Campbell River

The self-styled Salmon Capital of the World on Vancouver Island's east coast, with boat trips to see orcas and grizzly bears, and the gateway to Strathcona Provincial Park and the Discovery Islands.

Campbell River sits on the mid-north east coast of Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada, right on the 50th parallel, facing the narrow, fast-flowing Discovery Passage. With a population of about 35,000, it calls itself the Salmon Capital of the World. It's the outdoor gateway to northern Vancouver Island: to the west is Strathcona Provincial Park, BC's oldest (Buttle Lake, Myra Falls), and on the city's western edge Elk Falls has a suspension bridge by a 60 m waterfall; to the east, a 10-minute ferry takes you to Quadra Island, with its Indigenous cultural centre, Rebecca Spit and lighthouse; about an hour to the south are the Comox Valley and Mount Washington ski resort. Summer and fall are the best seasons: May–October brings boat tours to see orcas, humpback whales and sea lions; from mid-August to mid-October, boats head deep into Bute Inlet to watch grizzly bears catching salmon; in July–September you can even don a wetsuit and snorkel the Campbell River to see the salmon run; and December–April brings skiing on Mount Washington. Getting there: take BC Ferries from Vancouver to Nanaimo (about 1 hour 40 minutes), then drive about 2 hours north on Highway 19; Campbell River Airport (YBL) has direct flights from Vancouver, and floatplanes also land in the harbour. Plan on 2–3 days: one for Elk Falls and the downtown waterfront, one for a whale- or bear-watching trip, and one for Quadra Island or Strathcona. Note that bear- and whale-watching tours are pricey and should be booked weeks ahead in peak season; watch for bears in the mountains and avoid walking alone at night.

Top sights

• Strathcona Provincial Park (Buttle Lake) – The oldest provincial park in British Columbia. Snowy peaks, glaciers, and primeval forests surround narrow Buttle Lake, and the park is ho…
• Elk Falls Provincial Park & Suspension Bridge – A provincial park on the western outskirts of town. A 60-meter suspension bridge spans the canyon facing the 25-meter-high Elk Falls, makin…
• Discovery Passage Whale Watching – Sailing from the Campbell River harbor to watch orcas, humpback whales, sea lions, and bald eagles in Discovery Passage and Johnstone Strai…
• Bute Inlet Grizzly Bear Tours – A boat trip into the snowy Bute Inlet fjord to watch grizzly bears feed on spawning salmon on Indigenous land. It is one of BC's most famou…
• Quadra Island – The largest of the Discovery Islands, reached by a 10-minute ferry from across the bay from town. It has an Indigenous cultural centre, a l…
• Nuyumbalees Cultural Centre – The cultural centre of the Cape Mudge Indigenous village on Quadra Island. It houses returned masks and ceremonial objects from the Kwakwak…
• Rebecca Spit Marine Provincial Park – A gravel spit on Quadra Island's east coast that reaches about 2 km into the bay, with calm water on one side and the open strait on the ot…
• Cape Mudge Lighthouse – A red-and-white lighthouse at the southern tip of Quadra Island, guarding the entrance to Discovery Passage. It offers views of the swift c…
• Museum at Campbell River – A local museum showing Indigenous masks and the history of early logging and salmon fishing. Its outdoor garden overlooks Discovery Passage.
• Discovery Pier – Canada's first saltwater fishing pier, about 180 meters long. Visitors can rent rods to catch salmon, and seals and passing whales are ofte…
• Ripple Rock Trail & Seymour Narrows – A hike to the clifftop above Seymour Narrows, overlooking the swift waterway and Ripple Rock, which was blasted away in 1958 in the largest…
• Myra Falls – A multi-tier waterfall at the southern end of Buttle Lake in Strathcona Park, a 15-minute walk from the parking area. In summer you can wad…
• Mount Washington Alpine Resort – Vancouver Island's largest ski resort, with deep snowfall, views over the Strait of Georgia, and summer mountain biking and scenic chairlif…
• Paradise Meadows – A subalpine wetland loop on boardwalks and trails on the east side of Strathcona Park, carpeted with wildflowers in summer. It is the easie…
• Miracle Beach Provincial Park – A family-friendly beach between Campbell River and Comox, with a wide sandy shore at low tide for beachcombing and sea star spotting, plus…
• Comox Valley (Courtenay & Comox) – A valley about 50 km south of Campbell River, linking historic Courtenay, Comox Harbour and farms and wineries, with views of the Comox Gla…

Where to eat

• Angler's Dining Room – A timber restaurant by the water inside Dolphins Resort, featuring local seasonal seafood. It ranks first in town on Tr…
• Dick's Fish and Chips – A long-running fish and chips shop across from Fishermen's Wharf, open since 1982, with halibut, cod or salmon to choos…
• Beach Fire Brewing – A local craft brewery and eatery downtown, brewing its own beer and serving fish tacos and burgers, a favorite with loc…
• Nhau Vietnamese Kitchen – A Vietnamese eatery and bar that opened in recent years, serving fresh, authentic pho and spring rolls, ranked first on…

Itineraries

• Vancouver Island Island-Hopping & West Coast – From Victoria via Salt Spring Island to Tofino, returning to Vancouver via the East Coast.
• Inside Passage and Haida Gwaii – Head north along Vancouver Island and take a ferry through the Inside Passage to Haida Gwaii.