Kayaking in Campbell River is a fantastic way to explore our waterways and their intriguing aquatic plants and wildlife. Visitors to Campbell River can enjoy kayaking in the Campbell River estuary and along our ocean shores.
Some of the wildlife you might see includes otters, whales, seabirds, eagles, dolphins, porpoise, seals, and sea lions. Always practice water safety and watch animals from a safe distance—if you see a whale, you’ll need to raft up with your fellow kayaks, and ideally want to move away from it. Along the coastline, you may also see tidal zone organisms, like sea stars, sea cucumbers, crabs, sea anemones, and nudibranch.
If you’ve already ticked off our local waters or are simply eager for a bigger adventure, several local tour operators also depart from Campbell River or Quadra Island to take enthusiastic travellers on multi-day, expedition-style kayaking trips further afield into incredible ecosystems and breathtaking orca and wildlife habitat.
Kayak Trips From Campbell River
Campbell River Whale Watching has co-created an incredible one day adventure with Wildcoast Adventures that combines a whale watching boat tour with a kayaking trip. The day showcases the different ecosystems and perspectives that occur from the two vessel types.
Grey Wolf Expeditions offers a land based Orca Camp and kayaking trip over 3 days and 4 nights that prioritizes unparalleled wildlife watching opportunities with minimal disturbance. The silence, unpolluted skies, beach sauna, salmon fishing from shore, and hidden waterfall are the cherries on top.
For over 25 years, Spirit of the West Adventures has catered to enthusiastic adventurers and families with their selection of multi-day kayaking trips into iconic coastal regions like the Johnstone Strait, Desolation Sound, Broughton Archipelago, and even the Great Bear Rainforest. Trips last 4 to 8 days as they weave between islands and inlets, looking for wildlife, appreciating the local geology, and creating moments of awe in our vibrant ecosystems.
Kayaking from Quadra Island
Campbell River is also a fantastic base for kayaking adventures from Quadra Island which is just a 10-minute ferry away, with ferries running primarily every 30 minutes.
Quadra Island Kayaks serves both beginner and experienced kayakers with a series of day tours and overnight expeditions that take in the local waters and sea life of the Discovery Islands. Rentals are also available for 3-6 hours to explore the delights of Main Lake Provincial Park or the intertidal zone of Rebecca Spit Marine Provincial Park.
Wildcoast Adventures meanwhile is more focused on multi-day, expedition-style kayaking trips. Trips range from 3 to 7 days and each has a different focus, from Desolation Sound and the Discovery Islands, to sightings of whales and bears.
Kayaking in Strathcona Provincial Park and Vancouver Island North
To the west of Campbell River, away from the coast, Strathcona Park Lodge provides a hub for exploring the spectacular mountains, lakes, and rivers of Strathcona Provincial Park and the surrounding area. Book a stay here and make the most of the staff’s extensive knowledge by adding a guided kayak trip. From the lodge, over 60km of uninterrupted waterways are accessible. You can also rent single or double kayaks, along with canoes and paddleboards.
Campbell River is also the last major stop for supplies for epic kayaking trips in and around Kyuquot on the west coast of Vancouver Island North. Travellers take a gravel road to Fair Harbour shortly after Woss (a last stop for gas and snacks exists in Sayward and Woss). After a short boat ride to Kyuquot, Sea Otter Lodge is the home base for a novel west coast experience: kayak fishing. Guests can enjoy an all-inclusive adventure that weaves amongst incredible reefs and fish habitat, thanks to the mobility of their kayaks, frequently combined with wildlife sightings. A lunch spread on a secluded island, and the comfort of a stay in one of two lodges, make this an extra special experience to remember.
