Wildlife Viewing in the Pacific Rim – Whales, Bears, Eagles and Salmon
While all across the nation Canada is abound with natural beauty and wildlife, the rugged Pacific Rim is considered by many to be the ultimate destination. Every summer thousands of visitors from around the world flock to the west coast of Vancouver Island to experience untouched coastline, close encounters with wildlife and world class fishing, and while most make it as far as the coastal towns of Tofino and Ucluelet, some venture even further to more remote destinations like Barkley Sound.
Eagle Nook Resort
Home to Humpback and Gray whales, Orcas, bald eagles, black bears and coastal wolves just to name a few, Barkley Sound is one of the best places in Canada to witness wildlife in their natural element. It’s not uncommon to spot black bears scavenging along the shoreline at low tide, or have a Humpback whale surface alongside your boat while you’re out fishing – in fact for locals and summer residents it’s considered the norm.
Barkley Sound is also where you’ll find the Broken Group Islands, a remote archipelago of islands that are world renowned for their kayaking and wildlife viewing opportunities. National Geographic has even listed kayaking in the Islands as one of their ‘Must Do Trips,’ calling the experience a “kayaker’s dream,” and one afternoon spent gliding through sheltered coves within an arm’s reach of colourful starfish, anemones and urchins is a clear indication of why.
And all this is without mentioning the world class salmon and halibut fishing that brings fishermen (and women) from across Canada, the United States and Europe to Barkley Sound every summer. From May until mid September, alarm clocks up and down the west coast are set bright and early for 5:00am to be out on the water for the morning bite. The thrill of landing your first Chinook salmon is second to none, and it’s what brings so many people back to the Sound year after year.
Salmon fishing in Barkley Sound at Eagle Nook Resort
There’s no better way to experience the west coast of Vancouver Island than from the water, and there’s no better hosts to experience it with than Eagle Nook Resort. Nestled deep in Barkley Sound within the shelter of Vernon Bay, Eagle Nook is where wilderness meets luxury, and it’s the ultimate place to make your home base while you spend your days exploring the rugged BC coast.
Offering fully customizable accommodation and activity packages, Eagle Nook has something for everyone, whether that be seeing wildlife up close and personal, experiencing the coast from the low profile of a kayak, landing a trophy salmon, or all three. With drive and fly in options available, it’s easier to get to than you’d think, and with all the comforts of home and more in one of the most remote and beautiful locales on the west coast, you’ll be glad you made the trip.
Whether it’s an annual retreat or a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, it’s sure to be an unforgettable experience with Eagle Nook Resort in Barkley Sound.
