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Frequently Asked Questions
Seasons & Wildlife
Transportation
Accommodations
Activities
Catering & Kitchenettes
Seasons & Wildlife
Are you open all year around?
We are open every day between June 1 and Sept 30. If you would like to stay with us outside of this time period, you must reserve ahead of time to ensure that we are on-site, and ready to receive you.
When is the best time to visit?
Having lived in the Broughton Archipelago for more than 30 years we would say that it is always beautiful here. Most people like to visit in June – September, when it is warm and they have a chance to see whales. April and May is also a nice time to visit. During these months, the Broughton is very quiet, virtually unoccupied by tourists, and the weather is starting to warm up, as spring awakens the vibrancy of both plant and animal life. October- March is our winter time, with south-east storms dominating. It is advisable to have a flexible schedule, as transportation between the lodge and Vancouver Island can easily be delayed, waiting for a break in the weather, and calm seas to cross. This is the time to test your rain gears effectiveness, and enjoy spending time spent beside the crackling wood-fire, and see first-hand why this is area is called temperate rain forest. Regardless of which season you choose to visit in you will be able to explore the area by kayak and enjoy the beauty of nature.
What kinds of wildlife will we see?
Since this area is wilderness, wildlife viewing is possible in any month, however nature is most abundant in the summer months. During this time you have a good chance to see Orca, Humpback, and Minke whales, dolphins, and porpoise, as well as Stellar sea lions, river otters, seals, and mink. It is also possible to see black bears, deer, and raccoons feeding at the waters edge. Grizzly bears, wolves and cougars are also present but rarely sighted. Eagles are abundant, as are Blue herons, rhinoceros auklets, marbled murrelets, cormorants, and a variety of other sea- birds. The forest is also alive with kingfisher, thrush's, owls, robins, ravens, and crows. Beneath the ocean surface are many fish. Exploring the shoreline at low tide one can find a wide variety of sea creatures.
Transportation
How do we get to your location?
We offer boat transportation from Port McNeill, Telegraph Cove, Alder Bay, or any location in the Broughton Archipelago. Our boat can carry up to 12 passengers. It is also possible to fly by float-plane to our location from Port McNeill, Campbell River, or Seattle Washington.
Can we bring our kayaks?
Yes, we have specially designed, and cushioned carrying racks on our charter boat, and can easily carry up to 7 kayaks, 2 of which can be doubles. A total of 4 doubles may be carried, but to do this we have to block the view out the side windows which is not recommended. It is not possible to bring your kayak(s) on the float plane unless they are folding models.
Can we rent kayaks at Paddler's Inn?
Yes, we rent single and double kayaks. We have an assortment of poly Necky touring kayaks available, with all the standard accessories.
Why does the water taxi cost so much?
The water taxi is quite economical for groups, but may seem expensive for 1- 4 people. The charter rate is the same regardless of the number of passengers due to the fact that it takes the same amount of time and fuel to make the trip whether there are 1 or 12 passengers.
Accommodations
Is the Paddlers' Inn suitable for children?
Yes. There are no age restrictions at Paddler's Inn, (as is the case at several other locations, and with most kayak tour companies), we welcome people of all ages, and have had guests ranging in age from 1- 83!
Is the Paddler's Inn suitable for honeymoons and anniversaries?
Yes we have many newlyweds. We recommend our Float house Cabin, often referred to as "The Love Shack", for romantic couples, as it is very cute, very private, and has an en suite wood-fired sauna (fire restrictions apply if the weather is extremely hot and dry).
How come you charge extra for linens and towels?
Our cabin rentals include linens, but the main Float house Inn does not, although the mattresses and pillows do have covers. The reason for this is that we try to minimize the amount of laundry that we need to clean, as to do so requires us to run a generator, which disturbs the quiet, and results in our operation creating more pollution and impact on the environment. We have a one-time charge of $25 per bed for linens. Many guests are happy to use their sleeping bags, or bring their own linens.
Is it possible to recharge my camera batteries
Yes we are able to recharge your battery packs.
Do you have telephone and Internet?
We do have cell phone coverage using a powerful "bag phone". Pocket cell phones do not work here. We are hoping to have Internet service on site for the 2010 season. At present Internet connection is possible at nearby Echo Bay Resort.
Can I bring my pet?
We do occasionally permit people to bring their pets, as long as we are assured that they are well behaved, will not have any impact on other guests, and that the owners manage poop pick-up immediately. Large and long haired dogs are discouraged.
Activities
What activities are available?
The majority of people come to paddle, but some people do not, and are happy to enjoy the tranquility of spending their time ashore, relaxing, reading, watching their grandchildren playing, and taking short walks on our forest trails, and beach. We also offer massage and fishing off the dock, or with a guide. Prior booking is recommended.
Please refer to our Places to Explore section for information on the many paddling routes available here. There are many.
I'm new to paddling. Is this a safe place to paddle?
This area of the Broughton is comparatively safe for beginners, and also offers opportunities for advanced paddlers to challenge themselves. Protected from open ocean swells, the seas here are fairly calm, unless a strong wind stirs them up, and even then paddlers can choose more protected routes. We offer lessons and guiding for those who are new to paddling.
Can children paddle as well?
Children are happy to paddle around the bay where we are located, and as well explore adjacent coves. There are several shorter day paddles available, trails and shoreline to explore at our location. Many hours of fun can be found swimming or fishing off our dock, as well as playing on the inner tubes that we have.
Do you supply fishing gear?
We do not supply fishing gear, other than simple and limited gear for children to use on our dock. Fishing gear and licenses are available at Echo Bay. We recommend that fishing enthusiasts equip themselves prior to arriving. We have an "eat what you catch policy". We do not allow canning or freezing of fish for you to take back home.
Can we go hiking?
We have several forest trails, enabling people to explore the surrounding area. The west coast of B.C. is temperate rain forest, with dense forest cover making off-trail hiking and navigation somewhat difficult. For experienced hikers this may be fine. There are miles of seldom used logging roads accessible from near-by Scott Cove and Shoal Harbour.
What kind of things are at Billy's museum?
Billy has a wide variety of logging and fishing gear from folks that pioneered here. He also has an amazing collection of First Nations stone tools dating back many thousands of years. Billy himself is a cultural highlight, having information and character almost forgotten in the modern world.
Catering & Kitchenettes
My partner and I would like to have our dinners catered
We offer catering providing we have a minimum of 6 people requesting "full" catering, which includes 3 meals per day. If we have this basic requirement of 6, we allow additional people to receive partial catering. Breakfast and dinner are served in our dining room, lunches are served buffet style, offering a variety of items that can be packed up for you to eat and enjoy wherever you like. We do not offer sit down lunch's in our dining room.
What type of foods do you prepare?
We are able to offer vegan, vegetarian, and sea-food meals, as well as accommodate dietary restrictions. We generally do not prepare red meat, although we will offer chicken if guests request this. We prefer to offer sea-foods as we have found that most people are happy to have the high quality fish, prawns, and shellfish that are available to us here in the Broughton Archipelago.
What is included if we request catering?
If you decide to treat yourself to catering, you will enjoy 3 gourmet meals every day. We serve you a wonderful breakfast in the lodge, as well as let you choose from a variety of items to pack up for lunch (containers included), to enjoy wherever you happen to be. After your day of exploration or relaxation, we provide you with a sumptuous hors d'oeuvre to enjoy on the dock, or in the privacy of your cabin. For dinner we gather once again in our dining room, where you can expect a gourmet meal tailored to suit your preferences. We favor seafood on our menu, as well as fresh vegetable dishes, served with a complimentary glass of wine (or two) followed by desert, teas, and coffee. Usually we join you for the meals, offering you an opportunity to ask questions, and hear stories about locations to paddle, paddling tips, and our wilderness pioneering lifestyle.
Can we cook for ourselves?
Yes you can. All of our accommodations are equipped with kitchens, and cookware, dishes etc., none of which are aluminum, or inferior quality. Stoves and fridges are propane.
Do we need to bring food, or can we buy it there?
If you are cooking for yourself, you will need to bring in all of your food with you. There are some basic foods available locally. Port McNeill has a good grocery store (IGA) that offers quite a few organic items as well. Groceries are not a problem to bring in on our water taxi. If you fly in, you will pay for the extra weight, by the pound. If you are staying for more than a week, it is usually possible to have us do some restocking/shopping for you, on one of our trips to Port McNeill.
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