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city in British Columbia, Canada
North America > Canada > British Columbia > Vancouver Island > Central Vancouver Island > Campbell River

Campbell River, or Wiwek̓a̱m, is a city of about 35,000 people (2016) on the east coast of Vancouver Island. It is renowned as the "Salmon Capital of the World". Campbell River lies along the important coastal Inside Passage shipping route. The town has little to appeal to the average tourist, but is heaven for hikers, kayakers, fishers and naturists. Here you will find a slow, quiet island lifestyle and beautiful scenery.

Understand

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Campbell River

Campbell River has a variety of growing industries including aquaculture, agrifoods, clean energy development, construction, creative industries, forestry, health care, international education, mining, technology and tourism. Since Elk Falls Mill, one of the largest employers in the area, shut down in 2009, many people have moved away to other places with higher demands for a similar labour force, particularly Fort McMurray, Alberta.

8.6% of the population is of First Nations (Indigenous) origin.

History

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The first settlers known in the area were members of the Island Comox and related Coast Salish peoples. During the 18th century, a migration of Kwakwaka'wakw (Kwak'wala-speaking) people of the Wakashan cultural and linguistic group migrated south from the area of Fort Rupert and established themselves in the Campbell River area, at first enslaving and then absorbing the Comox. They became infamous as raiders of the Coast Salish peoples farther south, known to history as the Euclataws. Of this group, also known as the Southern Kwakiutl, there are two subdivisions, the Wekayi or Weiwaikai of the Cape Mudge Indian Band on Quadra Island and the Weiwaikum of the Campbell River Band located in and around the city of Campbell River.

Captain George Vancouver reached Campbell River in 1792 aboard the ships HMS Discovery and HMS Chatham. The channel between Quadra Island and Campbell River is named Discovery Passage after HMS Discovery. The captain and his botanist, Mr Archibald Menzies, discovered a small tribe of 350 natives who spoke the Salish language. A Lekwiltok war party, heavily armed with European rifles, paddled south from Johnstone Strait in the middle of the 19th century and were in control of the area when the HMS Plumper came through on a cartography mission under Captain George Henry Richards around 1859. Dr Samuel Campbell was the ship surgeon, and historians believe his name was given to the river by Richards. The community took the name of "Campbell River" when its post office was constructed in 1907. Likewise, the name of HMS Discovery’s First Lieutenant Zachary Mudge is preserved in the nearby Cape Mudge.

Sports fishermen travelled to the area as early as the 1880s, especially after the tales from noted anglers such as Sir Richard Musgrave and Sir John Rogers. E.P. Painter opened his Painter's Lodge in 1929. It attracted clientele from Hollywood and regular patrons included Bob Hope and Bing Crosby. Commercial fishing was a large industry for many years. The town's magistrate Roderick Haig-Brown purchased a fishing cabin on Campbell River and wrote a number of books on fly fishing that are influential and well-loved around the world for both sport fishermen and conservationists.

Industrial logging took off in the 1920s. A large forest fire started near Buttle Lake and burned much of the valley in 1938. Rock Bay, Menzies Bay, and Englewood all were big logging camps.

Campbell River prospered after 1912 and it became a supply point for northern Vancouver Island, Quadra Island and Cortes Island. After the Second World War, Campbell River became a boom town and industrial centre with the building of the John Hart Dam, Elk River pulp mill, and nearby mills in Tahsis and Gold River. Logging and mining in the area prospered. There is a lead zinc mine nearby, and coal mines, while a large copper mine operated to the north.

Get in

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Map
Map of Campbell River

By plane

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Airport

Flights available to Campbell River from Vancouver (40 minutes).

Airlines

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Ground transportation

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Seaplanes

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  • Kenmore Air, toll-free: +1-866-435-9524. Kenmore Air (Q3195152) on Wikidata Kenmore Air on Wikipedia (updated Apr 2022) Offers regularly scheduled service to Campbell River from Seattle on seaplanes and land planes from May through September.

By bus

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By boat

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By ferry

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BC Ferries, toll-free: +1-888-223-3779. Operates ferries connecting coastal communities. BC Ferries (Q795723) on Wikidata BC Ferries on Wikipedia (updated Apr 2022)

  • 2 Campell River ferry terminal, 1001 Island Highway. (updated Oct 2023) Vehicle ferry route:
    • Connecting with Quadra Island (Quathiaski Cove) ferry terminal. The ferry route has a 10 minutes crossing, and operates 16 or 17 crossings a day. From Quadra Island (Heriot Bay) ferry terminal, there is ferry service to Cortes Island.

By water taxi

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  • 3 Discovery Launch Water Taxi, Fishermans Wharf, 705 Island Hwy (one block south of the Quadra Island ferry), ☏ +1 250-287-7577, . Campbell River-based service provider of water taxi services to the Discovery Islands, coastal inlets, some of the northern Sunshine Coast, and parts of Vancouver Island. There is a regular summer scheduled service between Campbell River, Cortes Island, and Savary Island. All of their boats are equipped to carry kayaks. They also offer some tours. (updated May 2023)
  • 4 Quest Water Taxi, Discovery Harbour Marina (at the end of Roberts Reach Rd), ☏ +1 778-346-0021, toll-free: +1-855-659-2327. Campbell River based water taxi service serving areas around Campbell River, Comox, Courtenay, Discovery Islands, Lund, Powell River, and Mainland Inlets. (updated May 2023)
  • 5 Way West Water Taxi, Discovery Harbour Marina (at the end of Roberts Reach Rd), ☏ +1 250-286-3050. Campbell River-based water taxi serving a number of the Discovery Islands, including Dent, Sonora, Read, Maurelle and East Thurlow. They will also go to many other locations within the islands and the coastal inlets, including the lodges. They also load kayaks and can drop you off/pick you up from locations within the islands. Scheduled departures between Campbell River and destinations north of Campbell River are Jun-Sep: M W F, and Oct-May: M and F. In addition, between late June and early September, there are schedule departures between Campbell River, Cortes Island, and Savary Island. They can also arrange sight-seeing tours, including the grizzly tour through the Sonora Resort. $80 to one of the scheduled stops, more otherwise. (updated May 2023)

By car

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Travelling north from Nanaimo, there are two options: the Highway 19A (Island Highway), which is the scenic old road with the beautiful ocean views, or the Inland Highway 19 (Island Highway), which is the faster expressway. The drive on the old Island Highway takes approximately 2 hours (153 km / 95 mi) from Nanaimo or 3.5 hours (264 km / 165 mi) from Victoria. The Inland Highway can reduce that time, potentially by up to an hour when driving from Victoria.

Get around

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The city boasts a robust cycling infrastructure including paved cycling paths, wooded commuting trails, and bike lanes. There is also an abundance of logging roads and mountain biking trails throughout the area.

By public transit

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  • BC Transit (Campbell River Transit System), ☏ +1-250-287-7433. Operates several bus routes daily in urban areas of the city. BC Transit (Q4179186) on Wikidata BC Transit on Wikipedia (updated Mar 2022)
    • Routes 1, 2, and 3 between downtown Campbell River and Campbell River (at Willow Point). All three routes operate daily with numerous trips. Each of the routes takes 15 to 20 minutes each way.
    • Route 6 between Campbell River (at Willow Point) and Oyster River (16 minutes). Operates Monday to Friday with numerous trips, and operates Saturday and Sunday with a number of trips.
      • BC Transit (Comox Valley Regional Transit System) Route 12 travels between Oyster River and downtown Courtenay. Operates Monday to Friday with a number of trips, and Saturday with limited trips. Travel time between Oyster River and Courtenay is 35 to 45 minutes.

By taxi

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Campbell River hosts a busy arts and culture scene with museums that cover local history.

  • 1 Discovery Passage Aquarium, 705 Island Hwy, ☏ +1 250 914-5500. mid-May to Sep: daily 10AM-5PM. Small aquarium that showcases local marine species. There are also touch tanks if you want to get hands-on with things like starfish. $8 adult, $6 senior, $5 student. (updated Jul 2017)
  • 2 Maritime Heritage Centre, 621 Island Hwy, ☏ +1 250 286-3161. Jun-Aug: daily 10AM-4PM; Sep-May: M-F 10AM-4PM. Facility that showcases the restored fishing boat, BCP45, a wooden seiner that plied its trade for roughly 70 years in the Campbell River area and was featured on the $5 Canadian bill in the 1970s and 80s. There are also a number of collections on exhibit, including model ships, outboard motors and ship wheels, and activity centre where you can try your hand at tying knots. $7 adult, $5 senior, $3.50 child 6-18. (updated Jul 2017)
  • 3 The Museum at Campbell River, 470 Island Highway, ☏ +1 250 287-3103. Mid-May to Sep: 10AM-5PM; Oct to mid-May: Tu-Su noon-5PM. Museum that focuses on the history and stories of Campbell River and the surrounding area. Galleries and exhibits include First Nations and the impact of European exploration and colonization, pioneer life, logging, the salmon fishing industry, local sport fishing and the Tyee Club, restored ships and equipment, and a native plant garden. There is also a theatre with footage of events in Campbell River’s past. $8 adult, $7 senior, $5 child 6-18; guided tours are an additional $4. (updated Jan 2016)
The falls in Elk Falls Provincial Park
  • 1 Elk Falls Provincial Park, Hwy 28 (head west on Hwy 28 for 5-6 km; turn onto Brewster Lake Rd to access the day-use area for the falls). Just outside of Campbell River, this park has wonderful trails for hikers and bikers. The main attraction is the falls, which are surrounded by old growth trees and are 80 ft high. There is a suspension bridge and viewing platform that provide a great view of the falls. The bridge and viewing area are about a 1-km walk from the day-use area parking lot and the last section involves a number of stairs. There is also a popular campground with over 100 spaces. Day use is free. Elk Falls Provincial Park (Q1331394) on Wikidata Elk Falls Provincial Park on Wikipedia (updated Jan 2016)
  • 2 Mitlenatch Island Nature Provincial Park (about 29.8 km (18.5 mi) from downtown Courtenay). On Mitlenatch Island, a small islet in the northern Strait of Georgia. Mitlenatch Island Nature Provincial Park (Q6881812) on Wikidata Mitlenatch Island Nature Provincial Park on Wikipedia (updated Mar 2023)
  • Guided salmon fishing is also a very popular thing to do.


Learn

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  • 1 Wei Wai Kum House Of Treasures Ltd, 1370 Island Highway (next to Moxie's Restaurant in the Discovery Harbour Shopping Centre), ☏ +1 250-286-1440. This gallery features Northwest Coast First Nations art. (updated Mar 2023)
  • 2 Ridgerider Mens Wear, 920 Island Hwy, ☏ +1 250-286-3554. Also sells Western apparel and gifts. (updated Mar 2023)
  • 3 Westcoastees, 910A Island Hwy, ☏ +1 250-914-1143. West Coast-themed clothing and apparel. (updated Jul 2021)

Drink

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Sleep

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Cope

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Newspaper

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Hospital

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Go next

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There are options to move on in every direction from Campbell River.

  • Quadra Island — Quadra Island is a ten-minute ferry ride from Campbell River. It has kayaking, hiking and First Nations culture and history.
  • Outer Islands and Mainland Inlets — Take a water taxi or float plane into the outer Discovery Islands. There are fishing lodges, grizzly bears, salmon fishing or you can just relax enjoy the peacefulness.
  • Strathcona Provincial Park — West on Hwy 28, the park is a great place for outdoor-minded travellers, with world-class hiking and camping. Recommended hikes include Flower Ridge Trail, Crest Mountain Trail, and the Elk River Trail.
  • Gold River — Head west on Hwy 28 until it ends and you come to Gold River. It has caves and is the gateway to Nootka Sound on the west coast and the Yuquot National Historic Site.
Routes through Campbell River
Port Hardy ← Telegraph Cove ←   N  S  → Courtenay → Nanaimo
Gold River ← Strathcona Provincial Park ←  W  E  → ENDS at


This city travel guide to Campbell River 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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