eartheum.com - Princess Louisa Inlet
Chatterbox Falls
August 22, 2018
Princess Louisa Inlet
British Columbia
Chatterbox Falls
Princess Louisa Inlet is a 4-mile long sailing destination in British Columbia. It is described as the "holy grail" for cruising people from all over the world. The author Earle Stanley Gardner wrote that no one could see Princess Louisa Inlet and remain an atheist. It is one of the most awesome destinations in the Pacific Northwest.
Princess Louisa Inlet is a 4-mile long sailing destination in British Columbia. It is described as the "holy grail" for cruising people from all over the world. The author Earle Stanley Gardner wrote that no one could see Princess Louisa Inlet and remain an atheist. It is one of the most awesome destinations in the Pacific Northwest.

My friends and I took a sailboat North from Bellingham, WA to the Princess Louisa Inlet in British Columbia. It took about 5 days to finally reach our destination, and it was worth it! The entrance to the inlet required precise timing with the tides and currents, as the mouth of the inlet (Malibu Rapids) is less than 100 feet wide and if timed incorrectly you would be stuck in the raging rapids. At the head of the inlet is a 300-foot dock that accommodates about 10 boats. Upon docking, a welcoming path leads you to Chatterbox falls. After swimming in the ocean, a shower under the freshwater falls was a welcome refresher. The falls turn into a gentle stream which finally enters the ocean. The entire inlet is warm and calm and makes for a perfect place to swim. There were even some older folks swimming near the dock.

The spectacular 2212 acres surrounding the head of the inlet are protected by the Princess Louisa International Society. The Trapper's Cabin is a potential hiking destination, but all trail reports claim the way is unmaintained and difficult and dangerous to access. I wanted to explore the region, but the report and our lack of time didn't allow for it.

We only spent one night in the inlet, as that is all our schedule allowed for. I would suggest spending three days and two nights there. It takes so long to get there that it is worth spending just a day hanging out on your boat taking in the massive 3,000-foot mountains all around you. There is a lot to look at! Unfortunately, our visit coincided with the massive forest fires raging in Northern British Columbia, and so our visibility and air quality was greatly diminished by the smoke.
Princess Louisa Inlet, British Columbia
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