Vancouver Island
A Travel Photographer’s Guide
Last updated: May 26th, 2024
Overview
When I first visited Vancouver Island back in 2018, I had an immediate gut reaction that it was a place for me. Barely off the plane, I knew deep down that I could see myself living in a place like this someday. Three years later, I’d find myself living just south in nearby Seattle and I can safely say that moving to the Pacific Northwest was one of the best decisions of my life. I’ve been back on another two dedicated photography trips to Vancouver Island since then as well, so while I’m absolutely no expert on the region (I’ll link to a few good resources below), I’ve seen enough to comfortably make some recommendations on where to visit and photograph.
This is a travel photographer’s guide to Vancouver Island in British Columbia (on Canada’s West Coast). It is—and will always be—a work in progress, updated as I continue to explore and photograph the region.
Highlights
If it’s your first time on the island, I’d say you should definitely make it over to the Tofino/Ucluelet area. It has a unique feel compared to other places in the Pacific Northwest and there’s so much to see and photograph in such a small area. I could easily spend a week exploring that little peninsula and not get bored. However you arrive (likely by plane or ferry in Victoria or Nanaimo), you’ll have a bit of a drive to get there, so it makes sense to make a road trip out of it. Some other favorite places to add on: Telegraph Cove for whale watching, Victoria for architecture, and Port Renfrew for old growth forest and rocky coastlines. I always end up finding a lot of interesting photographs along the backroads just about anywhere on the island too.
When to Visit
I’ve been to Vancouver Island three times and each during Spring (March, April, and May). From my experiences, Spring has been a fantastic time to visit. I hope to visit again in the fall someday soon. Summer would also be amazing if you want to see orcas up north or hike deep into Strathcona Provincial Park, but it’ll be more crowded and expensive. If you come in winter, expect a lot of rain (and make sure you have snow tires, as many of the roads require them through March.
Drones
I don’t do a lot of drone photography these days, so I’m not 100% confident in the drone laws, but I found this website to be a good resource for Canada. Of note, non-Canadians will have to use a micro drone, like the DJI Mini 4 or similar, since we’re not able to go through the licensing process: https://www.colinsa.ca/blog/where-you-can-fly-a-micro-drone-in-canada#micro-operations=
Leave No Trace
Hey, let’s leave these places as good or better than we found them. Always good to have a quick refresher on the 7 Leave No Trace principles: https://lnt.org/why/7-principles/
Resources
Gemma and JR at Off Track Travel are experts on Vancouver Island and have a lot of travel tips and resources available on their blog: https://offtracktravel.ca/
Adam Gibbs has some world-class landscape photos from Vancouver Island and shares behind the scenes of some of his trips on his YouTube channel: https://adamgibbs.com/
LOCATIONS
Generally, these locations are listed from south to north. You’ll likely start your trip from Victoria or Nanaimo and any of these locations can be easily reached within a day’s drive (usually less) from either location.
Victoria
From the limited time I’ve spent in Victoria, I’d say that while it probably isn’t a world-class city for travel photography, there are definitely some good spots that’ll likely lead to some nice images. First and foremost is the Inner Harbour. There, you’ll find the Fairmont Empress Hotel, the British Columbia Parliament Building, and some nice waterfront scenes. I also love walking along the water on the southeast side of the city, along Dallas Road and Beach Drive. Lots of little parks and public shore access points there. Might also want to check out Butchart Gardens and Fisherman’s Wharf. Somewhat close by is Goldstream Provincial Park, which looks lovely, but I haven’t personally been yet.
Sooke to Port Renfrew
This is a really great stretch of coastline that’s easy to combine with a trip to Victoria. Some highlights along the way: East Sooke Regional Park, Sheringham Point Lighthouse, Sandcut Beach, Mystic Beach, and Sombrio Beach. Once you’re in the Port Renfrew area, there are a few more beaches worth checking out (Botanical Beach, especially), as well as some fantastic examples of old growth forest. For those, the Ancient Forest Alliance will be a good resource. And the Fairy Lake Bonsai Tree is always worth a quick stop as well. It’s an absolute classic Vancouver Island image.
Englishmen River Falls Park
It’s been a while since I’ve visited this park, but I remember really enjoying it on my first trip back in 2018. The main waterfall is just outstanding, plunging deep into a rock crevasse. I stumbled upon a couple hooligans jumping off a bridge into the river below, which, while certainly against the rules, made for some interesting photos. Definitely worth a stop on the way to or from Tofino.
Little Qualicum Falls Provincial Park
Also near Parksville and Nanaimo, this provincial park holds a special place in my heart. For some reason, it feels particularly Pacific Northwest-esque, with waterfalls, nice fern-filled forests, and mossy trails to wander.
Cathedral Grove
Cathedral Grove is a very popular spot on the way to the Tofino area. Similar to the Hall of Mosses Trail in Washington’s Olympic National Park, it’s a great example of old growth rainforest, but also a great example of overtourism. Depending on the time of year/week/day you visit, you might not find any parking at all. If you do, it’s worth a stop for some photos of the forest and rather picturesque paths. If there’s no parking on your way to Tofino, consider trying again on your way back. Or, if you have time, there are plenty of other good old growth forest scenes to check out that’ll be a little less crowded (perhaps in the Port Renfrew area).
Tofino and Ucluelet
Ahh Tofino, one of my favorite places in the world. It’s definitely a popular spot to visit, especially for surfers, but I do think it’s worth the potential crowds. Go during the week and/or during the shoulder seasons for cheaper prices and fewer people. Ucluelet is usually quite a bit cheaper and just 30 minutes or so south (it’s where I usually stay) and a really great spot itself. Ucluelet has rocky coastlines, Tofino has more sandy beaches, and there’s a bit of both in the stretch of coastline in between. It’s hard to go wrong here, but a few suggestions: Wild Pacific Trail (rocky coastline and a small lighthouse in Ucluelet), Cox Beach (great landscapes and lots of opportunities to photograph the surfers), Cox Bay Lookout Trail, Chesterman Beach, and Rainforest Trail. If you’re not already doing a whale watching tour in Telegraph Cove, I’d highly, highly recommend spending some money for one (and/or a bear tour) here. I went with West Coast Aquatic Safaris and had a great experience (and they seem to be an ethical operator in that space, from what I can tell).
Also, I’m not usually much of a foodie when I travel for photography, but there are some fantastic options in this area. Tacofino is very (very!) popular, but extremely delicious (there’ll be a wait, so plan accordingly. It’s worth it, but try to go during the week for a shorter wait). The best poke I’ve ever had was at the under-the-radar West Coast Shapes Surf Rentals and Ukee Poke. Also in Ucluelet, The Break Cafe & Bistro blew my socks off. I had a fantastic dinner at Roar (in a hotel near Tofino). There are dozens more restaurants (and hikes) still on my list to try, so I’ll be back to Tofino again very soon.
Elk Falls Provincial Park
If you’re exploring up around the north half of the island, this is worth a quick stop. A massive waterfall, viewed from a hanging suspension bridge—hard to go wrong.
Lupin Falls
Lupin Falls was a really nice surprise. A short hike through the forest along the shore of Buttle Lake, this (plus Myra Falls) is worth a detour from Campbell River if you’re up on the north half of the island and have a few hours to spare. For another adventurous side trip, check out Get West Adventure Cruises, a scenic boat tour on a working cargo ship that leaves from the end of the road just past the tiny town of Gold River. The timing didn’t work out with my trip, but it’s on the list for future visits.
Myra Falls
Another picturesque, but very different, waterfall along the shores of Buttle Lake. Just a short hike, but all of the elevation is on the way back up, so be prepared to sweat if the sun’s out! Also in the area, lots of big hikes deep into the mountains of Strathcona Provincial Park, but it was still far too snowy up there when I visited in May.
Little Huson Caves Regional Park
This is a fantastic stop on the way to or from Telegraph Cove, Port McNeil, and/or Port Hardy. A somewhat rough, but short, dirt road (most cars can make it, just go slowly) takes you to a quick hike through the forest to a natural bridge with a river flowing through it. I’ve seen some amazing photos from deeper into the cave from Adam Gibbs, but the water was too high for me to go very far in. Another one to revisit on future trips.
Telegraph Cove
I’ve done three whale-watching boat tours now, all in Canada, and the most recent one out of Telegraph Cove was the best. It’s a picturesque (albeit quite touristy) village right on the water, but it’s also one of the best spots in the world to see orcas. Late July through early September is typically the best time to go to see the large population of northern resident orcas. That said, I happened to be there on the first tour of the season and we had a fantastically lucky trip, seeing two large orcas (Bigg’s killer whales), three humpback whales (including a calf), sea otters, seals, and dozens of bald eagles. The landscapes seen from the boat are a cherry on top.
Miscellaneous
One of my favorite things about a Vancouver Island photography road trip is bopping down random side roads and seeing what catches my eye. I’ve been down most of the main paved routes on the island now and always seem to find interesting scenes to shoot. So, grab a car, check the air in the spare tire, and get wandering.
