Campbell River calls itself the salmon capital of the world and sits at the narrow point of Discovery Passage, where the tides run hard and the whales follow the fish. It is also the turn-off for Strathcona Provincial Park and the jumping-off point for Quadra and Cortes Islands, which makes it a better base than its size suggests.
Elk Falls and the suspension bridge
Elk Falls Provincial Park is minutes from town: a short forest walk to a suspension bridge strung across the canyon with the falls thundering below. It is spectacular in spring melt and accessible year-round.
The Canyon View Trail follows the river back toward town and links up with the local trail network.
On the water
Salmon fishing is the town's identity — guided charters run through the season, and the Discovery Pier downtown lets you fish from shore without a boat.
Whale watching and grizzly-viewing trips run north into the Discovery Islands and Bute Inlet in season.
Seymour Narrows, just north, is one of the strongest tidal passages on the coast; watching it run at full flood is free and genuinely startling.
Quadra and Cortes Islands
A ten-minute ferry from downtown reaches Quadra Island — beaches, the Nuyumbalees Cultural Centre, kayaking and a slower pace. Cortes is a further ferry beyond it and a full day or an overnight.
Strathcona Provincial Park
The Buttle Lake road out of Campbell River is the main entrance to BC's oldest provincial park. Day hikes, lakeshore picnic spots and the Karst Creek and Lupin Falls trails are all within reach of a drive.
The Forbidden Plateau and Mount Washington side of the park is accessed from the Comox Valley instead, about an hour south.
Around town
The Rotary Seawalk runs along the shore and is the local everyday walk, with the mainland mountains across the passage.
The Museum at Campbell River covers the logging and fishing history and the region's First Nations.
Ripple Rock Trail, north of town, is a four-hour return hike to a lookout over Seymour Narrows.
Common questions
- What is Campbell River known for?
- Salmon fishing, Elk Falls and its suspension bridge, and being the gateway to Strathcona Provincial Park and the Discovery Islands.
- How far is Campbell River from Nanaimo?
- About 150 kilometres north on the Island Highway, roughly two hours.
- Is Campbell River a good base for exploring?
- Yes, if the outdoors is the point. Strathcona Park, Quadra Island, the Comox Valley and the North Island are all reachable as day trips.
