Why Price Island Belongs on Your British Columbia Itinerary
Price Island sits off the central coast of British Columbia, surrounded by the rich waters of Milbanke Sound and the Hecate Strait. Its rugged shoreline, old-growth Sitka spruce, and lack of roads or settlements deliver the kind of quiet immersion that draws sea kayakers, wildlife photographers, and sailors seeking true remoteness.
How to Reach Price Island
Most visitors arrive by boat or floatplane from Bella Bella (Waglisla) on Campbell Island or from the more distant hub of Campbell River on Vancouver Island. Scheduled flights and water taxis serve Bella Bella; from there, charter operators or private vessels cover the remaining distance across Fitz Hugh Sound and Milbanke Sound. Kayakers often launch from the protected coves near Shearwater and paddle the exposed but rewarding crossing, watching for orcas and humpbacks along the way.
Best Time to Visit
July through early September offers the most reliable weather windows, with longer daylight and calmer seas. Spring and fall can be dramatic but bring higher winds and rain; winter travel is mainly for experienced expedition paddlers or commercial fishers.
Things to See and Do
The island’s beaches and headlands provide excellent vantage points for marine-mammal watching. Humpback whales feed in the adjacent channels, while Steller sea lions haul out on offshore rocks. On land, short hikes through mossy forest lead to small lakes and salmon streams that attract grizzly and black bears in late summer. Anglers cast for salmon and halibut from anchored boats, and photographers capture dramatic sunsets over the open Pacific horizon.
- Sea kayaking circumnavigation: a multi-day route hugging the shoreline with campsites on gravel beaches.
- Wildlife viewing from anchored vessels or shore blinds, especially at dawn and dusk.
- Forest walks on game trails that connect sheltered bays.
- Stargazing far from light pollution on clear summer nights.
Nearby Destinations Worth Combining
Just north, the waters around Ivory Island and the Hakai Lúxvbálís Conservancy offer additional sheltered paddling and abundant intertidal life. Southward, the fjords of Rivers Inlet provide dramatic mountain backdrops and more bear-viewing opportunities. Many travelers combine Price Island with a stop in the community of Bella Bella for cultural insights and resupply.
