Gold River is in Central Vancouver Island, close to its geographic centre. The village has a picturesque setting, and has developed tourism and sport fishing as its main economic supports, as a base for such activities as the Nootka Island trek, hiking the Elk Lake trail, climbing Golden Hinde mountain (Vancouver Island's highest peak), Crest Creek climbing crags, and the Great Walk.

Understand

The Blossoming Boot by chainsaw carver Lee Yateman

Gold River developed in 1967 as a prototypical logging and pulp and paper industry community, and quickly sprang into prosperity and established excellent community facilities. Shifting world markets brought the mill closure in 1998, forcing many of Gold River's inhabitants to relocate.

Gold River also serves as a historic point, being the closest village to the famous Friendly Cove, where British explorer Captain James Cook first set ashore.

In 2001, a two-year-old male orca, later named Luna, was seen in Nootka Sound alone as far inland as the marina at Gold River. Presumed to be an orphan separated from his pod, Luna became a local and international celebrity by his playful and curious behavior with lumber tugboats and recreational watercraft on Nootka Sound, and with people, including young children, on the Gold River dock. The popularity of Luna made Gold River an international attraction from early 2002 through March 2006, when Luna was killed in an accidental collision with a tugboat propeller.

The city limits of Gold River include the inland town centre area and a port area, 13 km southwest of the town centre, at the eastern end of the 1 Muchalat Inlet , which is inlet is roughly 55 km long and up to 380 m deep, and serves as a staging area for log exports, fishing, a ferry, and seasonal tourism and sporting activities.

• 2 Gold River Tourist Infocentre, ☏ +1 250-283-2418. City government office. (updated May 2020)

Get in

Muchalat Inlet

By boat

• 1 Get West Adventure Cruises, toll-free: +1-877-824-8253, reservations@getwest.ca. Operates MV Uchuck III, which makes scheduled trips from June to September between Gold River and Yuquot (Friendly Cove). Travel time between Gold River and Yuquot is 2-2.5 hours each way. This boat operator also has scheduled trips to other destinations including some that operate throughout the year. (updated Apr 2023)
• Maxi's Water Taxi, ☏ +1 250-283-2282. Charters available year round. Water taxi service that does trips in the area including between Gold River and Yuquot. (updated May 2020)

By seaplane

• Air Nootka, ☏ +1 250-283-2255, info@airnootka.com. Operates sea planes out of Gold River, on scheduled scenic tours and charter flights. (updated Apr 2023)

By road

Gold River is the western terminus of Highway 28.

Get around

By car

Most visitors arrive by car as there is no public transit.

See

• 1 Golden Hinde (The Rooster's Comb), 30 km southeast. At 2,195 m (7,201 ft), it is the highest peak on Vancouver Island. The mountain took its name from Sir Francis Drake's ship, the Golden Hinde, by an early fur-trading captain, who was reminded of Drake's ship as sunset hit the mountain (which is visible from the west coast of the Island) and in honour of Drake's reputed presence off the coast of the future British Columbia during the explorer's circumnavigation of the globe from 1577–80. The present name was not officially conferred until 1938, but this was done after a reference to the peak in a fur-trader's log. The alternative name "The Rooster's Comb" was used by early alpinists because of the mountain's appearance. (updated May 2020)

Buy

• 1 Gold River Deli, 395 Nimpkish Dr, ☏ +1 250-283-2554. (updated May 2020)
• 2 BC Liquor Stores, 375 Nimpkish Dr, ☏ +1 250-283-2919. (updated May 2020)

Eat

• 1 Clayworks Cafe Gallery, 500 Industrial Park Place (just across the bridge), ☏ +1 250-283-2374. Offers breakfast, lunch, special coffees, smoothies and homemade baking, surrounded by the works of local artists and the pottery of owners, Neil and Anita Lawrence. (updated May 2020)
• 2 Sawyer's Coffee House, 375 Nimpkish Dr Unit 31 & 32, ☏ +1 778-348-2911. Good place for lunch. (updated May 2020)

Sleep

• 1 Gold River Chalet, 390 Nimpkish Dr, toll-free: +1 866-450-2688, fax: +1 250-283-2688. Nestled at the base of the mountain with picturesque views. Free WiFi and free self serve breakfast - toast, cereal and juice. (updated May 2020)
• 2 Lodge at Gold River, 100 Muchalat Dr. Upscale lodge with 1,200 ft (370 m) of riverfront. (updated May 2020)
• 3 Peppercorn Trail Motel & RV Park, 100 Muchalat Dr. (updated May 2020)
• 4 Ridgeview Motor Inn, 395 Donner Ct, ☏ +1 250-283-2277. (updated May 2020)

Connect

While the inland town centre area of Gold River has cellular coverage, no other areas have cellular coverage. There is no cellular coverage on Highway 28 between Gold River and Campbell River.

Go next

• Yuquot is easily accessible from here. See "By Boat" above.

Routes through Gold River

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→ Strathcona Provincial Park → Campbell River