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Cortes Island

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Overview

Cortes Island is one of the Discovery Islands off the coast of British Columbia. In 2016, it had about a thousand permanent residents. In summer, Cortes Island's peaceful atmosphere and warm weather draw many visitors.

Facts

Rank

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Coordinates

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Source

WBP almanac

External sources

Wikivoyage Wikipedia

Media

From Wikipedia955 words

WBP editorial3

Seasonal rhythm for the mindful traveller

Cortes Island’s quietude is most palpable in late summer, when the resident artists and farmers settle into a slower cadence. Early September offers longer daylight, still-warm tides for kayaking, and a chance to mingle at the community garden’s harvest festival. By contrast, winter sees the island’s handful of year‑rounders gathering around the shared library, where impromptu storytelling sessions replace the bustle of day‑trippers. Planning a stay around these natural ebbs lets visitors experience the island’s communal spirit rather than merely its scenery.

Getting there without the crowds

While BC Ferries connect Quadra Island to the mainland, the most serene arrival on Cortes is via floatplane from Campbell River. The short hop lands you in a sheltered bay where a handful of locals tend modest docks, and you can disembark directly onto the island’s quiet trails. Booking the flight early in the week avoids the weekend surge of tourist‑linked charters, and the brief aerial view highlights the intricate coastline that is often missed from the ferry’s cross‑wash route.

Beyond the shoreline: inland pursuits

Cortes’s interior hosts a network of low‑impact trails that link old logging roads to hidden wetlands, offering bird‑watchers and botanists a chance to spot species that thrive away from the coast. The modest elevation changes create micro‑climates where Pacific rhododendron and western red‑cedar mingle, a contrast to the more manicured parklands of neighbouring islands. Renting a bike from the modest community hub lets you traverse these routes at a leisurely pace, granting uninterrupted views of the island’s patchwork of farms and artisan studios.

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Introduction

Island of the Discovery Islands in British Columbia, Canada For the Early Holocene island, see Cortes Bank. Cortes IslandThe Gorge of Cortes IslandCortes Island is located at the northern end of the Strait of GeorgiaGeographyLocationSalish SeaCoordinates50°07′N 124°58′W / 50.117°N 124.967°W / 50.117; -124.967ArchipelagoDiscovery IslandsArea130 km2 (50 sq mi)Length25 km (15.5 mi)Width13 km (8.1 mi)AdministrationCanadaProvinceBritish ColumbiaRegional districtStrathconaDemographicsPopulation1,035 (2016)Ethnic groupsWei We Kai, Kwiakah, Homalco and Klahoose First Nations Cortes Island is an island in the Discovery Islands archipelago on the coast of British Columbia, Canada. The island is 25 km (16 mi) long, 13 km (8 mi) wide, and 130 km2 (50 sq mi) in area. It has a population of 1,035 permanent residents (2016 census). Cortes Island lies within Electoral Area B of the Strathcona Regional District, which provides water and sewage systems, fire protection, land use planning, parks, recreation, and emergency response. Access to Cortes Island is by plane or ferry - by seaplane to many of the island's protected harbours; by ferry from Quadra Island, which is itself accessed from Campbell River on Vancouver Island via BC Ferries. Cortes Island is a tourist destination in the summers, with many people visiting to enjoy the peaceful atmosphere and warm weather.

History

[edit] The office of the Klahoose First Nation is located on the island. The island was named in 1792 during the expedition of Galiano and Valdés, after Hernán Cortés, the Spanish conqueror of Mexico.: 46  Despite the official Cortes spelling, which appeared on Canadian Hydrographic Service Charts, many of the island's early pioneers anglicized the name and referred to the island as Cortez. Marina Island, just southwest of Cortes Island in Sutil Channel, was also named by Galiano and Valdes in 1792, in association with Cortes Island, for La Malinche, known as Doña Marina, the Nahua woman who was interpreter, adviser, and mistress of Hernando Cortes during his conquest of Mexico. During the late 19th century Admiralty charts showed the name as Mary Island, until the original name was restored in 1906. In July 1792 William Broughton and Archibald Menzies of the Vancouver Expedition landed at the mouth of a stream in Squirrel Cove, on the east side of Cortes Island, to take some refreshment. They were surprised to find the stream salty. They shot some large grouse and saw some deer but could not get near enough to shoot them.

Geography

[edit] Cortes Island sunrise Cortes Island is part of the archipelago known as the Discovery Islands in British Columbia, Canada, which lie beyond the northern end of the Gulf of Georgia, between Vancouver Island and the British Columbia Mainland. It is also considered to be part of the Northern Gulf Islands. Cortes lies on the far side of Quadra Island from the city of Campbell River, separated from Quadra Island by Sutil Channel. To the northeast of Cortes Island, across Lewis Channel, is West Redonda Island. Desolation Sound lies to the east of Cortes Island and, beyond that, the upper end of the Malaspina Peninsula. The island is located roughly halfway between Powell River and Campbell River. Climate[edit] Climate data for Cortes Island (1971–2000) Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Record high °C (°F) 15.0(59.0) 15.5(59.9) 19.4(66.9) 25.0(77.0) 31.5(88.7) 31.1(88.0) 31.7(89.1) 32.5(90.5) 28.5(83.3) 21.1(70.0) 16.0(60.8) 15.6(60.1) 32.5(90.5) Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 5.4(41.7) 7.0(44.6) 9.4(48.9) 12.6(54.7) 16.6(61.9) 19.2(66.6) 22.1(71.8) 21.9(71.4) 18.3(64.9) 12.7(54.9) 8.0(46.4) 5.5(41.9) 13.2(55.8) Daily mean °C (°F) 3.4(38.1) 4.6(40.3) 6.5(43.7) 9.1(48.4) 12.7(54.9) 15.4(59.7) 17.9(64.2) 17.9(64.2) 14.8(58.6) 10.1(50.2) 5.9(42.6) 3.7(38.7) 10.2(50.4) Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 1.4(34.5) 2.2(36.0) 3.5(38.3) 5.6(42.1) 8.8(47.8) 11.5(52.7) 13.6(56.5) 13.8(56.8) 11.1(52.0) 7.4(45.3) 3.8(38.8) 1.8(35.2) 7.1(44.8) Record low °C (°F) −10.6(12.9) −11(12) −6.1(21.0) −1.1(30.0) 1.7(35.1) 2.8(37.0) 5.0(41.0) 7.8(46.0) 2.2(36.0) −3.5(25.7) −11(12) −13.9(7.0) −13.9(7.0) Average precipitation mm (inches) 172.7(6.80) 133.2(5.24) 116.1(4.57) 90.6(3.57) 70.2(2.76) 65.1(2.56) 50.5(1.99) 58.8(2.31) 71.7(2.82) 150.1(5.91) 211.9(8.34) 187.7(7.39) 1,378.6(54.28) Average rainfall mm (inches) 147.9(5.82) 121.0(4.76) 110.6(4.35) 88.6(3.49) 70.2(2.76) 65.1(2.56) 50.5(1.99) 58.8(2.31) 71.7(2.82) 149.6(5.89) 207.0(8.15) 167.8(6.61) 1,308.7(51.52) Average snowfall cm (inches) 24.8(9.8) 12.2(4.8) 5.5(2.2) 2.0(0.8) 0.0(0.0) 0.0(0.0) 0.0(0.0) 0.0(0.0) 0.0(0.0) 0.6(0.2) 4.9(1.9) 19.9(7.8) 69.9(27.5) Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) 19.2 17.3 17.9 16.0 13.7 12.6 8.6 9.2 10.2 16.6 21.3 20.7 183.4 Average rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm) 17.3 15.9 17.5 16.0 13.7 12.6 8.6 9.2 10.2 16.6 21.1 18.5 177.2 Average snowy days (≥ 0.2 cm) 3.8 2.5 1.7 0.46 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.08 1.2 3.6 13.4 Source: Environment Canada

Demographics

[edit] Administration[edit] Cortes Island is in the Sunshine Coast Forest District and the Vancouver Island Ministry of Environment's Vancouver Island Region. The island is part of the North Island Provincial Electoral District. Communities[edit] Communities on the island include Cortes Bay, Whaletown, Squirrel Cove and Mansons Landing. Desolation Sound is off the east shore of the island. Forestry, fishing and mining have featured in its history. There is also a campground at Smelt Bay Provincial Park. The Campbell River School District operates the Cortes Elementary / Jr. Secondary school on the island. Until 2010 there was also the Linnaea School, a non-traditional school which offered a different approach on education. It was closed due to a lack of students and funding. After the ninth grade, students must either switch to homeschooling or transfer to a school off the island. In addition, a seasonal Canadian Coast Guard Inshore Rescue Boat Station is located in Cortes Bay during the summer. The station is staffed by a coxswain and 2 crewmembers aboard a Zodiac Hurricane Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (RHIB).