Welcome To Kayak Friendly
April, 2025
Paddle in kayak friendly comfort - and soak up some BC history
Our website has 100 various kayak friendly listings, such as Kagoagh Resort, pictured above. It will help you plan your kayaking expeditions around the Salish sea. This Spring we’ve added some new ones including the historic Annie Bay Schoolhouse on the Sunshine Coast. See below*
What is Kayak Friendly?
Kayak Friendly is the way to go kayaking in comfort and style. Our main goal is to make kayaking on multi-day trips more accessible to those who prefer not to camp. After much research, a keen KF team of like-minded paddlers have identified around 100 lodgings in various cabins, houses and B&Bs throughout southern coastal BC for paddlers to enjoy knowing that there will be a roof, beds, showers and a place to eat at the end of their paddling day. Of course this site works for canoeists and long distance stand up paddle boarders too. We’re currently checking the places that we’ve already posted and adding *new ones:
Annie Bay Schoolhouse Cottage, Frolander Bay on the Sunshine Coast. New owner Suzanne Smythe will tell you stories of the children who took their lessons there a century ago. She writes - “The school was built in 1925 and was replaced around 1936 by a larger school that still exists as apartments not far from here. Annie Frolander owned property in our bay (Frolander Bay) and donated the land and materials for the school, hence the name Annie Bay School. The school carpenter was the previous owner of our home and in the 1980s he decided to move the school from across the road to his property. There is a book called Chalkdust and Outhouses by Barbara Lambert that documents rural BC schools in the 19th and early 20th centuries, mainly serving forestry/fishing settler families. Annie Bay is featured in that book. It was part of the Stillwater ‘stumptown” community, called Qwaqwaness by the Sechelt Nation, meaning Little Whale, - and indeed dolphins are a regular visitors. The community was home to many forester families in the early 20th century and had a hotel, the school, and even a teahouse (our neighbours house!) run by a Mrs. Duke. Vancouver families took the Union Steamship up on weekends as the beaches here are pebbly and sandy compared to the more bouldery ones further up the coast.”
Also new to Kayak Friendly: Sidney Waterfront Inn and Suites is perfect for paddling in the Sidney area and is a great jumping off point for the Gulf Islands.
And don’t forget that Harbour House on Salt Spring Island is offering a discount for kayakers, check their listing.
How to use this website
Find an area that you’d like to explore on the map below then click on the kayak friendly places to stay that we’ve flagged for you. The link will take you to an information page designed for paddlers. From there you can contact the lodging directly to make your booking. Some people may choose a route going from one lodging to another. Others may prefer to base at one place for day paddles. Please note that we have researched locations for their kayak friendliness and done our best to provide accurate information. Beyond that you’re on your own. We take no responsibility for what you might experience at the various locations.
Note: We expect kayakers and canoeists to be responsible for their own safety. Trip planners need to be aware of local tides, currents and weather conditions. Some areas may only be suitable for experienced and skilled paddlers. If you don’t know, don’t go.
More information - contact us
We always want to hear from you. This Kayak Friendly website is a free resource and a work in progress. If your property could be included or your information needs updating please contact Beth: bethhaysom@shaw.ca
Paddlers, we need your help. Did you try one of our lodgings or find another great place to stay that we could add to our listings? If so, please email us short descriptions of your lodging and trip experiences and we’ll post those as short blogs. Our aim over the next couple of years is to have a paddlers review of each of the places in our listings.