Welcome to Beautiful Campbell River, the Salmon Capital of the World, Your Adventure Playground!

Here are some well known facts about our beautiful city.

  • Located on the 50th Parallel on the East Coast of mid-Vancouver Island facing the beautiful sheltered waters of Discovery Passage. Because of it's geographical location and it's accessibility, Campbell River is a major regional market.
  • Our town has 22.5 km of waterfront property, raising the quality of life here. Many active retirees call this town their home.
  • Campbell River is nestled between the Vancouver Island Mountain Range to the west, the Beauford Range to the south and the intricate maze of islands in the Discovery Passage to the east. Behind those islands, to the north and east, you can see the Coastal Mountain Range of mainland British Columbia. The natural beauty of this region is mesmerizing.
  • What makes us especially unique is that the huge waterways of the Pacific North-West region are all funneled into the Discovery Passage, which is less than a mile wide at some points. Both marine animals and traffic have to pass through this area during each tide cycle, making our waters some of the most productive in the world.
  • Population: Approx. 31, 000 and growing
  • Major Industries: tourism, mining (zinc, copper, lead, gold, silver and coal), aquaculture, commercial fishing, forestry, cruise ship port
  • Future Economic Prospects: off-shore gas and oil, and alternative hydro-electric generation.
  • Our name-sake river, the Campbell River, has been designated a British Columbia heritage river. It is the birth river of thousands and thousands of salmon and very much a part of the ebb and flow of life in our town for centuries.
  • The First Nations people honor salmon, "K'u ta' la", for it's spiritual significance and is honored through ceremony and art. Their rich heritage is evident all throughout our town.
  • The region got it's first international sport fishing acclaim in 1896 when Sir Richard Musgrave wrote about catching a 70 pound (31 kilograms) at the mouth of the Campbell River in a magazine called "The Field". Campbell River has flourished as a sport fishing destination since and is known world-wide as "The Salmon Capital of the World". In recent years, our slogan has been changed to "The Salmon Capital of the World, Your Adventure Playground!" to reflect all the adventure opportunities of the area.
  • Legend has it that the salmon would run so thick that you could walk on water.
  • A Tyee is a Chinook (also known as a Spring or King) over 30 pounds (13 kilograms) in weight.
  • The Tyee Club, started in 1925, was formed to honor the majestic salmon and to protect the integrity of the sport. The only way to become a member is to fish your way in. You must catch a Tyee, using the club's traditional methods while being rowed in a row boat in the Tyee Pool at the mouth of the Campbell River.
  • Alaska bound cruise ships pass by Campbell River as they sail the sheltered waters of the Inside Passage. They are a spectacular site at night.
  • In 1958, the biggest man-made, non-nuclear explosion took place in the Seymour Narrows waterway in Campbell River, as Ripple Rock, a dangerous pair of twin peaks, were destroyed. Ripple Rock was a navigational hazard to boats, claiming more than a hundred vessels and lives.
  • We are blessed with mild temperatures and friendly people who take great pride in their city.

Campbell River Lodge extends to you a warm, west coast welcome to our wonderful city. We know you will enjoy your stay with us.

Some Helpful Links

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Metric Conversions Current Weather Conditions in Campbell River

 

Comments:

"Awesome trip, our guide Ron had us in salmon every day. We caught Spring, Coho (all released), Chum, Sockeye and Pinks. Thirteen in total with the largest being a 26lb spring. We had a wonderful time and we will be back again. Thanks for the great experience."
- Lyle Furber, Seal West Resources Ltd.

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