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Picturesque Tahsis Inlet, North Vancouver Island

The unspoiled coastal village of Tahsis is situated at the head of Tahsis Inlet, a deep fjord on the wild west coast of Vancouver Island that cuts northwards off Nootka Sound.

Tahsis offers access to numerous wilderness hiking trails, and some of the best ocean kayaking on the west coast of Vancouver Island. The area is known for offering world-class sportfishing as massive runs of salmon migrate down the west of British Columbia to their spawning grounds in coastal streams and rivers.

The picturesque and versatile west coast village offers a wide range of accommodation, a full-service marina and a safe, friendly small town atmosphere that boasts a fascinating blend of history lessons and outdoor adventures. Some of the most rugged and breathtaking scenery in Canada is located right on the doorstep of Tahsis, spawning a growing tourism industry that promises to make a significant contribution to the local economy, alongside fishing and forestry.

Except for the fur trade, this part of British Columbia remained unchanged until the early 1900s, when logging was introduced. This forestry community started as a floating logging camp in the 1940s, which later became a permanent on-shore camp. In the 1950s Tahsis expanded, and a bustling village took shape. The road from Tahsis to Gold River was opened to the public in 1972, attracting new families.

Wildlife abounded in the area back then, as it still does now, including black bear, wolves, cougars, Roosevelt elk and coastal black-tailed deer. Visitors marvel at the sea lions and whales that are common in the waters of Nootka Sound, and sea otters can also be seen. The area also supports one of the largest bald eagle populations in North America.

Tahsis takes its name from a Mowachaht word, Tashees, meaning "gateway or passage". The Mowachahts, whose winter home was here, used the valleys of the Tahsis and Nimpkish Rivers as their route for trade with aboriginal people on the east coast of Vancouver Island. The area has been home to First Nations people for over 6,000 years. In 1778, just 19 sea miles south of Tahsis at Friendly Cove, Captain James Cook landed on the coast of British Columbia to initiate the first contact between Europeans and the aboriginal people, and claim the area for King George III of England. Fourteen years later, Captain George Vancouver of England and Governor Bodega Y Quadra of Spain met at Tahsis with the Mowachaht Chief, Maquinna, to settle the international dispute over ownership of the Pacific Coast from Alaska to California.

Population: 562

Location: Tahsis is located 40 miles (63.5 km) northwest of Gold River, and can be reached by water, road and air. From the Pacific Ocean, you can reach the village of Tahsis by way of Nootka Sound into Tahsis Inlet. To reach Tahsis by road from the Island Highway 19, travel west on Highway 28 at Campbell River, through Strathcona Provincial Park to Gold River.

From Gold River, follow the signs for approximately 40 miles (64 km) to the northwest on a gravel road through beautiful mountain passes to Tahsis. You will be driving on active logging roads, some stretches of which have steep grades of up to 14%, so caution is required. By air, there are regularly scheduled float plane services from Gold River, a charter service out of Campbell River, and a helipad near the head of Tahsis Inlet.

View maps of the area:
Map of North Vancouver Island
Map of Brooks Peninsula/Tahsis

• Wildlife is abundant around Tahsis

  The Tahsis Recreation Centre offers facilities for swimming and bowling, a weight room and gym, a kids' centre, and a Surf Den that enables residents and visitors to connect to the world via the internet. Planning an Event in Tahsis? The community centre also provides facilities for all occasions, from formal weddings to afternoon birthday parties. Recreational activities can also be booked for the gymnasium.

• Recreation Sites: West Bay Park, located adjacent to the seashore south of town, has two beautiful hiking trails and six campsites. The Leiner River Recreation Site is a small 8-unit treed site along the Leiner River east of town. The day-use Malaspina Lake Recreation Site, southeast of Tahsis on the Head Bay Forest Service Road, has a short trail leading to sandy point on the south side of Malaspina Lake.

• Westview Marina in Tahsis is the centre of activity at the head of Tahsis Inlet, with a friendly staff always ready to help and provide moorage to boaters cruising the endless waterways on the island's west coast. The Annual Westview Marina Fishing Derby takes place the 3rd weekend of August with anglers competiting for thousands of dollars in prizes. Past winners have hauled in Chinook salmon that tipped the scales at over 40lbs.

• Take part in June's Great Walk, an incredible 40 miles (63.5 km) from Gold River to Tahsis - easily North America's toughest walkathon! The pledge trek along the Head Bay Service Road linking the two communities is sponsored by the Tahsis Lions Club, and attracts about 1,100 participants to this beautiful and remote part of Vancouver Island. The 2002 walk marked the 25th anniversary of the Great Walk, which is held in early June each year.

• Explore the outside waters aboard the M.V. Uchuck III, a former World War II minesweeper that makes a weekly two-day round-trip voyage from Gold River to Tahsis and the fishing hamlet of Kyuquot in Kyuquot Sound. Visitors are able to experience this westcoast wilderness at its best. Shorter day trips aboard the Uchuck III include the Tahsis Day Trip, which departs every Tuesday year-round. This trip will take you through Nootka Sound to Tahsis (about five hours one way), with stops as required to deliver passengers and cargo at logging camps and settlements. A one-hour stop in Tahsis allows enough time for a walking tour of the village.

• Community Events are held in Tahsis throughout the summer - check with the Visitor Info Centre for more information.

• Take a floatplane sightseeing tour of the Rugged Mountain Glacier and crystal clear secluded mountain lakes. Visit remote beaches, escape to a remote fishing camp, or take a seaplane charter to Hot Springs Cove on the west coast of Vancouver Island, where you can relax in the natural rock pools.

• The Village of Tahsis operates a fish hatchery in Tahsis, with plans to rear steelhead for release into nearby rivers. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans operates the Conuma Hatchery on the Conuma River, about 20 miles (32 km) southeast of Tahsis. The hatchery is open daily from 8 am to 4 pm, with the best salmon viewing from late September through October. Chinook salmon spawn in late September, and coho and chum in October and November. Stop at the Conuma River estuary viewpoint en route, located 2.4 km from the hatchery towards Tahsis.

• The rugged and remote Esperanza Inlet, Nuchatlitz Inlet and Nootka Sound region on the west coast of Vancouver Island is rich in native culture and history, being the traditional territory of the Nuu-chah-nulth First Nation. Like much of the wilderness in the North Island region, access to Esperanza and Nuchatlitz Inlets is by floatplane, or by boat from the nearest towns of Tahsis and Zeballos. These exciting journeys present unparalleled views of the rugged and remote wilderness beauty that is the west coast of beautiful Vancouver Island.

• Caving near Tahsis, North Vancouver Island

  Caving: Some of this landscape's mysteries lie tucked away inside the vaulted domes of underground caverns. Join a guided expedition through some of the most amazing caves on Vancouver Island, from popular caves to unexplored and perhaps even undiscovered caves! Coral Cave is a medium/difficult cave located above Tahsis, accessible by a short hike to the large cave entrance.

  Designated a Wildlife Habitat area to protect rare bats, the Weymer Caves are rather extensive, and explorers should be accompanied by an experienced guide. On the road between Gold River and Tahsis are the Upana Caves.

• Fishing: Some of the best saltwater fishing in the world is available in local waters, including Nuchatlitz Inlet, Esperanza Inlet, and Nootka Sound. These waters are surrounded by steep fjord-like inlets that provide miles upon miles of totally protected waters for fishing enjoyment. Anglers can also venture out to the Pacific Ocean on the west side of Nootka Island.

  Fishing is excellent for salmon, halibut, flounder, rockfish (rock cod, red snapper), and ling cod. Crabs, prawns, shrimp, oysters and clams are also readily available. Oysters are available in many areas, including the Tsowwin River delta, and prawns are common throughout the northern part of Tahsis Inlet. Charter operators are available, or you can rent a boat to fish and explore the beautiful scenery on your own.

  The fishing season ranges from late May to late August. Spring salmon are caught from August, winter springs in late March, and Halibut most months other than December (common in the Nuchatlitz area). Various fishing derbys are held throughout the year. There is plenty of fising for freshwater anglers too, as many of the mountain lakes in the area abound with trout.

• Hiking: Hike along miles of unspoiled surf-washed ocean beaches or rugged mountain peaks and ridges in untamed wilderness.

• Sea Kayaking adventures guarantee paddling at its best; isolated and remote coastline, beautiful campsites, magnificent sunsets, and an abundance of wildlife. Kayakers wishing to explore the remote waterways and inlets can book space for themselves and their kayak aboard the MV Uchuck 111. The vessel will unload kayakers in remote areas with arrangements made for a scheduled pick up.

• Other watersports in the Tahsis area include scuba diving, wind surfing, sailing, canoeing and sea kayaking. Starting in May the resident Six Gill Sharks and their inquisitive juveniles are seen regularly in 30 feet of water. This dive site is reached conveniently from shore. A 5-minute boat ride in the protected Tahsis Inlet takes you to your next dive, where you will find very rare huge gorgonian coral fans.

• Rugged Mountain Glacier offers excellent heli-skiing and heli-snowboarding, and Rugged Mountain itself offers great hiking and a challenging climb. Other mountain climbing spots are Malaspina Peak (1,579 m/5,179 ft), a multi-summit rock peak 7 miles (11 km) southeast of Tahsis, and east of Tahsis are Mt. Alava (1,550 m/5,084 ft) and Mt Bate (1,680 m/5,500 ft).

• Garden Point Recreation site on the northern shoreline of Nootka Island offers a gently sloping beach, groves of old growth trees, and great mountain views across Esperanza Inlet. Camping is also possible at Belmont Beach and on the many tiny islands in the area - those that are not off limits as Native reserves.

• Golf: Golfers can head to the Golf River Golf & Country Club to enjoy the wildlife, the mountainous terrain, and the sparkling Gold River when playing the 9-hole golf course. The community-built golf course in nearby Gold River is very challenging to both the novice and experienced golfer. Golf Vacations on Vancouver Island.

• Weymer Creek Provincial Park, located southeast of Tahsis, is one of several parks in northern Vancouver Island that protect undisturbed karst features not protected elsewhere in Canada. There are no facilities in the undeveloped 307-hectare park.

• Nuchatlitz Provincial Marine Park is located on the western tip of Nootka Island, between Nuchatlitz and Esperanza inlets. A great diversity of flora and fauna is protected within an extensive range of terrestrial, intertidal and marine environments. Nuchatlitz is an excellent place to study intertidal life, as many tide pools can be found throughout the maze of islets and reefs that make up the park.

• Gold River is the nearest community to Tahsis. Carved from wilderness in the 1960s, the resource-based community of Gold River is located 40 miles (63.5 km) southeast of Tahsis. Travellers arriving by road will pass through Gold River en route to Tahsis.

• Tahsis is the gateway to many wilderness fishing and outdoor adventure areas on the west coast of Vancouver Island, including Nootka Sound, Nootka Island, Yuquot (Friendly Cove), Nuchatlitz Inlet, Esperanza Inlet, and Port Eliza Inlet.