Whether you travel by land or sea, Campbell River and its surrounding islands offer incredible ecological variety. The Central Vancouver Island region is celebrated for gorgeous coastal features and unique local culture. Forests here are home to grizzly bears, black bears, cougars, bald eagles, wolves, and a diverse collection of coastal shore life. The sea is filled with an active array of mammals; with orcas, whales, dolphins, salmon, sea lions, and more enjoying the abundant seas.
“By booking a tour with professional guides or local Indigenous naturalists this summer, you’ll be one step closer to observing the rich local wildlife, while honouring the natural territories of these animals…”
It’s very possible to catch glimpses of these creatures organically on any outdoor adventure in Campbell River — a bald eagle soaring over your secluded picnic or a pod of porpoises popping up in the distance on your afternoon beach walk. However, by booking a tour with professional guides or local Indigenous naturalists this summer, you’ll be one step closer to observing the rich local wildlife, while honouring the natural territories of these animals. Tour operators adhere to strict protocols that minimize the disturbance to wildlife while offering their guests a spectacular opportunity to see some of our most admired animal residents.
Grizzlies
Experience a rare sighting of the indomitable grizzly bear around Bute Inlet and Toba Inlet, some of the most prominent habitats for these elusive animals. Opt for an Indigenous guide and visit the traditional territory of the Homalco First Nation (Bute) and the Klahoose First Nation (Toba). If you’ve ever been curious to observe Grizzlies gorging on salmon, traversing through forest lands, and interacting with their cubs and other elements of their environment — the safest and most respectful way to do so is through the curated expertise of local guides and naturalists.
These tours run from mid-August to October, and they can fill up quickly. If a Grizzly sighting is on your summer must-see list, be sure to allow enough time in your holiday itinerary for a full-day tour. These excursions take you further afield into our most remote wilderness and include 2 hours of travel time by boat with many opportunities for marine animal sightings along the way. Once arrived, you’ll relish 3 hours of viewing time, and then pack up for another two hours home. The isolation of these tours is what makes them all the more awe-inspiring.
Some local tour providers include:
Orcas
Canada’s west coast is world renowned for its population of ~300 resident orcas. These revered whales return annually to our local waters to hunt, sleep, frolic, and travel throughout the Salish Sea corridor. Transient orcas are regularly spotted from April through November. If you opt for a longer tour, you’ll head further north where you’ll see more of our resident whales. Seeing a killer whale is truly a once in a lifetime feeling — and a visit by these mammals via sea kayak is even more visceral. Because of the rarity of a sighting, multi-day tours are some of the most effective ways to ensure an encounter with orcas in the wild. These comprehensive tours offer experiences to kayak, camp, and enjoy luxury amenities while exploring the remote and ruggedly beautiful territories of Desolation Sound, the Discovery Islands, Johnstone Strait, and beyond. You’ll visit deep-water inlets carved into the coastal landscape by glacial activity, and paddle into shallow bays of tiny, uninhabited islands.
Local multi-day expedition providers:
Humpback Whales
Full and partial-day whale watching excursions on the Salish Sea and throughout the Discovery Islands are an exhilarating way to experience the playful nature of these magnificent animals. There are currently around ~90 humpback whales that call the protected waters near Campbell River home, as they migrate north from Hawaii and Mexico in the summer months to bask in our abundant waters. Whether you’re looking to feel the sea spray on your face via an open air Zodiac, or take comfort in the private coziness of a covered vessel; Campbell River’s selection of operators all offer the style of adventure you crave.
Local full and half-day wildlife viewing operators include:
Pacific White-Sided Dolphins
These playful mammals are always a delightful scene if they catch up with your vessel. They travel in pods ranging 10-100, which makes for a lively experience if they happen to come cruising past your boat. It is not out of the question to find your boat surrounded by hundreds of dolphins. They are commonly seen “bow riding,” a mischievous act of surrounding and swimming in front of travelling boats, as well as “riding the wake” behind moving vessels. Their surface behaviours can be incredibly entertaining, including leaps out of the water and spirited tail slaps.
Some of our local operators offering full and half-day marine wildlife viewing tours include:
Shore Life
Hiking and beachcombing along forested shorelines and rugged beaches is a quintessential island pastime. With hundreds of access points, our beaches offer endless opportunities to take in the wildlife on and off shore. You’ll see shore birds, bald eagles, sea lions — all kinds of marine species in the shallows and tide pools — the diversity is truly endless. Another effective and educational way to get a sense of the coastal ecology is by paying a visit to the Discovery Passage Aquarium. Their enthusiastic and knowledgeable staff offer a variety of experiences to acquaint visitors with our local marine species.
Shore life learning opportunities:
