49°N · History & Culture
What should boaters know about entering Von Donop Inlet?
Von Donop Inlet (Ha'thayim) is a hidden old-growth fjord on Cortes Island, co-managed with the Klahoose First Nation — a quiet, all-weather anchorage guarded by a mid-channel entrance rock, with a reversing saltwater lagoon inside.
Quick facts
- Where
- North side of Cortes Island, off Sutil Channel (Há'thayim / Von Donop Marine Park)
- Name
- Ha'thayim is the Coast Salish name for the old-growth forest; park co-managed by the Klahoose First Nation and BC Parks
- Entrance
- A charted mid-channel rock ("+", under 6 ft at zero tide); poorly surveyed
- Anchoring
- Several secure bays inside; good all-weather shelter; ~20°C summer swims
- Ashore
- 5 km cross-island trail to Squirrel Cove (BC Parks wolf advisory); Robertson & Wiley lakes
- Services
- None — wilderness camping, pack out
Ha'thayim rewards the entrance: a snaking fjord of Douglas-fir and cedar old growth, a reversing saltwater lagoon that pours tiny waterfalls on the ebb, harbour seals year-round, and orca passing Sutil Channel but rarely entering. BC Parks calls it the southern terminus of the scenic Inside Passage — a waterway station for thousands of years, canoes turned to yachts, the route unchanged. The Klahoose co-management and that deep travel history give the anchorage its soul: you are anchored on an ancient road.
The entrance (the honest version)
A rock sits near mid-channel in the narrow entrance — charted only as a "+" (under 6 ft over it at zero tide) and poorly surveyed. Convention is to favour the west shore, but too close runs you into shallows, and boats hit it every year. Charter fleets ban entry outright; experienced crews go near high water, dead slow, with a bow watch and margin to the west. Captain's judgment is final.
Inside & ashore
Past the rock are several secure anchorages with good shelter — the first bay to starboard past the lagoon is a favourite. Clams are abundant (check DFO PSP closures before harvest), and summer water reaches about 20°C. A 5 km cross-island trail leads to Squirrel Cove; heed the BC Parks wolf advisory — travel in a group and leash dogs. There are no services of any kind.
Verified against BC Parks, cruising guides and first-person accounts, July 2026. Captain's judgment is final.
Common questions
How bad is the entrance rock?
A rock sits near mid-channel and boats hit it every year; experienced crews go near high water, dead slow, with a bow watch and margin to the west. The captain's judgment is final.
Can I join without a boat?
Host-boat pickup, water-taxi, or floatplane charter — options are in the corridor's transit annex.