![]() Along the way, the trail crosses exquisite beaches and tidal shelves, as well as leading inland to bypass rocky headlands and deep river mouths. Hiking: The Nootka Island Trail rambles between Louie Bay on the north side of Nootka Island and Yuquot (Friendly Cove) on the south. Expert guides know the area, the currents, the winds, and of course the best camping spots! ![]() Guided sea kayaking tours to historical Nootka Sound can be arranged from most centres on Vancouver Island. The waters are rich with wildlife, including gray whales and orca whales, sea otters, seals and sea lions, eagles, wolves, cougars, and bears. So many places in the sound can only be explored and truly appreciated by kayak small islands, sheltered coves, rocky coastlines, remote sandy beaches and dense rainforest. Kayaking: Nootka Sound is truly a paradise for paddlers. The Nootka Lighthouse, built in 1911, is one of the few remaining manned lighthouses on the coast of British Columbia. The Captain Cook Monument, a brass plaque set in concrete, is said to mark the exact location of the cannon at the old Spanish fort of San Miguel. The more strenuous section leads you through old-growth forest and up to Aa-aak-quaksius Lake. Visit the Yatz-mahs “walk around” trail that weaves through forests and along beaches toward the lagoon Tsa’tsil, “where the tide comes up and goes into the lagoon”. Those same qualities still draw visitors to this magical place today, as there is so much to see and experience. First Nations people came to magnificent Yuquot over 4,000 years ago, drawn by the rich sea life and natural resources, the mild climate, and the beautiful surroundings. Historical Friendly Cove was the site of the first contact between Europeans and First Nations people in British Columbia. Yuquot (Friendly Cove): Located in Nootka Sound is the birthplace of British Columbia the small community of Yuquot, also known as Friendly Cove. ![]() The Gold River Hwy 28 runs the width of central Vancouver Island, linking Campbell River on the east coast with Gold River and Nootka Sound on the rugged and windswept Pacific coast. From Gold River and Tahsis you can travel to points in Nootka Sound and neighbouring Kyuquot Sound to the north on the MV Uchuck lll, a converted minesweeper that carries passengers, freight and kayakers into the sound. Location: Nootka Sound is located on the west coast of North Vancouver Island, approximately 45 miles (70 km) north of Tofino. The orca loved to play around boats, and sadly this ultimately led to his death in March 2006, when Luna got too close to the propellers of a tug boat in Mooyah Bay, one of Luna’s favourite places in winter. Attempts to reunite Luna (L98) with his family were suspended, as the Mowachaht and Muchalaht First Nations believed Luna, or Tsuxit, embodied the spirit of Chief Ambrose Maquinna, who had died just days before the whale was first seen in the area. Nootka Sound and the community of Gold River received tremendous media coverage worldwide in July 2001 when Luna the Killer Whale became a media sensation when he turned up in Nootka Sound after being separated from his pod in Puget Sound in Washington. The Canadian government declared Friendly Cove a National Historic Site in 1923, with recognition of the significance of the First Nations history following in 1997. Yuquot, also known as Friendly Cove, was the summer home of Chief Maquinna and the Mowachaht/Muchalaht people for millennia, and retains historic significance today as the site of the first contact between Europeans and First Nations people in British Columbia.Ī Spanish trading post, Santa Cruz de Nutka, was maintained here between 17, with Nootka becoming an important focal point for English, Spanish and American traders and explorers. While anchoring in Resolution Cove on Bligh Island, across from Friendly Cove, the natives hollered “itchme nutka, itchme nutka”, meaning “go around” (to Yuquot), but Cook misinterpreted their calls, believing the name of the area to be Nootka. In March 1778, Captain James Cook of the Royal Navy became the first European to set foot on British Columbian soil when he visited Friendly Cove on Nootka Island. The mountains and islands of north and central Vancouver Island have a mysterious sense about them, as if they’re always trying to hide some secret, and you do have to travel farther afield here in order to penetrate its cloud-laced valleys, coastal rain forest, and the open ocean waters of its two sounds, Nootka Sound and Kyuquot Sound. Steeped in history and surrounded by the natural beauty of the west coast of Vancouver Island, Nootka Sound is a paradise for sport anglers and outdoor adventurers seeking to explore and enjoy the magnificent wilderness surroundings.
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