Salt Marsh by Kayak - Deas Island Regional Park

It is always amazing to us that in an area as populated as Metro Vancouver you can find secluded nature hideaways within minutes of the big city.  Deas Island Regional Park provides such a getaway!  We enjoyed a wonderful afternoon paddle and spent time exploring the salt marshes of the South Arm Marshes Wildlife Management Area.

Launch site at Deas Island Regional Park

We began our trip with a nice, dry launch from the dock at Deas Island Regional Park.  The launch area has great parking (free), washrooms and easy water access....all the amenities of the big city!  As we arrived several young rowers from the Delta Deas Rowing Club were finishing up their training session and working hard to bring their shells up to the club house.  Amidst the giggles and high jinx of a spirited group of rowers we jumped into our boats and began an easy paddle up the slough towards the salt marshes.  Conditions were perfect - no wind, flat water and the sun was shining!  We were in our boats for only a few minutes when we were greeted by a river otter scrambling across the banks.  We floated by and enjoyed the show!

Paddling through the salt marsh at high tide

Our route took us under Highway 99 and past Captain's Cove Marina.  The kayaks always feel extremely small and powerless next to the ocean going yachts and sailboats docked at the marinas.  However, it always makes me smile when I think of how the ocean manages to challenge and entice us all....from paddlerboaders, sailors, kayakers to captains of yachts we all seem to feel drawn to the water.

Captain's Cove Marina and Pub

We paddled on to explore the floating homes moored along Ferry Road in Ladner.  Talk about nature at your doorstep.  What a unique lifestyle!  Imagine your living room rising and falling with the tides, panoramic views of the salt marshes and no traffic snarl-ups.  Of course, you do have a wide variety of birds thinking your front porch is an excellent place to hang out for the day.

Touring the Floating Homes

Our return route took us through the secluded channels of the marsh.  Definitely something you want to do during high tide.  These channels twist and turn and seem to go on forever....and yes....we did get lost!  It is quite disorienting in the marsh as the banks of the channels are high and you quickly lose sight of key landmarks.  We laughed as we imagined ourselves paddling through the marsh, the tide going out and being stranded on the salt flats.  Something we would prefer not to do.  After reaching a dead end, we decided to backtrack and made our way back out.

Which way now ??

The wildlife viewing in this area is usually terrific as the Fraser River Estuary marsh habitat is home to a wide range of species from Great Blue Heron to Eagles and songbirds and shorebirds.  This area is actually one of the most important areas in the province for aquatic bird and raptor habitat.

Gulls take advantage of a sandbar

We meandered our way back to the boat launch and reluctantly called it a day.  But, what a fabulous day it had been!

Return trip to the boat launch

Giggle of the day:

It is always a lot of fun to paddle along side the floating homes.  They are all unique and summer is a great time to view them, as the decks feature wonderful flower boxes.  We must confess that we were probably a bit "snoopy" and were travelling too close to the floating homes.  As we were trying to peek inside one of the living areas, we failed to notice a fishing line that had been left out.  Before we knew it Rob was tangled up in the line!  Needless to say the houseboat owner caught a big one that day!

Map and Route Tips:



Be sure to check your tide tables and marine forecast before heading out of Deas Slough.

The south arm of the Fraser River has quite a strong current and is very busy with large commercial traffic - not recommended for a leisurely paddle.