Whether you are arriving by road, boat, or air, we can help you plan your trip to Bamfield and Pachena Bay! Here are a few tips and resources for getting to the campground. Please note, there is a Gas Bar located at Ostrom’s, offering Gasoline and Diesel fuel Monday-Sunday.

By Road

The Pachena Bay Campground is approximately five kilometers (km) south of Bamfield, BC, on the Pacific Rim of Vancouver Island. We will use Bamfield as the destination as it is represented on the highway signs.

Just remember to there is a new entrance to Pachena Bay Campground and the turnoff is just before the Anacla Village sign. If you have any questions about how to get here, send us an email: Info@PachenaBayCampground.ca or give our campground staff a call at: 1-250-728-1287.

New Campground Entrance Road

Look for our new access road entrance sign as seen below. While using the new access road please exercise caution and as the new access road does narrowing.  The speed limit set for the new access road has been set to 10 km/hr.

From Victoria

Travel north on Highway 1 to Duncan (84 km). Continue north along Highway 1 about 5 km and you will come to a junction of Highway 1 and Highway 18. You can either continue on Highway 1 towards Nanaimo and then on to Port Alberni OR , you can turn left onto Highway 18 and travel west towards Youbou.

From Port Alberni

When entering Port Alberni, take the left fork at the tourism information centre following signs “to City Centre” and “Bamfield.” This is the Port Alberni Highway. Continue following signs to Bamfield through Port Alberni. The signs will eventually lead you to Franklin River Road,which is the start of approximately 83 km of chip- seal logging roads leading to Bamfield. Speed limit is 60 km and will take you at least 1 1/2 hour drive. Watch for logging trucks and eventually, the turnoff to Pachena Bay is located .

Youbou and Lake Cowichan

Turn left onto Highway 18 and continue until you reach Youbou (approximately 45km). From there continue on the following gravel logging roads to Bamfield: Nitinat Road to South Road (8 km); left onto Flora Main for 13 km; Central Main for 17 km; Right onto Klanawa Main,  Left at Between the Lakes and turn Left onto Bamfield Main Line and follow the signs to Bamfield. The roads are well kept and, other than the dust… the scenery is beautiful. Keep an eye out for logging trucks. Pull over onto the side of the road when you see one coming. The drive takes about 2 1/2 hours.

Even though the Youbou route is shorter, you will spend more time on gravel roads.

By Shuttle

West Coast Trail Express

West Coast Trail Express offers daily services to Bamfield and Pachena Bay from Victoria, with stops between Port Renfrew and the Juan de Fuca trail head. Call toll free: 1.888.999.2288.

By Boat

M.V. Frances Barkley

The MV Frances Barkley provides passenger and freight

service to communities along Alberni Inlet and Barkley Sound. All sailings leave Port Alberni at 8 am, sail down Alberni Inlet to Barkley Sound to Bamfield; or the Broken Group Islands and Ucluelet return to Port Alberni late afternoon.

The trip to Bamfield takes 4 1/2 hours, arriving at 12:30 pm. The boat departs again at 1:30 pm, arriving back in Port Alberni at 5:30 pm.

For information call 250.723.8313 or toll free, 1.800.663.7192.

By Air

Pacific Seaplanes

Pacific Seaplanes flies to Bamfield via Port Alberni, or the Vancouver International Airport (YVR). Please check schedules and availability.

Flight times depend on flight sizes, and range anywhere between 15 – 45 minutes. For more information, call toll free: 1 855-933-5922.