Tahsis

Heart of Nootka Sound

Nootka Sound is part of the traditional territory of the indigenous Nuu-chah-nulth people. They call it Mowichat. When James Cook first encountered the villagers at Yuquot in 1778, they directed him to nuutkaa (“to circle around”) with his ship to the harbour. Cook interpreted this as the native’s name for the inlet.

Tahsis is a tiny village of 300 permanent residents drawn from around the world. You will be ready for some solid ground, comforts and possibly even a stable bed after your voyage. Seafarers may moor at the Tahsis Government Dock; over-landers may launch there. The Village has a well-stocked general store, with adjoining Ocean View Restaurant offering a mix of West Coast and East India cuisine. Find accommodation in several guesthouses and B&Bs or pitch your RV at the Seaside RV and Campground Park.

Nootka Sound has not changed much since the Spanish had a fort here. The Sound is the heart of Vancouver Island’s outer shore and Tahsis is the heart of the Sound. Getting here by water from the south leads past indelible Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, endless Long Beach, welcoming outdoor adventure communities of Ucluelet and Tofino, and a broken coast that gets wilder and wilder. From the north you round Cape Scott and, except for a couple of outposts, it’s wilderness all the way to Nootka.

With wildness comes the opportunity to see Nature as it really is. The sea otter, once thought exterminated by the fur trade, is once again prolific. It is possible to see four different species of whales, two species of porpoises and one species of dolphin, depending on the month you are here, and seals and sea lions any time. As you would expect, fishing in Nootka Sound is legendary.

Don’t have a boat? No worries. Getting here by road is an adventure and well worth it. Kayak tours, diving tours and boat rentals are available at resorts shown on the map behind this pop-up.

How about surfing or windsurfing in a setting of spectacular beaches, waterfalls, and coastal mountains. Surfers are attracted by the wild Pacific waves off Nootka Island and Brooks Peninsula, a climatic pocket that produces waters of the same temperature as Northern California. Strong inflow and outflow winds create ideal conditions for windsurfers and kiteboarders in Tahsis Inlet. Strong tidal activity and diverse marine life create world-class scuba diving sites. Kayakers can enjoy the sheltered inlet waters, the rugged coastal scenery, and abundant ocean wildlife. Hikers will discover quiet trails and dramatic vistas, including along the internationally famous Nootka Trail. Climbers and cavers find the local areas of karst landscape and exposed rock offer some of Vancouver Island’s best caving, climbing, and bouldering.

Visit our tiny community in the heart of British Columbia’s wild, outer coast. We know your heart will be in it.