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 BC'S
NORTH VANCOUVER ISLAND TOUR
4 to 6 days
Your
destination in this tour is some of the best and most
remote scenery on BC's islands. It also offers you
spectacular taste of West Vancouver Island weather
and if you enjoy trekking windy coastlines, you'll
love this particular tour.
Head
to the east coast of Vancouver Island, where you will
pick up Highway 19 north. Follow Highway 19 to Port
McNeill. You will probably want to
stop along the way, as it is 391 km/245 miles to Port
McNeill from Nanaimo.
Port
McNeill is the ferry terminal for Malcolm Island and
Cormorant Island. The ferry to Cormorant Island takes
you to the fishing village of Alert Bay (45 minutes).
Renown for its unusual Aboriginal art, Alert
Bay is well worth the out of the way
excursion.
Sointula
on Malcolm Island was founded by Finish settlers and
offers a different look at BC coastal life and culture.
Sailing time from Alert Bay to Sointula is 35 minutes.
Port
Hardy is 36 km/23 miles north of Port
McNeill. The BC ferry terminal for the Queen
Charlotte Islands, it sits at the intersection
of several secondary roads. Cape Scott Park, the Island's
most northerly point, can be reached by a gravel road
and a hardy 27 km/17 mile hike. Be forewarned: the
winds you will experience on this hike are fierce.
If you are less interested in being blown about and
more interested in the breathtaking scenery, a shorter
hike takes you to San Jose Bay (2.5 km/1.5 miles).
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Sea
Lions
Photo Courtesy of Sean Percy
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Marble
River Provincial Park is accessible by a good secondary
road that intersects Highway 19 halfway between Port
McNeill and Port Hardy. The park has 33 camp sites
that sit on the edge of Alice Lake, at the head of
Quatsino Sound. There is a boat launch and a beach
for swimming.
Your
return south on Highway 19 takes you past the turn
off to Telegraph Cove, where you can sign up for a
whale watching cruise, or rent a cabin for a peaceful
beachside rest. Travellers who have access to a boat
have an endless list of possibilities at their fingertips.
There are dozens of provincial parks along Vancouver
Island's coasts, and an unlimited wealth of places
to explore.
Be
sure to browse the Points of Interest:
Read
a Travelog:
Check
BC Ferries Information
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