Explore Nootka

09/04/2026

Good news for those hoping to get to Yuquot (Friendly Cove) this September!

September 12th was originally scheduled to be our final trip of the season, but we’ve just confirmed two additional Saturday sailings:

• September 19th
• September 26th

That means two more opportunities to make the trip out to Yuquot (Friendly Cove) before the season wraps up.

We’d love to have you aboard! To reserve your spot, get in touch with Julie at [email protected] or 250-283-2515.

Sea you soon! 🌊

09/01/2026

As the pace of summer slows, we invite you to slow down too. 🌊

September brings quieter trails, fewer crowds and beautiful coastal light. From the forests and mountains around Gold River and Tahsis to the shores of Yuquot, there’s room to slow down and reconnect with nature 🌲

Closer than you think, the Nootka region is an easy escape from the crowds and a chance to experience Vancouver Island at a slower pace.

Come explore the Nootka region this September. 🍂

✨ Stay tuned… an exciting new dine & stay package is coming soon!!!

📷 Jodie Gallant Photography | Vancouver Island (West Coast) Taylor Burk


📍Gold River • Tahsis • Yuquot • Strathcona Provincial Park

We acknowledge the Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation, stewards of these lands and waters since time immemorial, on whose territory we gather and visit. Guided by hišukʔiš c̓awaak (hee-shook-ish tsa-walk), meaning everything is connected, may we move through this place with respect, care, and presence. 🌿

09/01/2026

🌊 Still time to sign up! Six days of wild West Coast adventure on the Nootka Trail. Guided, remote, and unforgettable.

Join Island Alpine Guides and Explore Nootka | West Coast Vancouver Island for a unique guided journey through the rugged west coast of Nootka Island, led by certified guides and featuring a territory welcome ceremony, a cultural tour of Yuquot, water taxi access and more. 🌲🌊

📅 September 11–16, 2026
🥾 For experienced backpackers
✨ Only a few spots remain, and there’s still time to sign up!

👉 Reserve your spot:
hikevancouverisland.com/trips/1662

08/31/2026

08/29/2026

🥾 Planning to hike the Nootka Trail this September?

We will be offering a water taxi service to from Gold River to Yuquot (Friendly Cove) throughout September, giving hikers a convenient way to reach the starting point of their Nootka Trail adventure. 🌊🌲

🚤 Wednesdays & Saturdays throughout September
📍 Gold River → Yuquot
📍 Yuquot → Gold River
📌 Reservations are required

Book your water taxi:
➡️ https://explorenootka.com/play/

🥾🌊 Plan your trip. Book your boat. Hike the Nootka Trail.

08/28/2026

Summer may be winding down, but adventure in the Nootka region isn’t. 🌲🌊

Watch for wildlife. Follow forest trails. Chase waterfalls. Paddle remote waters. And as the seasons begin to change, watch for the return of the salmon.

Whether you’re heading into the mountains, out on the water or exploring somewhere new, there’s always another adventure waiting on Vancouver Island’s wild west coast.

Prefer to explore with a local guide? Guided experiences are also available, offering another way to discover the landscapes, stories and places that make this region so special.

Where will you go first?

🌲 Find more ways to explore and discover guided experiences:
https://explorenootka.com/play/

📸 &

08/24/2026

08/24/2026

Another little Uchuck update!

We’re still waiting to be able to give you the update we know everyone is waiting for, but we are getting closer!

If you have a reservation coming up, please keep a close eye on your email. Our reservations superstar, Julie, will be in touch as soon as we know more about upcoming sailings.

We know it’s been a long summer without the Uchuck, and we can’t thank everyone enough for being so patient with us. We’re just as ready as you are to see her coming around the corner and back home in Gold River.

We hope to SEA you soon!

08/23/2026

Paddle into the wild at Santiago Creek. 🛶🌲

Located along Tahsis Inlet in the traditional territory of the Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation, Santiago Creek Recreation Site is an important stopping point for paddlers travelling the inside waters around Nootka Island.

The site recently received some major improvements thanks to BC Marine Trails volunteers, with permission and support from the Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation and Recreation Sites and Trails BC. Work included removing hazardous trees, creating three additional tent sites, installing a new yellow cedar picnic table and bear-resistant food cache, repairing the pit toilet, clearing overgrown vegetation and adding new signage and a visitor logbook.

For paddlers setting out from Tahsis, Santiago Creek offers a remote place to stop and camp along Tahsis Inlet before continuing farther into Nootka Sound.

🗺️ Explore Santiago Creek and other coastal recreation sites on the BC Marine Trails map:
https://www.bcmarinetrails.org/map/

Explore Nootka