**IMPORTANT** Ensure that your vehicle has enough fuel before you go to the Bamfield area! Diesel fuel is NOT available, and there is no access to regular gas on the weekends.

UPDATED JUNE 2010

By Road
Pachena Bay is approximately 3 kilometres (km) south of Bamfield. We will use Bamfield as the destination as it is represented on the highway signs. Just remember to watch for the Pachena Bay turnoff just before you reach Bamfield.

From Victoria
Travel north on Highway 1 to Duncan (84km). Continue north along Highway 1 about 5km 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
Continue travelling north on Highway 1 towards Nanaimo (approximately 46km). Just before entering Nanaimo you will see signs for Highway 19 (Campbell River, Parksville etc.) Take this turnoff. Watch for signs for Highway 4 (Port Alberni, Bamfield). Turn onto Highway 4 and head for Port Alberni (approximately 80km). Once at Port Alberni follow signs to Bamfield via logging roads (approximately 83km). The 1 1/2 hour drive is on a gravel road that is regularly graded. Watch for logging trucks.

Youbou and Lake Cowichan
Turn left onto Highway 18 and continue until you reach Youbou (approximately 45km). From there you continue on gravel logging roads following 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 (website)
West Coast Trail Express offers daily shuttle services to Bamfield and Pachena Bay from Victoria, with stops in between at Port Renfrew and the Juan de Fuca trail head. For information call 1.888.999.2288 (toll-free in Canada) or 250.477.8700.

PACHENA BAY EXPRESS (website)

Charter shuttle to all points on Vancouver Island, and local service. Call toll free 1.877.728.1290.

By Boat
MV FRANCES BARKLEY (website)
The MV Frances Barkley provides passenger and freight service to communities along Alberni Inlet and Barkley Sound. All sailings leave Port Alberni at 8 a.m., sail down Alberni Inlet to Barkley Sound to Bamfield; or the Broken Group Islands and Ucluelet returning to Port Alberni in late afternoon. The trip to Bamfield takes 4 1/2 hours, arriving at 12:30 p.m.. The boat departs again at 1:30 p.m., arriving back in Port Alberni at 5:30 p.m.. For information call, 250.723.8313 or toll free, 1.800.663.7192.

GETTING TO VANCOUVER ISLAND, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA

By Water

BC FERRIES-VANCOUVER TO VICTORIA OR NANAIMO (website)
The BC Ferry Corporation operates one of the world's largest and most modern ferry fleets.

The major southern route connects Tsawwassen (Vancouver) on the mainland to Swartz Bay (Victoria) on Vancouver Island. The crossing takes approximately 1 hour and 35 minutes.

The major mid-island route connects Horseshoe Bay (Vancouver) to Nanaimo on Vancouver Island.

The Mid-Island Express route between Tsawwassen (Vancouver) and Duke Point (by Nanaimo) takes 2 hours.

There are many scheduled sailings daily, but check the the website or call for latest schedules.

For general information or to make reservations, call toll free 1.888.BCFERRY.

PACIFIC COACH - VANCOUVER TO/FROM VICTORIA (website)
Toll free 1.800.661.1725 for information.

GREYHOUND CANADA - Vancouver to/from Victoria and Nanaimo areas(website)

Toll free 1-800-661-TRIP for information.

TOFINO BUS (website)

Vancouver Island Service for Victoria to Ucluelet/Tofino and all points in between. For example, if you wanted to take the Frances Barclay to Bamfield, Tofino Bus could get you to and from Port Alberni from Victoria or Nanaimo. Call toll free 1.866.986.3466 for more information.

Victoria Clipper  (website)
The Victoria Clipper and Victoria Clipper II high-speed catamarans offer year-round, daily service between Seattle and Victoria. For information call 1.800.888.2535

Washington State Ferries (website)
Sidney, B.C., to Anacortes, WA
This ferry operates at least 2 sailings daily in the summer months and one daily for the balance of the year. Cars, R.V.s, trucks and foot passengers are carried. For information call, 250.381.1551

Black Ball Ferry Line (website)
Victoria to Port Angeles, WA
This vehicle and foot-passenger ferry (M.V. Coho) operates year round sailings.  For information call 250.386.2202 or 360.457.4491

Victoria Express    (website)
Port Angeles to Victoria, BC
A foot-passenger ferry, connecting Port Angeles with Victoria's Inner Harbour during the summer months only, is a convenient way to arrive.  For information call 250.361.9144 or 360.452.8088.

BY AIR

AIRPORTS
The major airport on Vancouver Island is Victoria International Airport (YYJ). The closest major airport in British Columbia is the Vancouver International Airport (YVR). The Seatac airport (SEA) serves the Seattle area. Air Canada services Nanaimo (YCD), while West Jet services Courteney/Comox (YQQ).  All of these airports can serve as your starting point for your travels to the Huu-ay-aht First Nations traditional territories.

CHARTER FLIGHTS
Harbour Air provides flights between Victoria and Vancouver as well as charter service on request to Bamfield. For information, call toll free in North America 1.800.665.0212.

West Coast Air offers a scheduled service flight from Vancouver to Nanaimo as well as charter service on request to Bamfield. For information, call 1.800.347.2222.

Kenmore Air offers daily scheduled flights from downtown Seattle to Victoria Inner Harbour and charters to Bamfield. For information, call 1.866.435.9524.