everything you need. Sites are first-come, first-served, and in summer the early bird very much gets the tent pad.
Most visitors launch from Sidney and hop across a chain of channels and passages. Conditions are tide- and wind-dependent, so plan your route with some flexibility. For multi-day kayakers, the island fits neatly into longer Gulf Islands itineraries; for others, it's a solid day trip from Vancouver Island. History buffs get a bonus story: the island was privately held until the late 1970s, when it was bequeathed to the province, later becoming a marine park before joining the national park reserve.
Who is this for? Self-sufficient paddlers and small-boat campers who want solitude, wildlife and a campsite you can't drive to. If that sounds like your kind of weekend, pair it with time in Victoria or a detour toward Washington's San Juan Islands, just across the water.
Story via Islands.
