Vancouver Island is one of the most unique places in British Columbia, Canada. With stunning natural beauty, gorgeous seaside towns and some of the friendliest people you’ll ever meet, it’s no wonder that Vancouver Island is one of the most visited places in the world! If you’re looking for an authentic west-coast experience with wild natural beauty in a laid-back seaside town, you’ll want to book your stay in one of the EMR rentals in the Comox Valley!
Where is the Comox Valley?
On the ancestral land of the K’ómoks First Nation, the Comox Valley includes the little village of Cumberland, the city of Courtenay and town of Comox and is overlooked by the stunning Comox Glacier. Located in Central Vancouver Island on the east coast of Vancouver Island, the Comox Valley offers world-class, year-round recreation, unmatched natural beauty and is really the perfect place to unplug and unwind.
How to Get There
By Ferry
From Metro Vancouver:
Horseshoe Bay to Nanaimo – this is the most direct route to take if you’re travelling to Comox from Metro Vancouver. The ferries that travel this route are drive-on passenger ferries just be sure to book ahead for your passage!
From the Sunshine Coast:
Powell River to Comox – if you’re coming from the Sunshine Coast, you’re in luck! You can board a ferry that takes you directly to Comox!
By Air
Comox Valley Airport (YQQ): One of Vancouver Island’s premier airports, the Comox Valley Airport offers nonstop flights to Comox from Calgary, Toronto and other major Canadian cities with Air Canada, Pacific Coastal Airlines and WestJet.
By Car
From Victoria: if you’re travelling from Victoria to the Comox Valley, this three hour trip couldn’t be easier (or prettier!). Click here for detailed driving instructions!
From Nanaimo: This trip is just over an hour and is a lovely drive along the coast! For detailed driving directions from Nanaimo to Comox, click here.
Parks in the Comox Valley
Goose Spit Park
60 Hawkins Rd, Comox, BC V9M 3W7 | 250-339-2421
This park at the southern end of the Comox Peninsula is a unique, flexible sand spit that defines one side of the Comox Harbour. If you’re an avid birdwatcher, Goose Spit Park creates a sheltered lagoon that provides food and habitat for many migratory and resident marine birds. With excellent views to the south, east and west, this is a lovely and unique park to visit for an afternoon walk, or picnic!
Marina Park
127 Port Augusta St, Comox, BC V9M 3N8 | 250-339-2202
Located right in the heart of Comox, this park is a favourite with the community as it is the site of the annual Nautical Days festival, offers a splash park and playground for kids, covered picnic areas, boardwalk, a boat launch, as well as washroom and change room facilities. This park is where you can find several operators that offer rentals, eco-tours as well as fishing and sailing charters!
Puntledge Park
401 Willemar Ave, Courtenay, BC V9N 3L3 | 250-334-4495
This stunning riverside park is a popular place for the locals to enjoy year-round. With a clear river to swim in in the summer, playground and large greenspace as well as beautiful trails to enjoy no matter the weather, this is a great place for the whole family to stretch their legs!
Seal Bay Nature Park
Bates Rd, Courtenay, BC V9J 1X4 | 250-334-6000
If you’re looking for a park that offers gorgeous forested hiking and mountain biking trails, a beautiful beach, is wheelchair accessible and dog friendly, this is the place! Seal Bay is a large park (about half the size of Stanley Park in Vancouver) where you can stroll or ride through the dense second growth forest, spend sunny days exploring the beach and watching for seals! Each trail is clearly marked for use so please be cautious!
Comox Lake Bluffs
On the edge of Comox Lake there are some of the best hiking trails that you can find in the area. With stunning native plant species to discover and gorgeous vistas from atop the bluffs, this hike is a must if you want to really soak up the natural beauty of the area.
Forbidden Plateau
Located in Strathcona Provincial Park, Forbidden Plateau is one of the most popular places for anyone looking for challenging hiking and mountain biking trails. With breathtakingly rugged landscapes, this is a must for adventurers looking for longer, challenging outdoor adventures!
Miracle Beach Provincial Park
1720 Miracle Beach Dr, Black Creek, BC V9J 1J5 | 250-337-8020
This beach and campground is a favourite with families all over Vancouver Island! In the summer this beach is filled with people enjoying the sunshine and warm, shallow water but it’s a great spot year-round. In the cooler weather, the beach is less populated but provides visitors with a beautiful oceanfront walk – a great way to get some exercise and fresh ocean air!
Cultural Attractions in the Comox Valley
Comox Air Force Museum
Military Row, Lazo, BC V0R 2K0 | 250-339-8162
Founded in 1982, the Comox Air Force Museum (CAFM) and Heritage Park was created to commemorate the role and importance of the Canadian Forces Base Comox (also known as 19 Wing). Originally created as a Royal Air Force (RAF) base in 1942, this base has an interesting history that has been documented by the CAFM. If you’re a history buff and like aviation history, this is a must-see!
Filberg Heritage Lodge and Park
61 Filberg Rd, Comox, BC V9M 2S7 | 250-339-2715
Once the home of logging magnate Robert Filberg, the large 1930s Arts and Crafts style home and extensive grounds today are a municipal heritage site. Open year-round, this park and heritage site offer visitors the opportunity to wander through cultivated gardens, and is a popular venue for events such as the annual Filberg Festival.
Anderton Gardens
2012 Anderton Rd, Comox, BC V9M 4B1 | 250-702-4186
Since its opening in 1998, the Gardens on Anderton have provided visitors with an idyllic setting where you can take a moment to breathe and enjoy the beauty of nature. Designed by Bill and Joy Georgeson as a therapeutic garden where people could come to enhance their wellbeing, the gardens have become just that – a place where painters, yoga practitioners, photographers, families and so many others come to find a little slice of heaven in Comox.
Totem Design House
3250 Comox Rd, Courtenay, BC V9N 3P8 | 250-941-4422
If you’re interested in learning more about the Comox Valley First Nations and purchasing some authentic art, Totem Design House is a must. Dedicated to disseminating cultural knowledge through the products that they carry and sell, this gallery is a culturally conscious, eco friendly social enterprise that is worth supporting. Want to know more about the K’ómoks and Kwakwaka’wakw people? Have a look at the Kumugwe Cultural Society website!
Recreation in the Comox Valley
Comox Valley Marina
1805 Beaufort Ave, Comox, BC V9M 1R9 | 250-339-2930
Located in the Comox Harbour, the Comox Marina is one of the best places to go if you want to get out on the water. Whether you’re renting kayaks, paddleboards or motor boats, want to get up close and personal with marine animals, looking for a great fishing charter or want to sail over the waves, the Comox Marina is where you’ll find it all!
Crown Isle Resort and Golf Community
399 Clubhouse Dr, Courtenay, BC V9N 9G3 | 250-703-5000
The award-winning, platinum-rated golf course at Crown Isle is the perfect course for all levels! This dynamically designed par 72, 18-hole course is fun to play and comes with stunning views of the Comox glacier and Beaufort mountain range. Plus you can work on your game at the driving range, chipping and putting greens, and practice bunkers. There’s no doubt, if you’re looking for the best golfing in the Comox Valley, this is it!
Mount Washington
Mt. Washington, 1 Strathcona Pkwy, Comox-Strathcona C, BC V9J 1L0 | 250-338-1386
Mt. Washington is the premiere alpine resort on Vancouver Island. This year-round recreation destination is the perfect place for both winter and summer alpine recreation. In the winter, visitors can enjoy accessing vertical runs for downhill skiing and snowboarding, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing trails along with a dedicated Nordic lodge, Tube Park and Fat Bike trails! In the summer, you’ll find incredible hiking, mountain biking and zip lining!
Day Trips from the Comox Valley
Visit Gulf Islands
The Gulf Islands are known for their laid back lifestyle and for having a preponderance of artists who live and work on these unique and varied Islands. When you’re in Comox, there are a few Gulf Islands that are a perfect day trip distance for you to explore!
Texada Island – take the BC Ferry to Powell River and then a ferry to Blubber Bay on the north end of Texada
Denman Island – From Buckley Bay, take a very short ferry to Denman Island where you can find hidden coves and artists galore.
Hornby Island – with secret beaches of white sand, Hornby Island is a tiny little jewel in the Strait. You can get there only from a ferry on the other side of Denman Island.
Campbell River
Just 45 minutes north of the Comox Valley is Campbell River, the epicentre of sport fishing and eco tourism on Vancouver Island. With a vibrant First Nations community and an interesting pioneering history, Campbell River is worth the trip, especially if you’re an angler!
Victoria
Three hours south of the Comox Valley at the very southern tip of Vancouver Island sits the capital city of British Columbia, Victoria BC. This stunning, heritage city has an incredible European vibe with interesting historical sites and attractions as well as incredible shopping, dining, a vibrant arts scene, and so much more.
Nanaimo
Known as the Harbour City, Nanaimo has been one of the most important ports on Vancouver Island since its founding. Just a hour and a half south of Comox, this city offers visitors a beautiful waterfront walkway, endless outdoor recreation, shopping dining, brewpubs and cultural centres. So if you’re looking for a great day trip from the Comox Valley, Nanaimo is a great option!
Whether you’re here for exciting outdoor adventures, to unwind in nature or to explore the culture, the Comox Valley is an ideal place to stay on Vancouver Island!
