If there’s one place in Canada where it’s easy to get outside and actually feel like you’re in it and not just looking at it, it’s Vancouver Island. The mix of ocean, forest, and mountains means you don’t have to choose one kind of adventure, and it was something I did not want to miss.
For me, Outdoor Adventures on Vancouver Island included being on the water in the morning, walking through old-growth forest in the afternoon, and watching the sunset on the coast by evening.
What stood out to me while traveling around the island was just how varied the outdoor experiences are. I had a bucket list of wildlife like whale watching out of Victoria, grizzly bear tours from Campbell River, and then places like Tofino, where it’s all about beaches, surfing, and that rugged West Coast feel.
Add in cycling routes, coastal drives, and iconic hikes like the West Coast Trail, and it quickly becomes the kind of destination where you can build an entire trip around being outdoors.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through the best outdoor adventures on Vancouver Island, from the experiences that are worth planning ahead to the ones you can easily add along the way!
Top Outdoor Adventures on Vancouver Island (Quick List)
- Whale watching from many Vancouver Island towns
- Grizzly bear tours from Campbell River
- Surfing in Tofino
- Hiking in the old-growth forests and over suspension bridges
- Kayaking
- Coastal drives
Wildlife Adventures on Vancouver Island (Top Experiences)
Whale Watching Tours
You will find whale-watching tours in many towns on Vancouver Island, including Victoria, Sooke, Nanaimo, Ucluelet, Tofino, Campbell River, and Telegraph Cove in the North End of the Island.
There is a good chance you will see Orcas and Humpbacks from March through November. At times, you may also encounter Gray Whales, Minke Whales, and White-Sided Dolphins.
I went on a Victoria Whale-Watching tour in September and saw a family of Orcas, numerous Humpbacks, and Sea Lions during my half-day cruise. I had gone on the afternoon open-boat cruise from Eagle Wing, but they also offer covered boats and wildlife tours.
Grizzly Bear Tours in Bute Inlet
For me, seeing the Grizzly Bears was a bucket list item, and I just had to sign up. It starts early in the day from Campbell River with a 3-hour very scenic cruise, although we stopped along the way as we happened to see some humpbacks breaching close to our boat.
When we arrived at Bute Inlet, we had lunch on the dock (no food is permitted near the bears) and, with our Homalco Indigenous Guide, headed through the forest to the viewing platforms. Luck was with me as I saw 3 Grizzly Bears, lots of Bald Eagles, 1000s of Salmon, and Harbour Seals on the return voyage.
This is a remote wilderness experience with ethical tourism at its best, and my September tour was sold out, so I recommend booking the Grizzly Bear Tour to Bute Inlet from Homalco Wildlife and Cultural Tours early. There are also tours to Toba Inlet from other tour companies.
Wildlife Viewing and Birdwatching
One of the reasons I visited Vancouver Island was to see the wildlife. You can see deer in Victoria parks and along the coastal roads; there are whale-watching tours, Grizzly Bear tours, and you may see Bald Eagles, Harbour Seals, and Sea Otters.
Nanaimo – There is one Outdoor Adventure Tour to see the rainforest at Cathedral Grove, a hike to see two waterfalls at Englishman River Provincial Park, and a visit to the North Island Wildlife Sanctuary, where you will visit many animals rescued from the wild, including Black Bears, Bald Eagles, Owls, Hawks, Turtles, and many more.
Tofino – Also a 2 1/2 hour tour to discover the wildlife of Clayoquot Sound, which may include Black Bears, Sea Otters, and Sea Lions.
Port Alice – located in Northern Vancouver Island, and if you are up that way, they also have a Sea Otter and Wildlife Watching Boat Tour.
Victoria – besides the whale watching cruises, many of the same operators offer wildlife and birding tours, particularly during the winter months. Victoria Butterfly Gardens has about 70 species of butterflies, in addition to poison dart frogs, tortoises, large iguanas, flamingos, tropical ducks, free-flying tropical birds, and more.
Coastal Adventures and Ocean Activities
Surfing in Tofino
Surfing in Tofino isn’t really about becoming a surfer; it’s all about the experience. Being out in the water with the mountains behind you and the Pacific in front of you is what makes it memorable.
The best beaches for surfing are Cox Beach and Chesterman Beach in Tofino, and Long Beach in Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. Beginner-friendly lessons are available. The Tofino Tourist Office claims it is the surfing capital of Canada.
Kayaking and Paddleboarding
There are many areas for kayaking and paddleboarding along the shores of Vancouver Island with scenic paddling, opportunities to see wildlife, and calm inlets.
Victoria – harbour kayaking, where there may be some view of sea lions during your paddle. There is also the opportunity to go paddleboarding in the Inner Harbour.
Thetis Lake – located near Victoria, the Thetis Lake Stand Up Paddle Boarding on the serene waters with Paddle Canada certified guides.
Ucluelet – there is a 3-hour Ucluelet Harbour kayak and a longer 7-hour Coastal Waters Kayaking Tour where you paddle through the harbour and out into Barkley Sound, with the chance to view Sea lion colonies, black bears, seals, and whales.
Tofino – has something a bit different with a Floating Sauna Experience with Coastal Boat Ride. Also includes use of kayaks and paddleboards.
Broken Islands – an 8-hour Broken Islands paddle also from Uclulet by kayak to this section of Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, where there is a great chance of seeing wildlife.
Campbell River – During this Kayaking and Whale Watching Tour, you will spend half the day kayaking in areas known to have wildlife, including humpback whales, orca, dolphins, seals, bears, and other wildlife.
Telegraph Cove – a bit of a drive to the North End of Vancouver Island, but there are so many Outdoor Adventures here, it is worth it. One is the Telegraph Cove Kayaking Tour.
Boat Tours and Coastal Cruises
While whale-watching is the most popular Vancouver Island cruise, there are other options for the scenery, wildlife, or fishing.
Victoria – from nearby Sooke, a 4-Hour Sailing Adventure on The Strait of Juan de Fuca or a full-day Private Captain’s Tour Southern Gulf Islands departing from near Victoria Airport.
Campbell River – guided fishing charters are available for different lengths of time, and they will take you to the best spots.
Hiking and Nature Experiences
Walk Through Old-Growth Forests
Nanaimo – the Vancouver Island Multi-Cave Experience starts at Horne Lake Caves Provincial Park, located north of Nanaimo, and does involve hiking through the forest to get to the cave entrance. During this 3-hour tour, see an underground waterfall and walk through tight passages, steep ramps, and short climbs.
Another tour from Nanaimo includes Cathedral Grove, Waterfalls & Animal Sanctuary.
Old-Growth Rainforest – Cathedral Grove and nearby Little Qualicum Falls are home to some of the tallest and oldest trees on the island. Departing from Victoria, the Waterfalls, Coombs, and Cathedral Grove Rainforest Tour visits these areas and other areas to view the island’s nature.
Insider Tip: It is a longer drive from Victoria, but you can go to Cathedral Grove and nearby Little Qualicum Falls on your own; both are located along Highway 4 and offer trails through the rainforest, waterfalls, picnic tables, and scenic vistas.
Coastal Hiking in and near Pacific Rim
Ucluelet – The Wild Pacific Trail is a free and community-run trail with lots of parking along a wild section of coast. They offer free guided tours. Besides walking to the lighthouse during my visit, seals could be seen on shore.
Tofino – The Tonquin Trail is a pleasant walk to a cove on the edge of town. During my visit, there were many local residents walking the route, but it is an easy walk.
Pacific Rim National Park Reserve – There are approximately 22 km of beaches and 12 km of trails through the rainforest for walking in the Long Beach section of the park. I also noticed people walking along the 25-kilometer cycling path, which starts in Tofino.
The 75-km West Coast Trail is for experienced hikers only and requires permits and a lot of planning.
Scenic Viewpoints and Short Hikes
Besides the Cathedral Grove area, there are lots of shorter hiking opportunities that make for great stops, particularly if on a road trip.
Sooke – take a walk in Juan de Fuca Provincial Park to visit Jurassic Grove.
Port Alberni – there is a trail to the eastern end of Sproat Lake, which is home to one of the finest panels of prehistoric petroglyphs in British Columbia. Combine this stop with nearby Cathedral Grove.
Nanaimo – Englishman River Falls Provincial Park is located just north and features hiking trails that meander through the forest and along the river to two waterfalls.
Campbell River – Elk Falls Provincial Park is located on the edge of town, and most people just walk to the suspension bridge and viewing platform. The park also has several longer hiking trails.
Cycling
In the Victoria area, besides the 5-km route around the Inner Harbour, other popular cycling routes for visitors include the Galloping Goose to Sooke, going through forests and over rail trestles, and the coastal Lochside, which goes to the ferry terminal. The Victoria Tourist Office Cycling Map.
In Tofino, there is a Bike & Hike Coastal Adventure, which is perfect for families.
Scenic Drives and Road Trip Adventures
Vancouver Island Road Trip
From Victoria, take a Scenic Panorama Seaplane Tour and enjoy stunning views of the coastline, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, the Olympic Peninsula, and downtown Inner Harbour.
Many of the above activities are included in my one-week Vancouver Island Road Trip, which includes Victoria, Tofino, Ucluelet, Cathedral Grove, Campbell River, and Nanaimo.
Best Outdoor Adventures by Season
Spring: lots of wildlife activity and fewer crowds, so greater accommodation and restaurant availability.
Summer: while it has the best weather, it is peak season, and I sometimes had issues finding accommodation, and in Tofino & Victoria, finding restaurants was an issue. Book in advance.
Fall: fewer crowds and the weather is still good, a great time for a visit.
Winter: Some of these tours will not be operating, and in Victoria, there are still limited whale-watching cruises, along with birding and wildlife itineraries. For some, there is storm watching in Tofino. Vancouver Island has a milder climate than the rest of Canada.
Tips for Planning Outdoor Adventures on Vancouver Island
Book tours early: the more popular tours sell out during the June to October period, so book early. Both my Grizzly Bear Tour and Victoria Whale Watching were full, and people ended up booking alternate activities or dates.
Victoria: If you are using Victoria as a base, there are many exciting tours from Victoria you can take right from there.
Ferry Crossing: If arriving from Vancouver as I did, book the morning ferry to Victoria so you can include afternoon activities. Or book from Horseshoe Bay to Nanaimo for the same reason. The BC Ferries do sell out, so book in advance.
Pack in layers: Even in the summer, pack a hat, gloves, and a jacket, as it can be much cooler on the water, especially if sitting on the top deck, like I was on the Grizzly Bear tour cruise. And do not forget the sunscreen.
Check the weather: you get all sorts of weather on Vancouver Island. In Tofino, I experienced a foggy morning, so sightseeing was limited. Also, it can rain a lot, although my September weather was perfect.
Plan driving time: with all the stops, it can sometimes take longer than you plan. Highway 4 heading to Tofino can be slow, busy, winding, and hilly, so do not expect to make good time. On the coastal road to Campbell River, traffic was delayed as some deer seemed to think they owned the road. You can include many of these activities in a one-week road trip around the island.
Final Thoughts
The Best Outdoor Adventures on Vancouver Island are going to include seeing wildlife, activities on the water, hiking, and much more, but that is why I went there anyway. With the variety of available activities, it was one of my best road trips ever.
I would like to encourage planning ahead, as everyone is going there for the same reason and things do get booked up.
