Campbell River BC, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada

Salmon caught at Painter's Lodge, Campbell River

Saltwater Fishing: The closer you get to Campbell River, the better the salmon fishing becomes. Tidal flows in Discovery Passage churn up clouds of nutrients that sustain a complex food chain, which includes tasty salmon near the top of the chain. You'll find a boat launch at Pacific Playgrounds Resort & Marina in Campbell River, at Saratoga Beach in the town of Black Creek to the south, and another at aptly-named Salmon Point in Black Creek.
The Quinsam River flows into the Campbell River just inland from the Strait of Georgia. As it meets the ocean at the north end of town, the Campbell broadens into an intertidal estuary. The fishing calendar here has a summer steelhead run scheduled from June to October, with a winter run between November and April. Chinook (king) salmon are in residence year round in Discovery Passage, which also hosts successive runs of coho (June to September), tyee (July to September), sockeye (August), pinks (August and September), and finally chum salmon (September to November).
Almost as many salmon are caught off Discovery Pier that juts out into Discovery Passage as farther offshore. Local ritual requires that at the cry of 'fish on,' all other anglers reel in and stand aside as the lucky soul manoeuvres the salmon ashore.

Tyee Club: The wealth of the salmon fishery in Discovery Passage between Campbell River and Quadra Island is so legendary that a special ritual has grown up around it over the past century. Called tyee fishing, this method has stringent requirements, but success buys instant membership in the exclusive Tyee Club, BC.'s oldest and most prestigious fishing fraternity. Tyee is the appellation given a chinook (king) salmon when its weight exceeds 30 pounds (13.5 kg). Anglers must abide by regulations that stipulate a minimum catch weight of 30 pounds, hooked with an artificial single-hook lure fastened to a maximum 20-pound (9-kg) test line. Oh, and you have to be in a rowboat. Considering the size of an average tyee, make sure it's a big rowboat! The official weigh-in station is at the Tyee Club House, beside the boat launch on Tyee Spit, east of Hwy 19 on Spit Road in Campbell River.

Freshwater Fishing: Dozens of small, freshwater lakes are scattered throughout the north island. Many lakes can be reached only by the logging or gravel roads that lead off east and west from Hwy 19. Stop at one of the many tackle shops and marinas in Campbell River for advice on where the fish are biting. You'll find good trout and char fishing at Morton Lake Provincial Park (Morton Lake and Mohun Lake). Roberts Lake, 20 miles (32 km) north of Campbell River, also has good fishing close to Hwy 19. Car-top boats can be launched from the sandy beach, a short walk from the road on a maintained trail. Many small fishing lakes such as McCreight Lake feature rustic campsites and the occasional boat launch - managed by Recreation Sites and Trails (formerly maintained by the BC Forest Service).

Discovery Harbour Marina, Campbell River, BC

Marinas: The waterfront in Campbell River appears to be one massive marina. In fact, there are three saltwater marinas, as well as a freshwater marina at the mouth of the Campbell River. Government Marina and Discovery Pier are located at the south end of the harbour on South Island Hwy (Highway 19). Discovery Harbour Marina, the commercial hub of Campbell River's harbour, and Argonaut Wharf lie just slightly farther north off Hwy 19 on Old Spit Road. Freshwater Marina, with public parking and a public boat launch, is located on the north side of the Campbell River Estuary. Turn east of Hwy 19 on Baikie Road to reach it.

Snowden Demonstration Forest lies within the Sayward Forest and provides alternative recreational activities, including hiking, mountain biking, fishing, and wildlife viewing. The forest is located west of Campbell River and north of Hwy 28 near Loveland Bay Provincial Park. You'll find almost 19 miles (30 km) of easygoing hiking trails here. Logging was carried out in this forest from the 1920s to the 1950s, and the forest is in various stages of recovery.

Mountain Biking: There's some good biking around Campbell River. Nestled in a nook between Iron River Road and Campbell River itself is an area known as the Pump House Trails. To reach this easygoing network of well-marked single-track trails, turn west off Hwy 19 in Campbell River onto Hwy 28. Follow Hwy 28, then turn north onto Duncan Bay Main and cross the Campbell River. A trailhead is located just south of the intersection of Duncan Bay and Iron River Road. Another trailhead is located west of Duncan Bay Road on Iron Bay Road.
Farther to the north and west of Campbell River on Hwy 28, a trail leads from a parking lot on the right of Loveland Bay Road (on the way to the Loveland Bay Provincial Campground) and into mountain-bike heaven, the Snowden Demonstration Forest. Trails here are suited to all levels of mountain-bike riding skills and include the five major routes of Frog Lake System and the four main routes of Lost Lake Trail System. Trails run from 1 to 5 miles (2 to 8 km) in length and frequently feed from one into the other to create longer rides. Some of the easier-going routes follow the railbeds left over from logging shows here in the 1920s. This is some of the finest intermediate mountain biking on Vancouver Island, and is a sign of things to come, as Forest Renewal BC funds are channelled into rehabilitating old logging roads as recreational trails. Detailed maps of the trails in the Snowden Demonstration Forest are available from the BC Forest Service district office in Campbell River, 370 S Dogwood Street.
Embark on one of the many trails in spectacular Strathcona Provincial Park, stopping to fish in a trout-stocked alpine lake, or mountain bike down the side of a magnificent mountain. There are easy access trail systems for day hikers as well as mountain ranges to challenge the most experienced mountaineers and backpackers.

Miracle Beach Provincial Park is one of the most popular parks and family vacation spots on Vancouver Island, located 14 miles (23 km) south of Campbell River beside Hwy 19. It's a 10-minute walk from the campsites to the extravagant expanse of cobblestone beach that gives way to hard-packed sand flats at low tide where herons stalk, seals bark, and ravens and eagles call. What a chorus! The beach seems to stretch forever in each direction. From the covered picnic shelter (featuring two gas barbeques), visitors look east out onto Elma Bay. Watch for harbour porpoises, Steller sea lions, California sea lions (much smaller), harbour seals, and killer whales.
The campsites are located in a second-growth forest of gnarly Douglas fir, western red cedar, and western hemlock. Wildflowers bloom throughout the park from early spring to the end of summer. Black Creek flows through the park and past the Miracle Beach Nature House, which has natural history displays. Beachcombers will find a tide chart posted here daily from late May to September. Pick up a brochure here and take a self-guided nature walk through the park.

Elk Falls Provincial Park, located 6 miles (10 km) west of the junction of Highways 28 and 19A, is a great base camp for exploring the Campbell River region. The park has two distinct sections. The picnic/day-use area is located near the waterfalls on the Campbell River as it enters John Hart Lake. Campsites are situated 4 miles (6.5 km) away on the Quinsam River. A large stand of Douglas fir surrounds Elk Falls, which present a lively sight during spring runoff. A 1.5-mile (2.5-km) hiking trail runs from the riverside campsites to the nearby Quinsam River Hatchery, which is open daily for tours.

Oyster Bay Shoreline Regional Park: As you pass through Campbell River, it's hard not to notice strollers and cyclists meandering along Oyster Bay Shoreline Regional Park, a shoreline bike-and-walking trail with gravel beaches and great views across to Quadra Island. Pulverized oyster shells speckle the gravel with a bright, white hue. The trails wind for much of the distance from the town's southern perimeter to the central harbour, passing the new museum on the hillside above the beach. The occasional picnic table and park bench invite travellers to pull over and join the fun.

Buttle Lake in Strathcona Provincial Park

Strathcona Provincial Park was created in 1911 and is the original park in the provincial system. At the time, the 544,000 acres (200,000 hectares) seemed like a fabulous amount of land to set aside. It still does, especially to those who like to hike in the middle of the rugged, heavily glaciated Vancouver Island Mountains. The park was created for those who seek adventure in remote wilderness surroundings.
It may be easier to reach the trailheads today, but the routes still remain as challenging as ever. To really experience the beauty of this park, come prepared to explore the backcountry. A day trip to Strathcona gets you into an unparalleled natural wonderland of vast forests, great lakes, alpine meadows and challenging peaks.

Ralph River Campground in Strathcona Park

Strathcona Park Camping: There are vehicle/tent campsites in two locations in Strathcona Provincial Park - Ralph River and Buttle Lake - both reached via Highway 28. The closest campground to Campbell River is Buttle Lake Campground, about 28 miles (45 km) west of Campbell River, in a pleasantly forested, riverside location just off Hwy 28 at the junction of Upper Campbell Lake and Buttle Lake.
Ralph River Campground requires a 15.5-mile (25-km) drive south from Hwy 28 along the east shore of Buttle Lake (Westmin Mine Road). You'll find the well-marked turnoff from Hwy 28 on the east side of the bridge that spans Buttle Narrows, where Buttle Lake merges with Upper Campbell Lake. An old-growth Douglas fir forest shelters the peaceful setting of the campsites at Ralph River. There is good swimming, in season, at both campgrounds.

Boat launches are situated at two locations on slender, steep-sided Buttle Lake in Strathcona Provincial Park. One is located beside the Auger Point picnic tables in the Buttle Lake Campground; the other is located about 15 miles (25 km) south of the campground near the Karst Creek picnic area. Buttle is a flooded lake, and along the shoreline submerged deadheads are an ever-present threat. Beware of the sudden winds and storm conditions that can quickly channel through this mountainous region. Boaters can head to four wilderness marine campsites on the western shore of Buttle Lake, as well as a site on Rainbow Island just offshore from the Buttle Lake campground at the north end of the lake. Buttle Lake also features a sandy beach and several hiking trails ranging from 30 minutes to 6 hours in length. Buttle Lakes offer outstanding wilderness scenery and interesting canoe and kayak routes, with camping along the way at Wolf River Canyon, Phillips Creek and other special wilderness sites.

If you can arrange to journey by boat to Mitlenatch Island Provincial Park, you'll find a bird-watching and wildflower paradise 8 miles northeast of Miracle Beach Provincial Park. Mitlenatch is home to the largest seabird colony on the Strait of Georgia, principally 3,000 pairs of glaucous-winged gulls.

View of Seymour Narrows from the Island Highway near Campbell River

Ripple Rock rest area just north of Campbell River on Hwy 19 offers a fine view of Seymour Narrows, and a great picnic spot. This is a harbinger of the vistas along the Inside Passage from here north to Prince Rupert. An interpretive marker here describes the maritime history of the region since it was first charted by Captain George Vancouver in 1792. Despite the blasting away in 1958 of the twin peaks of Ripple Rock, which lies underwater directly east of the viewpoint, large boats are still harassed by the rip tides, swirling currents, and whirlpools that constantly agitate the surface of the Seymour Narrows. The tidal rip offshore is so vicious that when viewed through binoculars it has the appearance of a writhing mass of snakes.
The trailhead for the Ripple Rock Trail (easy; 5 miles/8 km return) is located at a well-marked roadside parking area on the east side of Hwy 19, about 4 miles (6 km) north of the Ripple Rock Rest Area. The trail leads hikers through abundant second-growth forest (with a few spectacular examples of old-growth Sitka spruce and Douglas fir on the east side of Menzies Creek) to a viewpoint of the treacherous waters in Seymour Narrows.

Mt. Cain Ski Resort offers beginner to advanced downhill and cross-country skiing during winter. You'll find untouched powder which has built up over the week, virtually no line-ups for lifts, and the friendly, welcoming atmosphere of a family-oriented mountain.

The Wei Wai Kum Cruise Ship Terminal introduces visitors to Canada's Aboriginal heritage, and offers a variety of shore excursions, including Laichwiltach aboriginal culture and traditions, arts and culture, wildlife viewing, sightseeing adventures, and outdoor activities like rafting, kayaking, hiking, golf, and sport fishing. When booking your next Alaska Cruise, be sure to select one that includes a stop in Campbell River.

A ten-minute ferry ride from Campbell River takes you to charming Quadra Island, the largest and most populated of the Discovery Islands. Quadra is a popular destination for visitors from around the world, and is best known for its natural and beautiful wilderness scenery, mild temperate climate, rural lifestyle, and friendly people. Visit Rebecca Spit Provincial Park and the Nuyumbalees Cultural Centre (formerly Kwagiulth Museum and Cultural Centre).

Nestled at the entrance to enchanting Desolation Sound, tranquil and friendly Cortes Island is one of the most impressive of the Discovery Islands, with its placid lakes, beaches, and rugged gorges. Cortes Island is accessed via ferry from Heriot Bay on the east coast of Quadra Island.

Gold River, located at the west end of Hwy 28, is a scenic hour's drive from Campbell River. Many visitors use it as a base for exploring the surrounding wilderness and rainforest trails, or as a starting point for their Nootka Sound adventure.

South of Campbell River, the rural community of Black Creek beckons to visitors passing through the rolling farmlands set off the Island Highway, lulling the traveller with fresh fragrances, lush greenery, and quaint farmyard scenes. The Black Creek Country Market signals your arrival in Black Creek at the northern end of the Comox Valley.

The Black Creek area is a great place to return to and relax in after a day of skiing at Mt. Washington Ski Resort on Mount Washington. Mount Washington has long been known for having good snow conditions from early in winter to well past Easter. This accounts, in part, for Mt Washington being the second-busiest winter recreation destination in BC, behind Whistler Blackcomb.