Getting Here - Spring Island, Kyuquot - Vancouver Island Wilderness Kayaking

Getting to and from our Coastal Retreat base camp on Spring Island on the remote northwest coast of Vancouver Island can be a fantastic scenic experience and part of the adventure! Simply drive "up island" to meet our water taxi for delivery to our camp, or enjoy a spectacular float plane flight right into Kyuquot or our camp.

Your kayaking journey with WCE can begin from:

Departing from the beach at our Base Camp

• Courtenay, the Comox Valley, or Campbell River - fly into the Campbell River or Comox Valley airports and rent a car, or ask us to help arrange for land shuttle services using either the Cona Shuttle or the Campbell River Airporter Taxi, either of which can deliver you and your group to our meeting point in Fair Harbour or Gold River.
• Most places on the BC or Washington coast with float plane access & service - if time is of the essence, charter float plane flights can be arranged directly to Kyuquot with Kenmore Air (Seattle), Harbour Air (Vancouver, Victoria, and Nanaimo), Vancouver Island Air (Campbell River), Atleo River Air Service (Tofino), or Air Nootka (from Vancouver, Victoria, Nanaimo, Comox, Campbell River, Tofino, or Gold River!). This can be a great option for groups all travelling from the same location or if you're tight on available travel time.
• Gold River - 91 kilometers (57 miles) west of Campbell River on Vancouver Island (paved road all the way - approx. 1.5 h drive on scenic winding roads through the valleys of Strathcona Provincial Park and along the Gold River).
• Fair Harbour - a 4 hour drive north and west from Campbell River on paved Highway 19 (approx. 2 h), then another 77 km on well-travelled gravel logging roads (approx. 2 h) via Zeballos to Fair Harbour.

Specific to your West Coast Expeditions kayak trip once on northern Vancouver Island

Departing by Voyager Water Taxi

For our base camp and expedition kayaking packages:

• Choose the "float plane upgrade" for return travel with Air Nootka from Gold River if you love the idea of an efficient and spectacular 45 minute coastal flight right to the beach in front of our camp. Gold River is a convenient 1.5 hour scenic drive from Campbell River. We're happy to help make these arrangements as part of your package!
• Unless otherwise described and in the trip package, most of our trips begin with a 45 min. water taxi boat ride from Fair Harbour (approximately a 4 hour drive from Campbell River). This is a great option if you have your own vehicle or a rental vehicle, especially if linking your WCE kayaking vacation with other activities on central or northern Vancouver Island.

Travelling aboard the "MV Uchuck III" scenic cruise

• Some of our 7 and 9 day trip packages include a scenic coastal cruise to Kyuqout from Gold River aboard the "MV Uchuck III". If travelling in on the Uchuck, guests need to arrange their own accommodation in Gold River the night before their early morning Uchuck departure (e.g., staying at the Gold River Chalet, or a local B&B). Once in Kyuquot that evening, a water taxi meet you for the 10 minute boat ride to our camp on Spring Island. Return travel to Gold River is either on the Uchuck, or with an Air Nootka float plane.
• Whether coming by float plane or water taxi, you'll truly arrive when stepping into the shin-deep water lapping the cobblestone beach at our Base Camp on Spring Island, your home for a west coast kayaking adventure.

More general travel information for getting to northern Vancouver Island

Arriving by Air

Accessing Vancouver Island by air allows for several access points. Consider spending additional time on Vancouver Island before or after the tour to experience some of what it has to offer.

Campbell River
Campbell River Airport is the closest access to Gold River (approximately a 75-minute drive) . Campbell River airport is serviced by Air Canada, Central Mountain Air, and Pacific Coastal Airlines. 

Comox Valley -- Courtenay, Comox, and Cumberland
Comox Valley International Airport is also quite close to Gold River (approximately a 2-hour drive), and is serviced by Air Canada, Central Mountain Air, Pacific Coastal Airlines, and WestJet.

Victoria
Arriving in Victoria is a great way to make the most of visiting British Columbia and connecting with other holiday adventures. From Victoria, you can travel by bus, train, or car to the Comox Valley.  From there, it's a 2-hour drive to Gold River, or 4.5-hour drive to Fair Harbour to begin your adventure with West Coast Expeditions.

Vancouver
Arriving in Vancouver is a great way to make the most of visiting British Columbia and connecting with other holiday adventures. From Vancouver, you can fly to Campbell River or the Comox Valley, and then drive to Gold River or Fair Harbour to begin your adventure with West Coast Expeditions.

Arriving by Ferry

Accessing Vancouver Island by car from Vancouver or other sections of mainland BC requires traveling on BC Ferries which can take you to Victoria, Nanaimo, or the Comox Valley (if also the visiting Sunshine Coast and Powell River during your BC coastal holiday).