With the help of cruisers and nature lovers around the region, BC Parks Foundation is working to purchase and preserve property in Prideaux Haven that borders Desolation Sound Marine Provincial Park.
Protecting and preserving lands in their natural state for public enjoyment has long been a story of success around the Pacific Northwest. Parks that have been purchased and protected are often the first places cruisers look when selecting their itineraries. The prospect of adding new park land to this region’s magical cruising grounds is an exciting prospect.
BC Parks Foundation is presently doing just that, and inviting boaters of all stripes to consider a contribution. BC Parks Foundation is in their final fundraising push in advance of a purchase of 100 acres in Prideaux Haven—their fundaising window closes Monday September 29, 2025—and they still need help, though the prospects for a successful purchase are getting better every day.
Prideaux Haven will be well known to avid cruisers in the region, but many may not know it’s not already park land and there’s good incentive to keep it that way! As 48° North Editor Andy Cross recently wrote in his feature about saltwater swimming destinations from the South Sound to Alaska: “Prideaux is notorious for larger power yachts posting up for days on end, partying, and swimming; and while we experienced some of that, it didn’t ruin the scene as much as we’d been told. We met up with friends there and formed a five-boat raft-up to enjoy the splendid summer weather and soak in the warm water. It’s definitely worth a stop.” Our friends at SalishSeaPilot.com who write destinations posts for 48° North, Lynne Picard and Jim Burgoyne, say, “Prideaux Haven or Melanie Cove are major draws, and both are truly stunning.” 48° North Hikes for Boaters columnist Michael Boyd recommends hikes that begin or end there, too. It’s a special spot, and conserving it for future generations of boaters is an exciting prospect!
If you’re interested in contributing, head over to BC Parks Foundation. Here’s some of their content about the campaign, that again wraps up in just a few days on September 29
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Boaters, kayakers, and other donors are helping BC Parks Foundation purchase 100 acres of waterfront in Desolation Sound’s Prideaux Haven, so it can be added to one of BC’s most iconic parks.
“This is one of those places people assume must already be protected,” says Andy Day, CEO of BC Parks Foundation. “But it’s not.” The effort to conserve this waterfront area is aided by a matching commitment from the Wilson 5 Foundation.
The property includes nearly a kilometer of shoreline and borders both Desolation Sound Marine Provincial Park and the East Redonda Island Ecological Reserve. Protecting it strengthens an existing network of conservation lands, safeguard old-growth nesting habitat for the threatened marbled murrelet, and preserve eelgrass meadows that shelter young fish and store blue carbon, which helps fight climate change. Prideaux Haven, in the traditional territory of the Tla’amin and Klahoose is a sanctuary for paddlers and boaters alike, says Karina Younk of BC Marine Trails. “Its protection ensures future generations can experience the wonder of these waters, while safeguarding vital ecosystems. It’s a win-win.” The Tla’amin Nation supports the campaign.
One group of boaters that is enthusiastic about its support and has made a sizeable contribution to the purchase is Marine Parks Forever. Jim Phillips leads this group and said, “Desolation Sound is a mecca, and gets packed in the summer.” Phillips continued, “It’s just such a world-class place, reflecting BC’s natural beauty. We need to jump on these chances, just like the people before us who have created the parks we all now enjoy.”
British Columbian Brian Piwek has stepped forward with a $50,000 gift. Piwek, the former President of Save-On-Foods, has been a Foundation donor for years. But this gift is more significant and more personal. “I was up in Desolation Sound with my wife when she was alive, and we had a lot of good memories,” says Piwek. “It just makes sense to help protect it.”
Now, Piwek is urging others to follow his lead. “I’m not a naturalist, but I love British Columbia. The nature we have here is so special, and once it’s gone, it’s gone. We can’t take it for granted—these places are irreplaceable. Prideaux Haven is one of them.”
Once purchased, the land will be permanently owned and conserved by the BC Parks Foundation. Every dollar raised goes directly to the land purchase, with any surplus supporting long-term stewardship.
