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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 1-604-925-8856 |
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| Cortez Attractions | |