Denny Island, BC

Location Overview
Denny Island Aerodrome is located 2 nautical miles east of Bella Bella, British Columbia, on Denny Island. The island sits on the Discovery Coast of BC, roughly 100 nautical miles north of Port Hardy and 76 nautical miles west of Bella Coola — the nearest connection to the provincial highway system. The aerodrome sits at an elevation of 162 feet (49 m) AMSL. The nearby community of Shearwater is the main hub for services on the island.

Camping & Recreation
There are no formal campgrounds at the airstrip itself, but the surrounding area offers outstanding wilderness recreation. Rental cabin accommodations are available on the island, making it a great base for sea kayaking tours, saltwater salmon fishing, wildlife viewing, and access to old-growth coastal temperate rainforest. All five species of wild Pacific salmon are found here, and from August through September, spawning salmon draw eagles, bears, and wolves to local streams. The nearby Shearwater Resort & Marina offers amenities including a grocery store, liquor store, post office, restaurant, and pub.

Notes & Warnings
The airport has no services or fuel available on site, but the fuel dock at nearby Shearwater is accessible to floatplanes and helicopters. The runway is limited to day/VFR operations only. The 2,954 ft × 100 ft (900 m × 30 m) runway is not maintained during the winter. Pilots should plan accordingly, as this is a remote location with limited emergency support.

History
In 1941, Shearwater — the community on Denny Island — was built as a Royal Canadian Air Force base to patrol the central coast of British Columbia during World War II. The base was constructed to accommodate over 2,000 military personnel, though it never housed more than 1,000 at one time, and remained operative until 1944. The community was named after the HMS Shearwater, a Royal Navy vessel active on the BC coast from 1902 to 1915, which was later transferred to the Royal Canadian Navy. In 1947, Shearwater Resort and Marina was purchased by Andrew Widsten, a former RCAF officer. The island's name itself traces back to a 19th-century British naval officer, as recorded in John Walbran's historical account of BC coast names.