49°N · Sightseeing & Activities
What should boaters know about anchoring at Tenedos Bay?
Tenedos Bay is a deep, mountain-walled anchorage in Desolation Sound — quieter than Prideaux Haven, with warm water, 14 stern-tie rings, and the Unwin Lake trail to flat swimming rocks.
Quick facts
- Where
- Homfray Channel side of Desolation Sound Marine Park, sheltered by Bold Head; ~8 NM from Grace Harbour
- Name
- Charted as "Deep Bay" by Archibald Menzies, 1792; the centre runs 300–600 ft
- Anchoring
- Edges only — NW island basin, bay head, Three Fathom Hole; 14 stern-tie rings (NE bay)
- Shore
- Campsite, pit toilets, info shelter; trail to Unwin Lake
- Hazard
- Submerged rock off Bold Head's south side; poorly charted rock near Ray Rock
- Services
- None — pack out; treat all fresh water
Tenedos is the quieter sibling of Prideaux Haven one headland away: the same warm water and mountain walls, fewer boats, and one of the Sound's best shore excursions. The bay is so deep it forces an intimacy — everyone tucks into the same few edges and coves, sundowners happen dinghy-to-dinghy, and the evening soundtrack is the Unwin outlet stream.
The Unwin Lake trail (the main event)
From the bay's east corner the trail follows the outlet stream a quarter-mile through mossy old forest — side paths lead to ancient cedars and a small waterfall. Look for stumps with springboard notches, where hand-loggers stood on planks to fell the giants a century ago; the stream's screened pools are favourite soaking spots. At the top the trail splits: right to the lake head, where a jam of sun-bleached logs dams the outlet; left across a bridge to the big flat swimming rocks — warm fresh water, cliff-jumping for the brave, and room to sunbathe. Paddlers regularly portage kayaks up to explore the lake; the trail continues to smaller lakes beyond, and a longer boater's route links through to Melanie Cove in Prideaux Haven.
Seamanship notes
Approach with the Bold Head south-side rock given a wide berth — it lies farther out than intuition says, and sits on the natural course lines to Refuge Cove, Mink Island and Prideaux. Centre-bay is unanchorable at 300–600 ft — pick your edge early in high season, stern-tie where rings allow, and mind the drying shoal that ties the NW island to the mainland. Final navigation decisions rest with each captain.
Verified against cruising guides, BC Parks and first-person accounts, July 2026. Captain's judgment is final.
Common questions
Why "Deep Bay"?
Menzies named it in 1792 for the same reason you can't anchor mid-bay today — 50+ fathoms.
Best swim?
Unwin Lake's flat rocks (freshwater, warm); the bay itself also swims well in summer.
Can I join without a boat?
Host-boat pickup at Lund or Refuge Cove, or a floatplane charter into the bay — it's been done for decades.