49°N · History & Culture
What makes Grace Harbour a good storm refuge?
Grace Harbour (Kahkaykay) is an almost-landlocked, all-weather refuge in Malaspina Inlet — a former Coast Salish winter village, with a charted mid-bay rock, a beaver-lake trail, and rusting logging relics ashore.
Quick facts
- Where
- Malaspina Inlet, Desolation Sound Marine Park
- Name
- Kahkaykay — a major Coast Salish winter village that housed hundreds
- Shelter
- Protected from every direction, almost a lake — one of the corridor's best storm Plan Bs
- Anchoring
- Nearly landlocked with room for many; much of it stern-tie; a charted rock sits mid-innermost-bay
- Ashore
- Fire pit and small beach at the north end; trail to a beaver-dammed freshwater lake
- Services
- Pit toilets only — zero supplies
Grace is the corridor's quiet insurance policy: the anchorage you're glad to know when the forecast turns, and the one whose ground remembers the longest. This bay was Kahkaykay — a major Coast Salish winter village that housed hundreds; the place you drop anchor has been home for millennia. Treat the old village site with respect and disturb nothing.
Anchoring & ashore
The inner bay is nearly landlocked with room for many, much of it shore-side stern-tie work. A charted rock lies mid-innermost-bay — avoid the centre, expect a dragging anchor to skid over it before it bites, and confirm your set. Final navigation decisions rest with each captain. Ashore, a parklike patch with a fire pit sits at the north end, with a small beach, pit toilets, and a trail to the beaver lake (bring bug spray) past rusting logging machinery you can read like museum labels. Clams and oysters abound — check DFO PSP closures before harvest.
Verified against cruising guides and BC Parks, July 2026. Captain's judgment is final.
Common questions
Where's the rock?
A charted rock lies mid-innermost-bay; anchor off-centre, expect a dragging anchor to skid over it before biting, and confirm your set.
Is it a good storm hole?
Yes — it's protected from every direction and is one of the corridor's go-to all-weather Plan Bs, alongside Roscoe, Von Donop and Prideaux.