Miles Inlet to Pruth Bay

Today began early.

The forecast offered a weather window around Cape Caution—not an ideal one, but the best opportunity likely to present itself for several days. In this part of the coast, you learn not to wait for perfection. You wait for conditions that fit your boat, your crew, and your comfort level.

We were underway at first light and found exactly what the forecast had promised. Offshore swells ran six to eight feet, but winds remained below 10 knots and the wave period was long enough to keep the motion comfortable. As every coastal cruiser knows, wave height tells only part of the story. The spacing between the swells is often what determines whether the ride is pleasant or punishing.

An early moring start

To avoid the worst of the ebb conditions, we gave Slingsby Channel a wide two-mile berth. Cape Caution received similar respect. Neither location is known for rewarding overconfidence.

As we rounded the Cape and altered course to the north, the seas shifted from abeam to our forward quarter. The motion immediately softened, and OceanFlyer settled into an easy rhythm. Before long we found ourselves in the lee of Calvert Island where the transformation was complete—winds dropped below five knots and the sea flattened to near glass.

Pruth Bay is one of those places we rarely pass without stopping. The anchorage is comfortable, the beaches are exceptional, and the facilities maintained by the Hakai Institute make exploring ashore easy and inviting.

pruth bay from the haki institute docks

good signage from the haki institute to west beach

out of the forest path an onto the west beach

The added attraction this year is the hike to the summit overlooking the bay. We’ve only done this once before and the weather conditions are perfect.

The trail begins near the south end of West Beach and quickly enters the forest. Much of the route follows boardwalk, and where the terrain steepens, sturdy stairways have been built to ease the climb. It is an exceptionally well-maintained trail by Central Coast standards.

most of the walk to the summoit in on a boardwalk

stairs when you need them

At what Karen generously describes as my "trudge speed," the ascent took about an hour. Frequent stops at the various viewpoints may have contributed to that pace. Each overlook revealed another perspective of Calvert Island, the outer coast, and the countless islands stretching toward the horizon.

beautiful views on the overlooks as you ascend the trail

just before the summit is a comfy benfy with a one-of-a-kind view

The reward at the top is a panoramic view. Forest, mountains, beaches and the open Pacific, all compete for attention. It is the kind of vista that reminds us why we cruise this coast.

just before you reach the summit is a colorful pond

say goodbye to west beach at pruth bay

The descent required only about thirty minutes, though we found plenty of reasons to pause and enjoy the scenery one more time before returning to OceanFlyer and another peaceful evening at anchor in Pruth Bay.