Santa Gertrudis-Boca del Infierno Park

Santa Gertrudis-Boca del Infierno Park is part of the popular Nootka Sound kayak or boating experience. It offers excellent opportunities for these activities as well as wilderness camping, fishing and wildlife viewing. Sheltered anchorages in Boca de Infierno Bay and Santa Gertrudis Cove make it a popular stopover on the route through Nootka Sound.

Nootka Sound has a colourful history with indigenous heritage and European exploration and settlement. Indigenous peoples have occupied Nootka Sound for at least 4,000 years, enjoying the area’s bountiful natural resources.

The park is adjacent to Yuquot (Friendly Cove), which was the sight of the first formal contact between European explorers and First Nations. Captain James Cook landed at nearby Bligh Island in 1778 and sought refuge in a small cove after a storm for repairs. While anchored in the cove, which he named Resolution Cove after his flagship, he made formal contact with natives in the village at Yuquot. The area subsequently became a major center for international fur trading. Today, Yuquot is a National Historic Site.

Those wanting a truly rugged experience will love this area. Random wilderness camping is allowed in the park, which has a number of beautiful shores to explore. A unique natural feature of the park, reversing tidal rapids, can be found at the narrow entrance to Boca del Infierno Bay.

The protected and scenic anchorage is a perfect stopover location for boaters exploring Nootka Sound. Another anchorage in Boca del Infierno Bay is suitable for smaller boats.