INDIAN ARM HEAVEN

This place is incredible. My beloved Indian Arm. It's a salt-water fjord that extends about 20 km north from Burrard Inlet. It is an amazing place. It provides you the chance to feel a million miles away, in a deserted ocean paradise, yet only ten minutes from town. 

There are no crossings. No bridges. No access routes, except by the water. The steep mountain slopes surrounding the fjord are so impassable that most have seen no development, despite the proximity to downtown and hugging the edges of my town, North Vancouver. The southern portion of Indian Arm is the only area that is populated by a true community, Deep Cove. The village of Deep Cove is an excellent jumping off place to explore this natural paradise. Kayak rentals, marinas, cafes, shops... Deep Cove is one of my very favourite places. There are summer cabins dotting both the North Vancouver and the Burnaby side of the Arm. Many brave souls live up in Indian Arm full time. It is my life's dream to one day be one of those lucky few.

It's an interesting place. It's a long, relatively narrow body of water. Depending on what boat you have and how fast she can get you around, Indian Arm can be quickly cruised at a good clip, or if you're anything like me, it could take you hours and hours chugging up one side of the Arm and down the other. 

You will see kelp forest. Marauding gangs of moon jellies floating in the depths. You can stop on Twin Islands, which is a provincial park and while away an entire afternoon having a picnic lunch, and then paddle back to Deep Cove, just a short 30 minutes away by kayak - faster if you paddle faster. 

There are several waterfalls to enjoy in this fjord. The largest being Granite Falls at the north end on the east side. I've taken my children up there many times, we haven't stopped being impressed yet. Spray of Pearls Falls at Wigwam Creek is in the north west corner, and Silver Falls is on the western side at Elsay Creek. There are always so many smaller waterfalls running over the rocky cliff walls especially after a big rain. In winter, frozen ice-falls can be seen but it can be a darn cold day out there viewing them. Gear up and get out there!