Comox Valley, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada

As you drive the Island Highway (Highway 19), it's always a treat to look across the Strait of Georgia at landmarks on the mainland and the spires of the Coast Mountains that rise on the eastern horizon.

As you head up island towards the Comox Valley and Campbell River, the peaks and glaciers of Vancouver Island's ranges that rise in the west now vie for your attention, principally the imposing Comox Glacier, Forbidden Plateau, and Mount Washington.

Take your time as you meander through this laid-back region. Its rhythms are subtle, but with gentle probing they reveal themselves, showing greater complexity than first meets the eye. This is a serenely rural part of the journey up island, as the highway winds past well-kept farms. Flowers abound in the gardens that front many of the homes along the way. Streams, little rivers and mightier rivers such as the Puntledge and the Campbell empty into the Strait of Georgia.

From the highway you catch glimpses of quiet green forest settings on the banks that line each river's course. Come late summer, these streams teem with spawning salmon.

The name Comox is derived from the Kwakwala Indian word Komuckway, meaning Place of Plenty, a reference to the abundant game and berries in the Comox Valley. European settlers adapted the name to Komoux, then finally to Comox. Rich in natural beauty, with a superb climate, Comox Valley now offers a unique blend of recreational experiences, from warm sandy beaches through rich, rolling farmlands to the alpine playground of Mt. Washington and the Forbidden Plateau.

With year-round recreational activities like skiing, swimming and golfing, and all amenities close by, Comox Valley certainly lives up to its name, billing itself as the Recreational Capital of Canada! Where else could you dive in the morning, play a round of golf before lunch and ski in the afternoon - all amid such breathtaking surroundings?

The Comox Valley's central location on Vancouver Island makes it the perfect launching point for day trips to nearby communities and attractions. Explore alpine meadows or mysterious caves, experience the picturesque charm of island life, visit the magnificent orcas in their natural habitat, or spend the day touring a historic townsite - all of these adventures and more, are just a short drive away!

The valley cradles the friendly seaside communities of Fanny Bay, Buckley Bay, Union Bay, Royston and Saratoga Beach, and Denman and Hornby Island in the Gulf Islands chain. The larger towns of Cumberland, Courtenay and Comox service the valley, which incorporates the outlying rural communities of Merville and Black Creek - all surrounded by a beautiful valley and the largest glacier on Vancouver Island.

Population: 60,000

Location: The Comox Valley is a 2.5 hour (220 km/137 mile) drive north from Victoria or a 75-minute (107 km/66 mile) drive from Nanaimo, where the ferry terminals of Departure Bay and Duke Point are located. Drive Highway 19, the new inland, four-lane expressway. From Highway 19 take Exit 101, 117, 127, 130 or 144 to access various points in the Comox Valley. Visitors can also take the scenic Oceanside Route on the old Island Highway 19A.

BC Ferries operates a route between Comox and Powell River on the British Columbia mainland. The Comox Valley Regional Airport is served by three major airlines, with daily flights between Vancouver and Comox and direct flights from Calgary. Small aircraft and floatplanes land at the Courtenay Airpark near downtown Courtenay. Daily coach lines connect all parts of Vancouver Island with the Mainland, and local bus service is also available in Courtenay, Comox and Cumberland. Those travelling by boat will find a full range of facilities including moorage, showers, restaurants and shops adjacent to the Comox Marina.

View maps of the area:
Map of Courtenay/Comox
Map of Central Vancouver Island

Hop aboard the Southern Railway of VancouverIsland train, formerly the E & N Railiner, from Nanaimo or Victoria for the gloriously scenic train ride to Courtenay in the Comox Valley.

Tla wa sints guy u las Totem Pole at Filberg Lodge
In the background is the Comox Glacier

The historic Filberg Lodge on Comox Harbour will captivate you with its beautifully landscaped waterfront gardens, charming Herb Gardens, and the Tla wa sints guy a las Totem Pole.
Filberg Lodge hosts the annual Filberg Festival in summer, when hundreds of British Columbia's best artists and performers display their artwork and demonstrate their crafts.

The Comox Valley Heritage Experience is a group of self-tours that take visitors on a journey through the stunning landscape and intriguing history of the Comox Valley. Visitors can choose between four heritage walking tours and one driving tour. From booming coal mining towns, rural seaside farms and bustling harbours to early mountaineers exploring the deepest and highest reaches of Strathcona Provincial Park, the Comox Valley Heritage Experience offers a glimpse into the rich social, cultural, natural and industrial history of the Valley. Pick up your brochure at the Comox Valley and Cumberland Visitor Centres or local museums.

The Comox Air Force Museum focuses on the history of aviation, with permanent exhibits reflecting the heritage, customs and traditions of Canada's Air Force. Several historic aircraft are preserved at the museum's Heritage Air Park, including the recently restored H-21 Piasecki Flying Banana.

Comox is home to four marinas, which hold over 500 pleasure boats and a commercial fishing fleet. The marinas are protected by a rock breakwater. The breakwater is in turn protected by Goose Spit, which extends out into Comox Harbour, providing one of the safest year-round harbours on Vancouver Island. Comox Harbour is a great launching spot for some of the best salmon fishing in the world. The Comox Marina offers a boat launch located right next to Marina Park, with plenty of parking, washroom facilities and a play area for children.

Summer westerly winds and the predominantly sheltered waters of the Strait of Georgia provide ideal conditions for boating and sailing. Local businesses offer a range of charter and tours services to fulfill your vacation dreams!

Ferry sailings from the Little River Ferry Terminal in Comox link central Vancouver Island with Powell River on the northern Sunshine Coast.

Some of the best saltwater fishing on the island, particularly for salmon, can be found in the waters of the Strait of Georgia north of the Puntledge River Estuary between Courtenay and Comox, and off of Cape Lazo, King Coho, and Bates Beach. The valley's lakes and rivers are also superb flyfishing waters.

The protected, nutrient rich waters off the east coast of Vancouver Island provide an astonishingly rich display of underwater life - scuba divers won't be disappointed!

Golf: Tee off on your choice of 6 year-round golf courses and 3 seasonal courses: Comox Golf Club, Crown Isle Golf Resort, Glacier Greens Golf Course, Longlands Par 3 Golf Course, Mulligans Golf Centre, Pacific Playgrounds Golf Course, and Sunnydale Golf Club. Golf Vacations on Vancouver Island.

The Comox Valley comes alive in winter with world-class skiing in the Mount Washington Ski Area, located 19 miles (31 km) west of Hwy 19 at Courtenay. Mount Washington (elevation 5,216 feet/1590 m) has long been known for having good snow conditions from early in winter to well past Easter.
Mountain Washington offers scenic chairlift rides during the summer. From here you'll get breathtaking panoramic views of the Comox Glacier, Mt. Albert Edward and the Strait of Georgia. Other summer activities on the mountain include hiking, mountain biking, disc golf, bungee trampoline and mini golf.