Cortes Bay Government Dock sits at the sheltered south end of Cortes Island, just inside the entrance to Desolation Sound. Managed by the Harbour Authority of Cortes Island under DFO Small Craft Harbours, it’s a busy transient stop with 250 feet of deep-water moorage—expect rafting in summer.
Cortes Bay Government Dock occupies the head of a compact, island-ringed bay on the southeast shore of Cortes Island, positioned right at the gateway to Desolation Sound. The approach demands attention: the entrance passage is narrow and reef-studded, with Central Rock and Three Islets requiring careful navigation. Keep the red-triangle beacon to starboard as you enter, pass south of Three Islets, and you'll find yourself rewarded with one of the Discovery Islands' most scenically situated public docks.
The dock itself is a DFO Small Craft Harbour facility operated by the Harbour Authority of Cortes Island (HACI), a non-profit that manages five government docks across the island. Cortes Bay is the most popular of them. In peak summer the dock regularly sees boats rafted four deep—it's that coveted a spot. The floats offer approximately 250 linear feet of deep-water moorage plus a dedicated 50-foot seaplane float at the dock's outer end. Both NW Seaplanes (from Seattle) and Corilair (from Campbell River and Vancouver) operate scheduled summer runs into the bay, so expect float-plane activity throughout the day and keep your lines clear of the seaplane approach.
Shore power pedestals provide 20A and 30A hydro connections—practical for an overnight charge, though there is no fuel dock, no potable water, no pump-out station, and no garbage disposal on-site. A porta-potty serves basic comfort needs. The holding ground in the anchorage portion of the bay is soft mud and can be unreliable in places; when anchoring, work the west end, set the hook carefully, and carry generous scope.
Two private yacht club outstations share the bay—the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club on one shore and the Seattle Yacht Club on the other—testament to Cortes Bay's long reputation as a favourite rendezvous point in the PNW cruising circuit. Neither offers reciprocal privileges to visiting boats, but their presence is a handy landmark and adds to the bay's lively summer character.
Ashore, K'was Regional Park lies just behind the dock, with trails connecting to Hague and Gunflint lakes and the Linnaea Farm ecological reserve—worthwhile walking on a layover day. The Blind Creek boat ramp sits just northwest of the dock for trailer-launched vessels and kayaks. For provisioning, Mansons Landing is a 15-minute walk away and has the Cortes Market (groceries, produce, ice, hardware) and a natural foods co-op with a coffee shop.
Cortes Bay faces south across the lower reaches of the Strait of Georgia, making it noticeably more exposed than the island's other anchorages. Southeasterlies are the primary weather concern: sustained SE winds of 30–40 knots have been recorded here, and while the bay offers reasonable protection in those conditions when anchored off the SYC outstation, it is not the snug hole that Squirrel Cove is to the north. Northwest winds are largely blocked by the island and surrounding terrain. Plan your approach and departure with the forecast in mind, especially in unsettled shoulder-season weather.
Fuel and shore power available at Cortes Bay Government Dock.
Laundry, groceries, a patch of grass for the dog, the nearest decent meal — here's what's within reach of Cortes Bay Government Dock. Tap any pin on the map for the details.
Plus members get the full picture — walking times to each stop, member notes, and ratings from cruisers who've actually been ashore here.
Wind protection summary and tide planning at a glance. Full per-direction and 7-day detail with Plus.
Refreshed every 15 minutes from the nearest weather station.
Source: OpenWeather One Call API + WorldTides.
First-hand reports and real questions from members who have tied up at Cortes Bay Government Dock. Switch between reviews and the community Q&A below.
Cruising info goes stale fast — fees change, fuel docks close, hours shift. WalkTheDock stays accurate because boaters who’ve actually been here keep it current. Spot something out of date? Suggest a correction; once a moderator approves it the change goes live and you’re credited below.
No community updates yet — spotted something out of date? Use “Suggest an edit” below.
If Cortes Bay Government Dock is full or you are weighing options, here is the closest moorage — sorted by distance.
