GETTING HERE

The quaint seaside town of Bamfield is uniquely composed of a “west side” and “east side” separated by an inlet of water; the “west side”, where the Bamfield Lodge is located, is only accessible by boat. When arriving by car or bus, you will need to get a ride across from the east side government dock to the Bamfield Lodge dock on the westside. There are two water taxis in town which can be used for this quick trip across.

 

  • The journey by car is an adventure and we promise you that getting here is half the fun!

    There are plenty of spots to stop along the way where you can have a West Coast lunch, buy some local goods, or take in the beautiful scenery.

    From Victoria (Approx. 4.5 Hrs)

    1. Head North on Trans-Canada Highway, BC-1 N (~1.5 hours)

    2. Follow signs to Port Alberni via BC-19-N towards Parksville/Campbell River and BC-4 towards Port Alberni (~1 hour)

    3. Follow signs for Bamfield (~0.5 hours)

    4. Continue on the Bamfield Main logging road, following the power lines all the way until you reach our town (~1.5 hours)

    5. When you arrive at the stop sign in Bamfield, take a left turn and head down to the east side dock where you can unload your gear and get a ride over to the lodge on the west side.

    From Nanaimo (Approx. 3 Hrs)

    1. Head north on BC-1 N and BC-19 N; follow signs to Port Alberni via BC-4 towards Port Alberni (~1 hour)

    2. Follow signs for Bamfield (~0.5 hours)

    3. Continue on the Bamfield Main logging road, following the power lines all the way until you reach our town (~1.5 hours)

    4. When you arrive at the stop sign in Bamfield, take a left turn and head down to the east side dock where you can unload your gear and get a ride over to the lodge on the west side.

    On the West Coast Trail Express

    If you would prefer to take a back seat and just enjoy the ride, the West Coast Trail Express is a great option. The bus offers scheduled trips from Nanaimo and Victoria to Bamfield. There is more information available on their website.

  • The Francis Barkley

    Lady Rose Marine Services offers transport to Bamfield aboard their vessel, the Francis Barkley. This service is an integral part of the Bamfield community, offering commercial transport as well as passenger transport for tourists and locals, alike. Regular scheduled trips (~3 days per week) run from Port Alberni to Bamfield year-around.

    While this trip takes approximately 4 – 4.5 hours from Port Alberni to Bamfield, it is a great option for anyone wanting to forgo the gravel road, and we promise you will enjoy a unique journey and beautiful scenery along the way. If you choose this option, make sure that you disembark the vessel on the west side of Bamfield, where you will be a short 10 minute walk along the boardwalk to the Bamfield Lodge.

    On your personal boat

    Many of our guests bring their own fishing boats with them to enjoy throughout their stay. If you’re up for the adventure, you can bring your boat along the outside of the Island from Victoria/Sooke. You may also opt to trailer your boat to Port Alberni and bring it down the Alberni inlet, and through Barkley Sound. When you enter the Bamfield Inlet, the Bamfield Lodge will be near the end of the inlet on your right side, just before the Bamfield Harbour Authority Dock. We offer moorage at the Bamfield Lodge; please contact us for more information and to ensure we have availability. It is approximately 1 hour by boat from Port Alberni.

  • Several small independent airlines offer scheduled and chartered flights to Bamfield. We recommend this approach if you are looking for a quick travel option or you want to see Bamfield and Barkley Sound from another perspective.

    Coril Air is a local Vancouver Island owned and operated float plane company offering this service; please visit their website for more information.