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human settlement in British Columbia, Canada
North America > Canada > British Columbia > Vancouver Island > Central Vancouver Island > Bamfield

Bamfield is a small coastal town of about 180 people (2016) in Central Vancouver Island. It is divided by Bamfield Inlet. Bamfield is a tourist destination for the West Coast Trail, ocean kayaking and sport fishing.

Understand

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Bamfield

Bamfield was populated by Huu-ay-aht of the Nuu-chah-nulth, the local indigenous people. Europeans founded a small fishing community sometime in the late 1800s. Most of the indigenous people now live in the neighbouring village of Anacla about 5 km from Bamfield.

Bamfield was named after the first government agent of the area, William Eddy Banfield. The name "Bamfield" with an "m" is said to be either due to how the local First Nations people had trouble pronouncing the letter "n" in his name, or a mistake made by the post office. In 1902, the Bamfield cable station was constructed as the western terminus of a worldwide undersea telegraph cable called by some the All Red Line as it passed only through countries and territories controlled by the British Empire, which were coloured red on the map. The cable went to Fanning Island, a tiny coral atoll in the mid-Pacific, and from there continued to Fiji, New Zealand, and Australia. A second building, made of concrete, was built on the site in 1926 to replace the old wood structure. This building, designated a historic site in 1930, is now used by the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre.

A Marine and Fisheries lifesaving station on the Pacific coast was established at Bamfield in 1907. It was the first lifesaving station on Canada's Pacific Coast.

In 1953 the cable was extended up the Alberni Inlet to Port Alberni and the local station was closed in 1959. In 1972, the site was converted into a marine biology research station, the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre. It became the largest employer in the community.

Commercial fishing was based in Bamfield up to the mid-1980s. Bamfield is now home to several sport fishing lodges, which pursue primarily salmon and halibut. Bamfield is also the northern terminus of the West Coast Trail, a hiking trail built in 1907 along the west coast of Vancouver Island to help survivors of the area's many shipwrecks find their way back to civilization. The trail runs 77 km (48 mi) along extremely rugged terrain.

BamfieldCoastGuard
Canadian Coast Guard Station Bamfield and CCGS Cape McKay as seen from Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre

The research activities at the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre attracts hundreds of researchers every year. The Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre also offers credited university courses through its five associated universities. An outreach program, which provides multi-day immersion field trips for school, college and adult learners, also bring thousands of visitors to the community every year.

Get in

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By plane

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By boat

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By bus

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  • West Coast Trail Express, ☏ +1-250-477-8700, toll-free: +1-888-999-2288. Seasonal service allowing hikers of the West Coast Trail to reach the northern (Bamfield) and southern (Port Renfrew) ends of the trail. Operator runs a bus route to Bamfield and Pachena Bay from Victoria, with stops along the way at Port Renfrew and the Juan de Fuca trail head. Also operates a bus route to Bamfield from Nanaimo. Travel time from Victoria is 6 hours, Port Renfrew is 4 hours, and from Nanaimo is 3 hr 45 min. The routes operate from May 1 to September 30. (updated Mar 2022)

By car

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Bamfield is only road accessible via logging roads (smooth to rough gravel). You are likely to encounter logging trucks, which have the right of way. Pull over and let them pass or risk getting honked! Check your spare tire, and make sure you have a full tank of gas. There is a gas station in Bamfield.

From Port Alberni

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There is a signposted route from Port Alberni, marked with red and white kilometer signs from 1 to 76. The road is usually well maintained, and is 76 km, taking 1.5-2 hours.

From Duncan

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A signposted, but less well maintained route from Lake Cowichan (on Hwy 18) is around 120 km, and takes 3-4 hours. Head north pass Duncan on Highway #1 and turn west to Cowichan Valley Highway (Highway 18). After passing Youbou, continue west on gravel logging road to reach Bamfield.

Get around

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To cross between East and West Bamfield, get a water taxi. Call for one on the two way radios stationed on or near most major public docks. Remember to turn the radio off after use!

  • Bamfield Pachena Taxi - Contact Susan at +1 250-728-3363. (June 2018)
Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre
  • 1 Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre, 100 Pachena Rd, ☏ +1 250-728-3301, . BMSC offers tours to the general public in July and August (suspended due to COVID-19). Discover the natural history of Barkley Sound. Experience the unique history BMSC shares with the village of Bamfield. Learn about the coastal science research taking place at BMSC. Scheduled tours are offered Wednesdays, Fridays, & Saturdays from 1–2PM and begin from the traffic circle outside the Main Building. First tour is July 4th. A suggested donation of $5 per adult or $10 per family. Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre (Q4853480) on Wikidata Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre on Wikipedia (updated Aug 2022)
  • 1 Brady's Beach. A great strip of sand and rock pools that are full of life at low tide. (updated Jun 2018)
  • 1 The Market and Cafe (Tides & Trails), 242 Frigate Road, ☏ +1 250-728-2000, . Open year-round and sells a variety of groceries from staples such as milk and bread, to fresh deli items, slushies, and soft-serve ice cream. There is also a wide assortment of giftwear. The Café is open seasonally from March to October and is casual dining. (updated Aug 2022)

Eat and drink

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  • 1 Malsit Public House, 227 Frigate Road, ☏ +1 250-728-3422. Closed due to COVID-19. (updated Aug 2022)
  • 2 Bamfield Cafeteria (Just east of Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre), ☏ +1 250-728-3301. (updated Aug 2022)

Sleep

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Connect

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Go next

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This city travel guide to Bamfield is a usable article. It has information on how to get there and on restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.
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