Gorge Harbour Marina Resort

The resort is owned by the Klahoose First Nation and operates as a full-service marina retreat at the doorstep of Desolation Sound, rated among the top three cruising grounds in the world. Beyond the docks, Cortes Island rewards exploration: the village of Manson's Landing hosts a vibrant arts and crafts community, a natural food co-op, potters and carvers, and a Friday market, while the island's trails, warm-water swimming, and oyster-rich beaches make it a destination unto itself. Whether you're staging for a push deeper into Desolation Sound or simply unwinding after a long run up Discovery Passage, Gorge Harbour is among the few places on the coast where you can genuinely stop worrying about the weather.

Approach

Gorge Harbour is located on the southwest coast of Cortes Island, accessed via Sutil Channel - the passage running between Cortes Island to the east and Quadra Island to the west. Vessels coming from Campbell River or Heriot Bay on Quadra Island follow Sutil Channel south, rounding the southwest tip of Cortes Island into the harbour entrance; Gorge Harbour is approximately 9.5 nautical miles from Heriot Bay and 15 nautical miles from Campbell River. From Desolation Sound or Refuge Cove to the north, the approach is roughly 17 nautical miles south through Sutil Channel.

The entrance itself is the defining feature of Gorge Harbour: a narrow, cliff-walled gorge passage that gives the harbour its name. The channel is tight and bordered on both sides by steep rock faces, with tidal flows running through it as the 11-foot tidal range floods and ebbs. Approach at a moderate speed and watch for vessel traffic exiting in the opposite direction - the channel is effectively one-lane for larger boats. As you enter, look to the port cliff face for the ancient Klahoose rock paintings (petroglyphs), one of the most striking natural landmarks along this stretch of coast. Once past the gorge, the harbour opens dramatically into a sheltered inland sea. Rocks and shoals lie off the Tan Islands, Ring Islands, and the Pill and Stove Islets within the basin - anchor only in the designated northwest area and navigate carefully inside.

Facilities

The marina offers 1,800 feet (approximately 550 metres) of floating dock, accommodating vessels to 250 feet LOA. Shore power is available at 30A/120V and 50A/240V, with fresh deep-well water at the docks. The fuel dock carries diesel and ethanol-free gasoline year-round, dispensed by the litre; propane is available at the general store. The marina monitors VHF Channel 66A and can be reached at (250) 935-6433 ext. 2 or [email protected]. Reservations are strongly recommended from May through September.

Marina hours run Monday-Friday 9AM-6PM and Saturday-Sunday 10AM-6PM, with extended summer hours (daily 9AM-7PM). A seaplane dock serves scheduled and charter floatplane service. Ashore, guests have access to coin-operated laundry facilities and showers (available 24 hours), resort-wide WiFi, a well-stocked general store carrying groceries, beverages, fishing gear, oils, and fuel additives, plus liquor sales. The outdoor pool and hot tub are seasonal (pool June-August, hot tub year-round, daily 10AM-7PM). Kayak and paddleboard rentals are available at $20 for up to two hours. A seasonal food truck operates Wednesday through Monday, 11AM-6:30PM from late May through August. Additional summer programming includes live music five nights a week, morning yoga, a Saturday farmers market, a bodywork and massage studio, and artisan studios.

Gorge Harbour and Cortes Island

The harbour's Klahoose name is Sa'y'ilh - meaning "two waters in one" - reflecting where fresh water from coastal streams and springs mixes with the sea inside the basin. The Klahoose First Nation has stewarded these waters for generations; the resort's ownership represents a significant economic development for the Nation. The landlocked basin hosts several oyster and mussel farm operations visible from the water, and at low tide the shoreline reveals productive shellfish beaches.

Cortes Island itself is unhurried and deeply rooted in arts and natural living. The village of Manson's Landing hosts the Cortes Natural Food Co-op Bakery and Cafe, a bookstore, post office, medical clinic, and community hall with a Friday market. Nearby, Von Donop Ha'thayim Marine Park offers a deep, wilderness inlet anchorage, and Desolation Sound Marine Park - with over 60 kilometres of remote coastline and some of the warmest ocean water north of Mexico - lies just to the north. Prideaux Haven, Tenedos Bay, and Grace Harbour are popular day runs from Gorge Harbour.

Planning Tips

Time your gorge transit with awareness of the tidal flow - although currents inside the basin are negligible, the entrance channel concentrates the 11-foot tidal range and flows can run briskly. Enter at or near slack for the most comfortable passage, particularly in a larger or slower vessel. Call ahead on VHF 66A before entering to confirm slip availability and get dock direction. The anchorage inside the harbour is restricted to the northwest corner - bottom elsewhere is shale rock and anchors will not hold. Fuel is available year-round, making Gorge Harbour a reliable provisioning and fueling stop in any season. If arriving in summer without a reservation, plan to be at the fuel dock by early afternoon - empty spots are released daily after 4PM.