You’ll find resources on marine wildlife, local trails and recreation, amenities, food and fuel options and learn some local history about Yorke Island and Kelsey Bay.
Recent funding is helping to preserve and enhance our visitor centre – learn more about the Kelsey Bay Wharf restoration here.
Run by the Sayward Futures Society, this local non-profit organization is dedicated to the sustainable operation of the Kelsey Bay Wharf as well as other community initiatives.
“I am incredibly grateful to the Province of British Columbia for recognizing the importance of this critical infrastructure and for the investment BC made through a grant as part of the Rural Economic Diversification and Infrastructure Program. This allows critical restorative work to take place that would have otherwise been unachievable.”
Jason Johnson, Chair of the Sayward Futures Society.
“The Kelsey Bay Wharf is an incredible part of our history and our future. It is infrastructure for enhanced commercial activity and marine traffic, a place for visitors to learn more about our area and the north Vancouver Island, and a place to enjoy breathtaking scenery and wildlife and learn about our story of how Sayward and Kelsey Bay came to be.”
Jason Johnson, Chair of the Sayward Futures Society.
Our Visitor Centre is at the end of the road but it’s the start of the next phase of your adventure! Whether it’s on foot, in a boat or with two or four wheels, add your name to our guest book before you launch. Our Centre is located right on the wharf and parking for cars and RVs is available close by. Details on parking are here.
Sayward is accessed by Highway 19, the main highway serving the East Coast of Vancouver Island from Victoria to Port Hardy. Turning east on Sayward Road, you’ll travel to the end of the road, where you’ll find the beautiful Kelsey Bay Wharf. The road is fully paved.
Travelling by car, the route from Campbell River to Kelsey Bay is approximately one hour. Two and a half hours if you’re driving from Nanaimo.
Our friendly locals are a part of the Sayward Visitor Centre! Our Staff and Volunteers can help you explore our beautiful area and learn more of our history. Along with that, you’ll find beverages and snacks, as well as work from local and Vancouver Island artists.
Begin at sea level with a view of Kelsey Bay from the wharf. Listen and watch for wildlife in the water and the air! The wharf overlooks the mouth of the Xwésam (Salmon) Estuary and a view of Mount H’Kusum. You’ll have ample opportunity to see several species of marine life, birds and wild life. Find out more about the local wildlife here.
The Sayward Visitor Centre is the perfect place to find your ground as you explore the unique ecosystems that make up our community.
For all of our friendly fishers, come down and cast right off the wharf. If you didn’t bring your own, you can rent equipment next door.
This significant historic site has been designated and protected by B.C Parks for its role in National defense prior to, and during World War II and is not currently open to visitors. There is unsafe access to the island and the original structures have become dangerous.
Hənʎəmdᶻi Məkola/ Yorke Island Conservancy is located in the traditional territories of the Homalco, K’omoks, We Wai Kai, and We Wai Kum Nations.
You can spot this island from the Kelsey Bay Wharf. The conservancy was created in 2007 and covers 39 hectares. Learn more about the military history from the Vancouver Gunners.
You can explore the many wilderness trails, including the famous trails on the H’Kusum Mountain or visit ‘The Cathedral Grove of the North’ – White River Provincial Park. At the White River Provincial Park, you can still find remnants of a movie made here in the 1990s. The Scarlet Letter, featuring Demi Moore, was filmed here, and the wide boardwalks that were designed and used to film scenes with horse-drawn carriages remain.
Explore the deep woods and find one of Vancouver Island’s largest Yellow Cedar trees in the Memekay River Valley.
At the Visitor Centre, you can find details about local trails in a specially designed locals’ resource section.
We are usually open from the long weekend in May to Labour Day Long weekend in September. Please check our Facebook page for updates and details.
In 2026, our opening hours are:
Renovations to the Wharf will begin after Sept 8th 2026.
There are public bathrooms at both the Kelsey Bay Small Craft Harbour next door, as well as at the Village of Sayward Campground on the way in, however there is no public bathroom on the wharf.
Yes, you’ll find helpful volunteers and staff, often who are local residents!
Cars are welcome to park in the gravel lot right at the end of the road, where the Kelsey Bay Wharf begins. Additional parking is available for RV’s, along the road as you approach the Kelsey Bay Wharf, before the marina.
Yes, we welcome furry and friendly visitors all the time. Your animals must be on leash and under supervision at all times. Please don’t tie them up to anything outside, you are welcome to bring them into the Visitor Centre.
Yes, we offer a water cooler in the Visitor Centre, free of charge.
Yes, we offer free wifi– just check inside the Visitor Centre for the information and password. Cell phone signal can be unpredictable in our area depending on your service provider.
We have a variety of games, such as cribbage as well as colouring pages and crayons/markers for children and adults. Take advantage of the stocked books and resources about our surroundings while you enjoy the spectacular views of the Johnstone Strait.
While we are mobility friendly, it is important to note that the parking area is gravel and the wharf has a wood surface and is subject to ever changing weather conditions.
You can get both freshwater and saltwater licenses online from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. Note! It’s important to also get your salmon sticker, if you’re planning on fishing for salmon.
You are required to have a copy of your license on you while fishing, or have it loaded on the mobile app.
Children fishing off the wharf should be wearing life jackets for their safety.
Learn more about Fishing Licenses.
We often see the pinks come into the wharf in early spring, and we have seen some beautiful salmon caught right in front of the Visitor Centre, and there’s often locals who are happy to share tips!
All five Pacific salmon species, along with steelhead and blue-listed cutthroat trout pass through the Xwésam (Salmon) Estuary and depend on the Xwésam (Salmon) River. We encourage you to follow our social media to get fishing updates.
The Visitor Centre overlooks the Kelsey Bay located in the Johnstone Strait, along the inside passage of Vancouver Island. It is part of The Whale Trail.
Watch out for orcas, grey whales and humpbacks swimming by the wharf. Can you spot the difference between the porpoise and the dolphins? You can’t miss the sea lions, seals and otters.
While we can’t promise that you’ll spot wildlife we do have an abundance of eagles, deer, Roosevelt elk as well as black bear and some grizzly bears, in our region. We encourage you to always give wildlife a respectful distance and to be bear aware.
Learn how to be Bear Aware from the Wildwise Society.
