Savary Island is unique in Canada, belonging to the Garry Oak ecosystem, one of the most endangered habitats in the country. Approximately 30% of the 1,111-acre island is developed, with virtually no protected land. The Savary Island Land Trust Society is urgently working to establish protected areas on the island, in order to preserve groundwater, habitat, biodiversity and heritage sites.
Beaches: Savary offers vast beaches and terrific swimming in clear, warm waters on the north shore; big rollers and great surfing on the south. South Beach is the island’s clothing optional beach, which is popular with day trippers who boat over to the island. The tides moving from the north and south of the Georgia Strait meet just north of Savary, causing little water movement, creating wonderful sun-baked warm waters.
Eco Power: There is no electricity on Savary – the island’s residents make themselves comfortable with solar, propane, and other ecologically-friendly power sources.
Arbutus Trees: Walk across the island to the north shore and view some unusually large Arbutus trees, one of which is said to be the largest in British Columbia, located on private property on the north shore.
Mace Point: Most yachtsman cruising in British Columbia’s inland coastal waters pass by Mace Point (formerly Green Point), the eastern tip of Savary Island, on their way north to Desolation Sound and beyond. Few stop, however, thus missing one of the gems in this area.
Flora: Owing to the warm nature of the soil and its sheltered position, the flora is different from that of the rockbound coast and other islands. One spot on Savary may be like a desert, while a few hundred yards away there is a dense growth of tall ferns, moss, salal, and a wealth of wild blueberries, huckleberries, and blackberries. In spring Savary enjoys a profusion of wildflowers – sea blush, camas, rattlesnake plantain, fawn and chocolate lilies to name but a few.
Wildlife: All of this offers sanctuary to deer, some of them quite tame, and also to a wide variety of birds. Bald eagles are a familiar sight, while bird watchers can delight in the swallows, hummingbirds, thrush, sparrows, woodpeckers, kingfishers, screech owls, great blue herons, sandpipers, and sea birds of various kinds, including loons and seagulls. There are no bears, cougars or raccoons on Savary Island.
Lodging: Savary Island has no campground, but does have a few bed and breakfasts.
Keefer Bay: A public wharf and moorage floats are located in Keefer Bay.
Hiking: Beautiful hiking trails are found everywhere on Savary Island – shady woodland trails bordered by tall lacy ferns.
Shellfish: The foreshore of Savary abounds in marine resources, including one of the richest commercial clam fisheries in British Columbia.
Floatplanes: In the summer time, Daddy Flights are a common sight, as floatplanes bring fathers to Savary Island to join their families for the weekend.
Kayaking: From Lund, kayakers can see the white sandy beaches on Savary beckoning in the distance, while the Copeland Islands (or Raggeds as they are also known locally) lie out of sight to the north. To reach Savary, paddle south from Lund along the peninsula’s shoreline to the closest point to Savary, then paddle west for 30 minutes, or about 1 mile (1.6 km).
Copeland Islands Marine Provincial Park: To reach the Copeland Islands, head north from Lund, hugging the steep-sided coastline. Marine traffic in Thulin Passage can kick up a sizable chop; thus, it’s best to set out as early in the day as possible before many large pleasure craft begin to ply these waters. Pick your opening and paddle hard to cover the 0.6 mile (1 km) between the peninsula and the most southerly island in this chain. Once in the vicinity of the Copelands, you’ll find sheltered paddling that you’ll have to share only with the numerous seals that haul up on little islets when not fishing for their next meal. Shellfish are particularly abundant. Although the seven major islands in the Copelands are quite rugged, with limited level terrain, a handful of campsites are tucked away on the sheltered north side of the third from the top of the chain. There are no facilities here, no freshwater, and campfires are prohibited. Pack out everything except your oyster shells, though you’ll probably want to keep one as a memento.
BC Oceanfront: Ed Handja Personal Real Estate Corporation & Shelley McKay Personal Real Estate CorporationBC Oceanfront: Ed Handja Personal Real Estate Corporation & Shelley McKay Personal Real Estate Corporation
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“BC Oceanfront” – ROYAL LEPAGE Advance Realty Campbell River’s Residential and Coastal Experts specializing in marketing and selling local residential, recreational, unique oceanfront and commercial real estate throughout Vancouver Island, Discovery Islands, the Outer Islands and the BC Mainland Coast. Our real estate listings include homes to small oceanfront and lakefront recreational lots, private islands, remote island acreages, fishing lodges, wilderness / adventure resorts and vacation homes, oceanfront / lakefront cabins, marinas, remote & timbered acreages, and development investment properties on the west coast of BC and Vancouver Island – BCO has the Coast covered!
As an experienced BC realtor, Ed Handja successfully markets and locates real estate on the British Columbia coast for his clients. He’s lived and worked on the coast all his life, traveling from Indian Arm and the Gulf Islands on the southern BC coast, to the Khutzeymateen Valley in the northern most part of British Columbia. Ed is familiar with the west coast of Canada and understands the logistics and considerations required when dealing with the remote and unconventional real estate on the islands and west coast of BC.