Attractions and Places To See around Area B (Discovery Islands/Mainland Inlets) - Top 20

The region is rich in natural beauty, featuring a temperate rainforest ecosystem, dramatic fjords, and diverse marine environments. You can visit impressive waterfalls like Elk Falls, Deer Falls, and the Small Waterfall at the Outlet of Dolphin Lake. The Mainland Inlets, such as Bute and Toba, offer classic fjordal scenery with rugged mountains, glaciers, and emerald green waters. Quadra Island is home to Rebecca Spit Provincial Park and the Main Lakes Chain, while Cortes Island boasts sandy beaches like Smelt Bay Provincial Park.

Yes, there are several family-friendly options. The Millennium Trail in Elk Falls Provincial Park is suitable for families, winding through old-growth Douglas firs. Many provincial parks, like Rebecca Spit on Quadra Island and Smelt Bay on Cortes Island, offer accessible outdoor spaces for picnics, beachcombing, and gentle walks. Wildlife viewing tours are also a popular family activity.

The Discovery Islands are the traditional territories of several First Nations. On Quadra Island, you can visit the Nuyumbalees Cultural Centre at Cape Mudge, dedicated to preserving the Potlatch Collection and revitalizing the Kwa'Kwa'Ka'Wa'Kw language and traditions. Ancient petroglyphs at Cape Mudge and pictographs on Cortes Island also offer insights into the rich Indigenous heritage of the area.

The region is teeming with diverse wildlife. You might spot grizzly bears, wolves, black bears, and eagles. The marine environment is particularly rich, with opportunities for whale watching to see orcas, humpback, minke, and gray whales. Salmon runs, sea lions, and porpoises are also common sights in the waters around the islands and inlets.

Absolutely. Elk Falls Provincial Park offers several trails, including the Millennium Trail and the Riverside Loop Trail, which provides views of Deer Falls. Quadra and Cortes Islands also have extensive networks of trails winding through rainforests and along coastlines. For more hiking options, explore the Running Trails around Area B (Discovery Islands/Mainland Inlets) guide, which includes many suitable for hiking.

The calm, sheltered waters and intricate channels make the region ideal for kayaking and canoeing, with popular spots like Hoskyn and Okisollo Channels, and the Main Lakes Chain on Quadra Island. Sailing and boating are also very popular due to numerous anchorages. The clear waters of Discovery Passage are world-renowned for scuba diving, including the HMCS Columbia artificial reef. Fishing for salmon, halibut, and lingcod is also a favorite pastime.

The late spring and summer months (May to September) generally offer the best weather for outdoor activities like hiking, kayaking, and wildlife viewing. During late spring and early summer, the waterfalls in the mainland inlets, especially Toba Inlet, are particularly impressive due to snowmelt. The drier climate in the southern parts of the islands also makes for pleasant conditions.

Yes, the Canyon View Bridge offers spectacular views into the Campbell River canyon, where you might spot salmon or eagles. The suspension bridge at Elk Falls also provides an impressive perspective of the 27-meter-high waterfall. Mount Seymour on Quadra Island offers commanding views of the surrounding islands and mountains.

The islands are accessible by ferry from Campbell River to Quadra Island, and then to Cortes Island. For smaller, more remote islands and the mainland inlets, water taxis and floatplanes are common modes of transport. Once on the islands, cycling is a popular way to explore, with various routes available, such as those found in the Cycling around Area B (Discovery Islands/Mainland Inlets) guide.

Beyond the main attractions, the deeply folded shorelines of Von Donop Inlet, Manson's Lagoon, Gorge Harbour, and Cortes Bay on Cortes Island offer startlingly beautiful emerald waters against granite bluffs. The Mainland Inlets themselves, while dramatic, offer a true wilderness experience with fewer visitors, making them ideal for adventurous hikers and mountaineers seeking remote beauty.

Yes, Quadra Island is known for its vibrant artistic community, with many resident artists and craftspeople. You can often find local pottery and other unique wares. Cortes Island also has a thriving artistic scene, and both islands host annual studio tours and cultural events.

Yes, both road cycling and mountain biking are popular. Quadra and Cortes Islands have growing trail networks for mountain biking. For road cycling, you can find various routes, including those listed in the Road Cycling Routes around Area B (Discovery Islands/Mainland Inlets) guide, which features loops around areas like Ken Forde Boat Ramp Park and Quathiaski Cove.