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Immerse yourself in the awe-inspiring backdrop of nature while enjoying unforgettable experiences.

Campbell River is where wild and life combine. Here, you’re minutes from the wilderness even as you enjoy the amenities of a small city.

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Suspension Bridge Elk Falls Provincial Park | Destination Campbell River
Suspension Bridge Elk Falls Provincial Park | Destination Campbell River
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Your Gateway to World-Class Experiences

Nestled on the breathtaking shores of Vancouver Island, Campbell River is a haven for those seeking immersive, life-changing experiences in nature. Experience lush forests, crystal-clear waters, and observe abundant wildlife while learning about our incredible region from conscientious local tourism operators. Learn more about travel opportunities with impact below.

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Your Gateway to World-Class Experiences

Nestled on the breathtaking shores of Vancouver Island, Campbell River is a haven for those seeking immersive, life-changing experiences in nature. Experience lush forests, crystal-clear waters, and observe abundant wildlife while learning about our incredible region from conscientious local tourism operators. Learn more about travel opportunities with impact below.
Wildlife Tours Bears Homalco Wildlife & Cultural Tours | Destination Campbell River

Homalco Wildlife and Cultural Tours​

Beaver Lodge Forest Lands | Destination Campbell River

Greenways Land Trust

Natural Harmony Vancouver Island Chris Istace | Destination Campbell River

Island Joy Rides

Discovery Passage Aquarium | Destination Campbell River

Discovery Passage Aquarium

Strathcona Park Lodge | Destination Campbell River

Strathcona Park Lodge

Orca | Destination Campbell River

Wild Waterways Adventures

Campbell River Whale Watching | Destination Campbell River

Campbell River Whale Watching

Orcas in Campbell River | Destination Campbell River

Discovery West Adventures

Beaver Lodge Forest Lands | Destination Campbell River

Beaver Lodge Forest Lands

Wildlife Tours Bears Homalco Wildlife & Cultural Tours | Destination Campbell River

Homalco Wildlife and Cultural Tours

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Beaver Lodge Forest Lands | Destination Campbell River

Greenways Land Trust

Natural Harmony Vancouver Island Chris Istace | Destination Campbell River

Island Joy Rides

Discovery Passage Aquarium | Destination Campbell River

Discovery Passage Aquarium

Orca | Destination Campbell River

Wild Waterways Adventures

Strathcona Park Lodge | Destination Campbell River

Strathcona Park Lodge

Campbell River Whale Watching | Destination Campbell River

Campbell River Whale Watching

Orcas in Campbell River | Destination Campbell River

Discovery West Adventures

Beaver Lodge Forest Lands | Destination Campbell River

Beaver Lodge Forest Lands

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Wale Tail | Destination Campbell River

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Elk Falls Lookout | Destination Campbell River

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Homalco Tours: Grizzly Bear Viewing With Indigenous Guides

A keystone species in North America, grizzly bears play a critical role in maintaining healthy plant communities (via the seeds in their scat) and regulating populations of other animals. But sadly many of these populations had been practically wiped out over the last two centuries due to hunting, loss of territory, and decline in their key prey. Now, it’s estimated that only 20,000 exist in Canada – all of which are in the west. Seeing grizzly bears in their natural habitat near Campbell River and Bute Inlet can be a transformative experience that inspires a deep appreciation for the natural world and a desire to protect it – something that is even more enhanced when looking at these bears through the lens of Indigenous conservation values.


That’s where Homalco Wildlife & Cultural Tours, run by the Homalco (Xwémalhkwu) Nation come in. The Homalco Nation has been living on and protecting their traditional territories since time immemorial and has witnessed many changes to the landscape since European contact. Today, the company offers incredible grizzly bear and wildlife viewing tours that let you connect with nature from a Homalco point of view. At the helm of Homalco Wildlife & Cultural Tours is tourism development officer JP Obbagy. He is passionate about using wildlife tourism as a means to educate people about environmental conservation. Not only do these tours give visitors a chance to see grizzly bears up close and inspire visitors, but Homalco Tours is also a social enterprise that provides job opportunities and supports the cultural revitalization of the Homalco Nation.

Preserving Nature for the Future: Greenways Land Trust

Campbell River’s estuary is practically unrecognizable from how it would have looked twenty years ago. Once a thriving habitat for birds, fish, and other wildlife, the industrialization of the area throughout the 20th century had left a lot of damage in its wake. But today, the area is again a haven for wildlife as the ecosystem has been nourished back to health. Now it’s a favorite spot for locals to kayak (amazing winter sunsets), hike while keeping a lookout for animals that thrive where salt water meets fresh, or birdwatch for belted kingfishers, common loons, red-throated loons, and more. As you stroll through this easily accessible trail system and take in the mountain views across the water, give a little thanks to the volunteers who have worked tirelessly to rehabilitate this precious ecosystem.


The estuary is just one of many wilderness areas that have benefitted from the efforts of the people behind the Greenways Land Trust. Katie Lavoie, Greenways Executive Director, says that at its heart, the organization is a grassroots community effort made up of people who value and care for the environment. “Encouraging stewardship in the community is so important. And I think we do a good job of making environmental stewardship accessible to everyone,” she says. Visitors are invited to help. From streamkeepers programs that protect urban creeks and monitor fish populations through to adopt-a-trail programs at Beaver Lodge Lands, Katie and fellow volunteers welcome everyone to get involved with their conservation efforts.

Island Joy Rides: Discovering Campbell River’s Beauty Through Slow Travel

One of the most beautiful moments any of us can hope to experience in travel is when we’ve finally slowed down enough to truly be present. Whether taking a moment to smell the salt air as we watch a bald eagle skim the surface of the Discovery Passage or tasting fresh seafood and local craft spirits as we catch up with friends, slowing down takes us back to our senses. And slowing down is what Island Joy Rides is all about. With cycling and kayaking tours throughout Campbell River, Quadra Island, the Comox Valley, and the Discovery Islands, this company was created by locals with a dream to share the active and intentional lifestyle of Vancouver Island with others.

What makes Island Joy Rides even more special is their commitment to the environment. “Our belief is that when people really connect to their senses and are allowed to slow down and really take in where they’re at, they now have a more invested interest to take care of their area because they’ve made an emotional connection through the senses,” says trip and development guide, Leah Hill. Island Joy Rides is proud to play a part in restoring vital habitats, such as the estuary, and promoting sustainable tourism practices.

Discovery Passage Aquarium: Inspiring the Next Generation of Marine Stewards

Dive into the magical world of the Discovery Passage’s underwater ecosystem without getting wet at the much-loved Discovery Passage Aquarium. Not all of us can be cold water divers (though there’s no harm in trying while you’re here!), but whether or not we know how to clear our regulators, we could all benefit from the chance to meet the critters great and small who live beneath the ocean’s surface.

For those of us without a wetsuit, the much-loved Discovery Passage Aquarium is here to teach you about the fascinating underwater ecosystem we gaze into every time we look down off of a pier or a boat. It’s a place where visitors can interact with these creatures who are being lovingly looked after by caring staff. And what’s more, the animals here aren’t kept for long: at the end of every season, they’re returned to their homes after educating thousands of visitors and locals alike.

“We’re trying to instill a sense of respect for marine life among our community so that it can be maintained and cherished by future generations,” says aquarium curator and director Ricky Belanger. Ricky and his team are passionate about increasing awareness and respect for lesser known species of local marine life. Think about creatures like sea stars, crabs, jellyfish, and more: all are key players in the ecosystem that sometimes live in the shadow of orcas, salmon, and dolphins. Though many of the hands-on exhibits only operate in the spring and summer, the aquarium is present in the community year round to educate locals and visitors about best practices for visiting marine ecosystems.

Off the Grid: Lessons From Strathcona Park Lodge

With a stay at the totally off-the-grid Strathcona Park Lodge, you’ll not only be one of the lucky few who get to embrace this remote slice of nature without the crowds, but you’ll be learning lessons about eco-friendly choices that you can make at home whole you’re at it. This relaxing retreat has been on a sustainability journey for over 60 years. Here, seasoned nature-lovers and newcomers alike can enjoy private hiking trails through old-growth forests, a lake to explore via kayak, canoe, or SUP, and guided group activities such as archery and rock climbing. And at the end of the day, they return to a retreat that is powered by water.

“I hope that we educate [guests] to be better citizens so they develop a passion for getting outdoors and enjoying the wilderness,” says President Jamie Boulding. With his wife, Christine Clarke, he has carried on Jim and Myrna Boulding’s legacy and turned Strathcona Park Lodge into a renowned hub for outdoor education and wilderness tourism. Jamie sees lots of different reactions from people when they come to spend time off-grid at the Lodge. “It’s rewarding to see people learn where their power comes from, especially with school programs,” he says. “Youth outreach and education is amazingly influential,” says Jamie. As kids ask questions like ‘how many times do I get to shower?’ or ‘when can I wash my clothes?’ it changes their outlook on how they use resources and relate to nature. “I hope that we educate them to be better citizens so they get to develop a passion for getting outdoors and enjoying the wilderness and environment and realize how much of an impact they’re going to have,” says Jamie.

Wild Waterways Adventures: Embracing Nature’s Wonders

Herring spawning events, grizzly spotting, whales breaching, trees of life: you can embrace all these natural wonders when on a journey with Wild Waterways Adventures. Located in Campbell River, British Columbia, this eco-tourism company offers an opportunity to explore the abundant forests and pristine waters of the Discovery Islands. And with a commitment to sustainability and conservation, it provides guests with a truly transformative experience.

The team at Wild Waterways is comprised of local guides who are passionate about the environment and eager to share their knowledge with visitors. Whether you are kayaking, hiking, or bear spotting by boat, you’ll have the chance to learn about the region’s rich ecosystem and its inhabitants, while also immersing yourself in the peaceful serenity of nature.

After working with conservation organizations for years, co-founder Jenefer Smalley has infused her passion for the environment into the company’s practices. These include being carbon neutral and collecting conservation fees to maintain ecological integrity within the Discovery Islands. Wild Waterways also leads conservation projects, including education about the local grey wolf population to minimize human-wildlife conflict.

At their heart, Wild Waterways Adventure’s tours are about connecting to nature as a living intelligence that informs our consciousness. In this way, humans can remember they are truly a part of nature, not separate from it. Interpretive forest walks are a grounding experience that offers mental health support and creative inspiration. “When you’re out on the water there’s an adrenaline rush…when you go into the forest, it’s more a feeling of serenity and peace,” Jenefer says.. She finds that guests are captivated by the magical energy of whales and the joyous energy of dolphins. “You’ll see one jump out of the water and do a backflip and the guests are giggling like small children.

Wild Waterways has launched a new spring tour that highlights the herring spawn in the Discovery Passage. While whale-watching tours typically start later in the spring, Jenefer is excited to get people out on the water from February onwards to show them the “pulse of life” that happens when other animals travel from far and wide to follow the herring.

Discover Marine Wildlife With Eco-friendly Campbell River Whale Watching Tours

From whale watching via boat or kayak through to ocean rapids tours, grizzly spotting, and even distillery tours, Campbell River Whale Watching’s tour offerings show off their love of nature and community to anyone who comes on board. When not cruising to waterfalls on the lookout for bears and other wildlife, the guides behind the operation even offer photography workshops and fishing charters. And this company’s mission goes beyond memorable experiences. It prides itself on being an eco-friendly company with a strong ethos for conservation.

Owner and Operator Stephen Gabrysh says that being environmentally conscious is a passion that brings people together. “Everybody is trying to do their best to make sure we’re impacting the natural world as little as possible, and all of our guests are looking for the same thing […] it’s fairly easy to keep the strength for that passion going when you’re surrounded by like-minded people,” he says. Campbell River Whale Watching’s commitments to the environment are inspired, in part, by Stephen’s personal journey to learn more about environmental stewardship. Stephen’s curiosity kindled a passion for nature that led him away from his previous work in the oil and gas industry.

Going beyond just being Northern Vancouver Island’s first carbon neutral eco-tour company, Campbell River Whale Watching also partners with conservation non-profit Wilderness International to conduct a comprehensive audit and identify climate commitments that are aligned with the company. “We always wanted to figure out a way to become carbon neutral, but wanted to support some sort of local project, and that’s where the partnership with Wilderness International was so good because they’re protecting forests, which is near and dear to our hearts,” says Stephen. As visitors leave a tour, they even get a postcard with a unique code they can input into the Wilderness International website. This triggers a personalized email with a drone image of the exact geo-coordinates of the piece of forest that guests protected via their tour.

Stephen says each wildlife tour is an opportunity to connect more meaningfully to nature. When people have special encounters with wildlife in their natural habitats, it gets them to shift their mindset and think about how their day-to-day decisions affect the environment. “One of the biggest things that we’re trying to accomplish on our tours is that amazing or inspiring moment of someone seeing a whale for the first time […] being used as a catalyst to think about all of the different pieces and interconnections in the world,” says Stephen.

Whale Watching and Beach Cleanups: the Discovery West Way

Over the past few years, Campbell River has become an absolute whale watching hotspot, and Discovery West Adventures is one reason why. After picking up guests at Brown’s Bay Resort and cruising out into the sunset, this company is making a difference by helping to tackle removal of marine debris. The plan is simple – If debris gets spotted along the journey, the boat slows, and someone plucks it out of the water. In just three years, they have removed over 6,000 pounds of trash from local waterways.

What started as casual litter pick up while out on tours has now morphed into tours the specifically focus on beach cleanups. “We were […] kind of blown away by how excited everybody was to pay to come clean up the beaches. We were a little bit worried about charging people to clean up the beaches. But we did. We did a three-hour whale watch in the morning. And then we stopped and found a beach and we did about a four-hour cleanup. And then they had a big barbecue on the beach. And everybody was super pumped to want to do it again,” says founder Josh Grin.

2022 was an incredibly busy year for Josh and his team, but is still excited to expand on the beach cleanup initiatives. Josh says he wants to aim for a monthly beach cleanup where half the day is whale watching and the other half is a dedicated beach cleanup.

In addition to Discovery West Adventure beach cleanups, Josh plans to organize yearly pre- and post-season beach cleanups in April and October with other tour operators in the Campbell River region. “I would love to see all the companies get together, even if it’s a two-day cleanup around the coast, because everybody’s got boats, everybody’s got lots of staff. [It’d be great] to try and get everybody wrangled together and pitch in [whether] it’s land based where you can drive to or boat access only,” he says. Josh says other whale watching companies have responded positively to the idea and he’s keen to get to work on collective efforts to take care of the ocean.

Beaver Lodge Lands: a Research Site Meets a Natural Gem in Campbell River

It’s considered to be Campbell River’s Stanley Park, and if you’re a trail runner, cyclist, horseback rider, or simply just a lover of nature, you would be remiss to not pay this gem a visit. Beaver Lodge Lands is located just south of Campbell River and inland from the sea. But it isn’t actually a park. It’s was a gift to the province from a timber company in the early 20th century. And for nearly 100 years it’s been used for research on reforestation methods. Lessons learned here have travelled all over BC and beyond to help with forest management and reforestation.

But the journey to keep the lands open and visitor-friendly hasn’t been without struggle. In the 1990’s, the area was threatened by a housing development project, but the community worked together to prevent it. Furthermore, as the Beaver Lodge Lands aren’t a park, they don’t have the same level of support from the province as other reserves might. Because the land can only be used for research, it has also limited what facilities can be installed. But for travellers looking for a rustic experience and fascinating lesson in reforestation, Beaver Lodge Lands still has so much to offer.
“It’s our local responsibility to protect Beaver Lodge and to care for it, because it’s our responsibility to maintain nature for everyone in the world,” says Sandra Milligan, president of the Beaver Lodge Trust Society. Sandra founded the non-profit society at the start of 2022 to help update the legislation for how the Beaver Lodge Lands are used by locals and visitors.

The aim is to secure the funding required to build the amenities people expect of a well-loved recreational area in nature, while also protecting the forest for many generations to come. Stop by on your next trip to see how protecting nature today can benefit the community of tomorrow.