The Vancouver Island region’s diverse ecosystems make for some of the best wildlife viewing in British Columbia.
Popular wildlife activities on Vancouver Island include guided whale watching and bear viewing tours, but there are many self-guided wildlife viewing opportunities as well.
Watch grizzly bears in Knight Inlet, view Roosevelt elk (found only on Vancouver Island), check out one of many bird watching areas or look for the Vancouver Island marmot, an incredibly rare mammal.
Enjoy seeing prolific marine life in Barkley Sound and Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, snorkel with salmon and seals, watch sea otters play in kelp beds or spot wildlife from the deck of a working coastal freighter as it plies the waters of remote West Coast inlets.
Abundant Wildlife in Provincial Parks
Strathcona Provincial Park
This wilderness park, located on mid-Vancouver Island, is ideal for wildlife viewing and outdoor activities. Large numbers of Roosevelt elk and deer can be found in the park, as well as wolves, black bears, cougars and many bird species.
Tours and other amenities are available in Strathcona Provincial Park through commercial operations, including Mount Washington Alpine Resort and a large outdoor activity centre. The nearest communities are Courtenay, Campbell River and Comox.
Carmanah Walbran Provincial Park
This rugged and remote park supports abundant wildlife, and is famous for its majestic stands of old-growth Sitka spruce and cedar trees, some more than 1,000 years old. Access to Carmanah Walbran Provincial Park is via Port Alberni, Port Renfrew or Lake Cowichan; check with local Visitor Centres for current road conditions.
Gold Muchalat Provincial Park
Look for Roosevelt elk and deer in this pristine wilderness park near Gold River.
Juan de Fuca Provincial Park
This stunning landscape lies on the west coast of Vancouver Island between the communities of Port Renfrew and Jordan River. Marine and land wildlife are seen throughout Juan de Fuca Provincial Park, but the most famous feature is the stunning tide pools and brightly coloured marine life of Botanical Beach.
Salmon Viewing
There are hundreds of rivers and streams supporting salmon runs on Vancouver Island. Although salmon can often be viewed in their native streams, the best place to see salmon and other wildlife is at hatcheries and spawning channels.
Big Qualicum Hatchery
See all five species of Pacific salmon at this hatchery in Qualicum Beach.
Nitinat River Hatchery
Canada’s largest salmon hatchery is located near Nitinat Lake, 70km/44mi from Port Alberni.
Puntledge Hatchery
Self-guided or guided tours (plus underwater salmon viewing) are available at this hatchery near Courtenay.
Robertson Creek Hatchery
Located in Port Alberni, this hatchery supplies many of the impressively large Chinook salmon for which Alberni Inlet is famous.
Whales, Sea Otters, Seals and Sea Lions
Vancouver Island has many excellent areas to view marine life. Marine life can be seen from almost anywhere along the coast, but consider a guided tour for the most rewarding experience.
Telegraph Cove, Port McNeill and Alert Bay
Telegraph Cove, Port McNeill and Alert Bay are departure points for wildlife and whale watching tours. Surrounding waters support large populations of Orcas, Dall's porpoises, harbour porpoises, Pacific white-sided dolphins, harbour seals and Steller sea lions. In summer, black bears are often seen along Highway 19 between Port McNeill and Port Hardy.
Pacific Rim/Barkley Sound
From Port Alberni, take a day trip on a working freighter and view the impressive scenery and ocean life in Barkley Sound. View marine life in the Bamfield Marine Center, walk the Wild Pacific Trail in Ucluelet or board a wildlife nature cruise of the Broken Group Islands. Pacific Rim National Park Reserve has spectacular scenery and a wide range of birds and wildlife.
Nootka Sound and Remote West Coast Inlets
Take a trip on a small coastal freighter for a unique west coast wildlife experience: from Gold River, the MV Uchuck III takes passengers on day trips to Friendly Cove and Tahsis Inlet, as well as multi-day excursions to locations in Nootka Sound, Zeballos Inlet, Esperanza Inlet and Kyuquot Sound.
Expect to see a wide variety of wildlife including seals, sea lions, sea otters, whales, porpoises, dolphins, eagles, and fish. Some trips feature historical interpreters and guides.
Snorkel With Salmon
In Campbell River, take a guided drift tour of the Campbell River and view coho, chum, steelhead and massive chinook salmon as they navigate the shallow pools and slow-moving water.
Guided marine wildlife tours are also available on small, zodiac-style inflatable boats.
Swim with Seals
Take a guided boat trip to Snake Island, just off Nanaimo, and snorkel with the 250 resident harbour seals. Playful and inquisitive seals will often approach swimmers, so have a camera ready.
For more information on practical points and safety and wildlife viewing tips visit the BC Wildlife Tours page.
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