Welcome
to Campbell River
"The Salmon Capital of the World"
History
of Campbell River
Accommodations - Hotels, Motels,
Lodges, Resorts, B & B's, Vacation Rental Homes, Suites
Attractions
Tours
Adventure, Recreation, Ocean Adventure,
Eco-Tours, Fly - Sport Fishing, Whale Watching, Bear Tours
Campbell River Real Estate
Map of Campbell River
Campbell River Dining: Salmon Point Restaurant & Bar
Northern
Vancouver Island
South to Saratoga Beach
South
to Comox/Courtenay
Quadra Island - Cortes Island - Sonora Island
Transportation:
Tofino Air - Scheduled Flights and Sight Seeing Charters: Vancouver South Terminal, Sechelt, Silva Bay on Gabriola Island and Tofino. Now service to Campbell River and Powell River.
West
To Gold River
West
to Tahsis and Nootka Sound
Discover Hiking, Biking, Kayaking, Whale Watching, Camping, Grizzly Tours, and of course Fishing. Excellent and exciting day trips to Strathcona Park and Discovery Islands, Quadra Island, Oyster River and the beaches and Cortez Island offer hours of fun and excitement for the whole family.
Historically renowned as the "Salmon Capital of the World," Campbell River lies in the heart of Strathcona Park, Desolation Sound, Mt. Washington and Robson Bight. The Tyee Club of B.C. makes its home here and membership can be earned by catching a 13 kg (30 lb) salmon using traditional fishing methods that require the use of a rowboat and tackle restrictions. There are many fresh-water lakes and rivers and the knowledgeable angler can enjoy year-round fishing opportunities.
Some of the best guided fishing in the world is at your doorstep. See our fishing and outdoor adventure page. There are also several retail tackle shops offer the visiting sportsman a host of basic and specialty items adapted for our conditions along with helpful, up-to-date advice. Local boat ramps, marinas and boat rentals make welcome those with their own boat or those with a desire to do-it-themselves. Marine Adventure tours, Whale watching and Grizzly Bear Tours are available in the adventure section.
The spectacular scenery of Strathcona Park can be found by travelling west on Highway 28. Within Strathcona Park, huge clean sweeps of rock form an alpine climbers dream. The towering 1,000 metre East Face of Mt. Colonel Foster and several of the other peaks over 7,000 feet have attracted climber's from around the world for their world class caliber rock and ice routes. Crest Lake is the most developed sport climbing area with well over a hundred routes. The climbs are found in beautiful surroundings, under tall old-growth forest and overlooking sparkling mountain lakes.
Scuba diving in Discovery Passage has been described as second only
to the Red Sea and the recently acquired artificial reef, The Columbia,
will add to this excellent diving location. The area boasts an incredible
diversity of diving opportunities and experiences and many are considered
among the world's most traveled as, "must dives." Whether your preference
is to explore the plethora of invertebrate life clinging to the
underwater walls of Quadra Island, engage the photogenic qualities
of "Captain Crunch" at Whiskey Point or make your way into the inner
galley passages of the Columbia you will soon realize that you are
in an internationally acclaimed ecosystem. Tours, charters and lessons
are available for all of these activities.
Whale watching tours
are also available daily throughout the summer and leave from Kelsey
Bay and Telegraph Cove to the north as well as Robson Bight, rated
by the World Wildlife Federation as offering the third best whale
watching opportunity in the world. If you wish a private holiday
setting, a large fleet of float planes and helicopters will fly
you to your own outdoor adventure paradise.
Festivals run throughout the summer and the Tidemark Theatre offers
a series of professional summer theatre productions. Watch our Calendar
of Events for regular updates.
A number of attractions are considered a must-see when visiting
Campbell River. The 600 foot Discovery Pier is a favoured
spot to take an afternoon stroll and enjoy the breathtaking views
of passing cruise ships or try your luck at angling. The Quinsam
Salmon Hatchery is interesting with self-guided tours detailing
the life of the Pacific Salmon. Elk Falls Provincial Park is only minutes from town showcasing the spectacular falls that
drop 25 meters off a rock precipice into a walled canyon amidst
walking trails, picnic sites and old growth forest. For those with
a thrill for heights, cross the Canyon View Trail pipeline
bridge for a great view of the mighty Campbell River. The bright
orange Torii Gate at Sequoia Park was a gift from our sister
city of Ishikari, Japan and was the first such authentic Torii on
Canadian soil. Search out the unique treasures of locally carved
driftwood sculptures along the Rotary Beach Walk from the
annual, Driftwood Carving Competition.
Quadra Island's 3,000 residents are connected to Vancouver Island by a 10-minute ferry ride across Discovery Passage from Campbell River to Quathiaski Cove. Quadra Island is the largest of the Discovery Island group and cycling is one of the best ways to tour the island. Quadra Island's Cape Mudge Native Heritage Museum contains authentic artifacts detailing coastal existence long before the arrival of European settlers.
Desolation Sound is very popular with boaters and the warm and sheltered waters are ideal for kayaking. Lying at the entrance to Desolation Sound is the large Cortes Island. Cortes is an outdoor recreation paradise, with beautiful lakes, lagoons, forests, and white sandy beaches.
Sonora Island - See Map See Accommodations page for more details
The Sonora Island area offers all types of outdoor recreation and sport activities - fishing, boating, diving, and wildlife viewing, and the availability of seafood such as crab, prawns, clams & oysters are all within this region. The Octopus Island Group Marine Park is only minutes away. Access is by float plane or water taxi from Campbell River.
BC
Ferries Schedule Campbell River to Quadra Island
BC
Ferries Schedule Quadra Island to Cortes Island
| From Campbell River to... | Kilometres | Miles | Average Driving Time |
Victoria |
264 |
165 |
4
hours |
Tahsis |
421 |
263 |
6.5
hours |
Courtenay |
45 |
28 |
.5
hours |
Nanaimo |
153 |
96 |
2.25
hours |
Vancouver |
177 |
110 |
3
hours + 1.5 hours ferry |