Nitinat Lake is a fjord-lake that is long, narrow, and strongly salt-stratified. It is connected to the ocean by a 3 km (1.8 miles) long natural shallow channel, limiting the exchange between the 203 m (666 ft.) deep lake and the Pacific Ocean. Including the sill in the total length, the length to width ratio is approximately 19:1, close to the 20:1 average for transverse fjord in British Columbia.
Nitinat is unique, for saying the least. It's beyond your expectations. It is its own isolated, kiteboarding heaven, where kite hipsters, kite pros, kite schools, windsurfers, the local people, and tourists accompany in organic harmony.
Nitinat Lake is large and strongly salt-stratified, located between Bamfield and Port Renfrew on the southwest of Vancouver Island. The southern point of the lake ends in Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. Nitinat Lake has been classified as a saltwater [tidal] loch or inlet. Nitinat seawater flows over a shallow sill twice daily into the twenty-three-kilometre lagoon. The mean breadth of Nitinat Lake is slightly more than a kilometre (0.6 miles) wide and 200 meters (656 ft) deep at the midway.
Get away from daily routines and have an excellent time with your family in a houseboat as you cruise the cool and clean water of Nitinat Lake, just southwestern Vancouver Island. Get rocked to sleep at night and wake up to the sound of waves gently lapping against the side of your vessel. Explore freshwater coves, inlets, and more to have the time of your life, or focus on relaxation.
The excellent news for cave exploring enthusiasts is that near the north end of Nitinat Lake, you can find Nitinat Caves. You can explore the beauty of the underground world, also known as Looper Creek Canyon.
From Victoria:
Getting to Nitinat Lake from Victoria is via Trans-Canada Hwy/BC-1 N. This route is 171 km (106.2 miles) and takes about 2 hours and 49 minutes.
Take Trans-Canada Hwy/BC-1 N, Cowichan Valley Hwy/BC-18 W and Youbou Rd to N Shore Rd in Cowichan Valley I for 125 km (77.6 miles). Continue on N Shore Rd to your destination in Cowichan Valley F. After 45.6 km (28.3 miles), you will reach Nitinat Lake.
From Nanaimo:
The fastest route to get to Nitinat Lake from Nanaimo is via Trans-Canada Hwy/BC-1 S. It is 152 km (94.4 miles) and takes about 2 hours and 24 minutes.
Take Trans-Canada Hwy/BC-1 S, Cowichan Valley Hwy/BC-18 W and Youbou Rd to N Shore Rd in Cowichan Valley I for 106 km (65.8 miles). Continue on N Shore Rd to your destination in Cowichan Valley F. After 45.6 km (28.3), you will reach Nitinat Lake.
There is no designated hiking trail to get to Nitinat Lake. Nitinat River Provincial Park at the northeast of Nitinat Lake has opportunities for wilderness hiking and camping in the forest of Douglas fir and Western hemlock.
The name of Nitinat Lake drives from the tribe of Nitinaht (Ditidaht). They were controlling over a vast area from the Jordan River to Pachena Point that Nitinat Lake was included. According to an ethnologist, the Nitinaht people held five bands. In the mid-twentieth century, the Carmanah Band near Carmanah Point and the Clo-oose Band on the Cheewhat River were joined into the Nitinaht tribe by the government order. In the 1890s, for the Nitinaht, the people of Carmanah Point and the Cheewhat River were set aside.
From ancient times, the Nitinaht tribe knows as warriors, fishers, and whalers. They also were using canoes daily.
In the late eighteenth, when European people came to the West Coast for the first time, the Nitinaht people seized several fishing stations on Nitinat Lake and the river. Stations were placed on Cowichan Lake and at "Quitz' of the Cowichan River. At this time, their principal village was at Whyac, an Indian word signifying "a level place above the rocks" or "lookout point." Whyac was a fortified encampment of a cliff viewing the dangerous passage for entering Nitinat Lake.
Same as other West Coast tribes in aboriginal times, during the year, the Nitinahts moved from encampment to encampment, following the hunting and fishing seasons. Whales, salmon, and halibut were among the aquatic food on which these people depended.
Taking a sauna on the beach, which is built by locals every year, is fascinating. After the sauna, take a swim in the lake and check out the lake's phosphorescence; they make your body glow.
Carmanah Walbran Provincial Park was created to protect the ancient and massive trees of old-growth forests in this region. It is where some of the most towering spruce trees exist, including the Carmanah Giant at 95 meters (311.5 ft).
In the case you find the local fishermen in the village, you can get some Dungeness crab and salmon.
Nitinat Windfest in mid-August is likely BC's biggest and best kite and windsurfs extravaganza, party, and competition that lasts all weekend.
On the beach, participate in the local jam nights by the nightly bonfire.
One of the most spectacular and remote kayaking and canoeing routes on Vancouver Island is the Nitinat Triangle. It is located west of Nitinat Lake in Pacific Rim National Park. It takes 38 km (23.6 miles) and four to five days to complete, with only 18 km (11 miles) on the water.
Your fishing experience will be magnificent on the Nitinat River and Nitinat Lake.
There are two swimming holes at the Nitinat River. One of them is Red Rock, which is about 6 km (3.7 miles) from Nitinat Lake. The other water hole is The Bridge. Both of them are close to a fish hatchery, the Nitinat River Hatchery. Take a tour through the hatchery.
Let's get lost in the west coast nature and find ourselves beside a lake following the smell of the Pacific Ocean. Nitinat Lake is beyond your expectations, kiteboarding heaven and a windsurfers' choice. Cruise the cool and clean water and explore freshwater coves and inlets. Get more of your visit with Nitinat Caves and the underground world of Looper Creek Canyon.
Let's explore the second-largest lake on Vancouver Island. Cowichan Lake is the major recreational place in the Cowichan region and famous for paddling. It has some of the best hiking trails, several campsites, and chances for water-based activities. Get ready for this new experience, and we will strive to assist you in making your visit the best it can be.
.webp)
Adjacent to Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, Bamfield is a favourable destination for whale watching in the Port Alberni area. To make the most out of your journey in Bamfield, you can do salmon fishing around the coast and enjoy the outstanding birdlife living there.
Nitinat Triangle provides an excellent opportunity for those fearless paddlers that lets them set their adventure-thirsty souls on fire. Schedule your trip to Nitinat Triangle when you have 4 or 5 days free. The triangle features campsite facilities and magnetic vies of the land.
If you want to make every moment on Vancouver Island worthwhile, remember to plan for a kayaking adventure on the waters next to Pacheedaht Beach. The San Juan River Estuary Ecological Reserve is the habitat for a variety of wildlife worthy of visiting. In addition to paddling, visitors can enjoy themselves doing other outdoor activities in the region.
Make the best of your journey on Vancouver Island by camping in one of the possibly best campgrounds on the southwest of Vancouver Island. Pachena Bay Campground offers a quiet private campsite for those who want to get away from the bustle in towns. Not to mention the beautiful, clean, and sandy beach in which you are provided with every possible fun opportunity.
All Five senses come together to give the possibility to experience the endless adventure in the Nitinat Lake area. As one of the destinations for consistent winds, Nitinat Lake is a popular place for windsurfing. This lake with long, narrow, and strongly salt-stratified water offers you the best opportunities to fulfil your desires for adventure, kiteboarding in particular.
Bamfield is a small fishing and harbour village best known for its magnificent salmon fishing adventures. It offers a wide green area and jungles to hike and enjoy the wildlife. For the tens of kilometres, you have shorelines, amazing islands, and beautiful beaches. It is principally a tourist destination for the West Coast Trail, ocean kayaking, or sport fishing.
The Somerset Range is a chain of small low mountains. The highest peak is Hobiton Ridge. Have a perfect time hiking through the packed trees covering the hills with ponds and tars dotting the area. Up at the peak, the vista of trees and valley overlooking the water and awe-inspiring view of surrounding mountains lying through the gorgeous forest garnished by colourful birds.
Sarita Falls is one of the pieces of music repeatedly playing by the earth. This beautiful set of falls is placed along the Sarita River in a rainforest space with fresh air, making a stunning atmosphere. There is a sign for the place, a white tree trunk that has fallen on the river, which can complete the picture. The area is also rich in wildlife, so get the most out of your visit.
Caves teach us to face our fears. They are signs of history and are full of secrets. Nitinat Caves are a series of small and not very deep caves between Bamfield and Port Renfrew. It needs a sharp eye to find the entrance along the river. Water flows in them, and they lead you to a canyon with gem green water perfect for swimming. The caves offer you beauty and great scenes.
The Seymour Range is a small mountain range that comprises the hills and mountains between the San Juan River and the valley of Lake Cowichan. High quality of hiking up at the peaks, is the surrounding mountains and scenery of valleys and hills covered with lush forest. Experience an enriching journey in the nearby Carmanah Walbran Provincial Park and Cowichan Lake.
The Pelham Range is a paradise for mountaineers seeking an isolated area and seclusion. They can spend some days camping in peace on lakes or through the wilderness or paddling and fishing a whole day in the calm waters with a pleasant ambiance. Climbing the mountains would be fascinating, passing through hills covered with beautiful trees.
Pacific Rim National Park Reserve is a national park famous for its old-growth rainforest, spectacular coastal scenery and long sandy beaches. Hiking through the lush temperate forests, walking along the expansive soft-sand beaches, kayaking among small islands and hidden bays, discovering wildlife and whales, and surfing the Pacific Ocean waves are the best things to do in the park.
Let's get lost in the west coast nature and find ourselves beside a lake following the smell of the Pacific Ocean. Nitinat Lake is beyond your expectations, kiteboarding heaven and a windsurfers' choice. Cruise the cool and clean water and explore freshwater coves and inlets. Get more of your visit with Nitinat Caves and the underground world of Looper Creek Canyon.
Let's explore the second-largest lake on Vancouver Island. Cowichan Lake is the major recreational place in the Cowichan region and famous for paddling. It has some of the best hiking trails, several campsites, and chances for water-based activities. Get ready for this new experience, and we will strive to assist you in making your visit the best it can be.