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| Situated on the northern end of the Strait of
Georgia, the islands of Quadra, Cortez and Redonda provide a gateway to
the sailing enchantment, Desolation Sound. There is a well-equipped marina
in Gorge Harbour and government wharves are maintained at Cortez Bay,
Whaletown, Manson's Landing, and Squirrel Cove (nearest to Cedar Moon). Cortez Island is about 25 km long, 13 km wide and 13,000 hectares in area. This rugged island is in Vancouver Island's rain shadow and benefits from a drier climate than the mainland. Open bluffs of arbutus, manzanita and juniper mark the northern limit of these plants on the West Coast of Canada. Numerous conifers and deciduous tree species over most of the island with dense, lush vegetation on the north side. Most of the island's permanent residents (952 according to the 1996 Census) live in the southern portion. Corte Island is a berry-pickers dream -- blackberries, salal, huckleberries, salmonberries and thimbleberries.  There
are numerous lagoons with abundant shellfish and shorebirds. Manson's
Landing Provincial Park is the most accessible and shellfish may be
legally collected there and at Smelt Bay, Squirrel Cove and the beach
south of the government wharf in Gorge Harbor. (A fishing license is
required, check the limits and please don't take more than you are going
to eat.) Oyster and clam leases are marked. Keep clear of these areas
where harvesting is illegal and even pedestrian traffic is harmful to the
shellfish.Visitors to Cortez Island are attracted by its beauty. Hiking or biking on old logging roads, many overgrown, will take the adventuresome into seldom visited habitats (Carrington Bay and Von Donop Inlet provide a maze of trails to sort out.) Gunflint and Hague Lakes are surrounded mostly by parklands with a series of new, marked trails at the end of Quais Bay Road and across the road from the Cortez Island Motel. When hiking on Cortez Island please remember that most small roads lead to private residences, so take care choosing your path. Camp at Smelt Bay Provincial Park and swim, sun or beachcomb along the park's sandy beaches. Manson's Landing Provincial Park includes Manson's Lagoon and a large, sandy beach on Hague Lake. (No camping. No powerboats. No pets.) Bring your own canoe or kayak or rent one on the island. Kayak, dive, sail or charter a boat for fishing or sightseeing.  Spring
salmon migrate April through September. Bluebacks / Coho arrive in May,
followed by Tyee in July, August and September. Several streams on Cortez
Island are home to Chum salmon, which can be viewed on their journey in
November in the Gorge Channel and Squirrel Cove.For a great beach walk, head south to the tip of Sutil Point from Smelt Bay Park. Identify gulls, eagles, cormorants, herons and oystercatchers while you pick up treasured shells and driftwood along the shore. The multitude of sea life makes fine dining for humans...and seals, sea lions, seabirds and otters too. Above article reprinted from Forte Computers' Cortez Island Brochure.
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Cedar Moon on Cortez Island 1-250-935-6676 OR 6616 |
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| Cortez Attractions | |
