When I was a young man, l logged for an outfit that had their camp in Elk Bay, which was quite a busy logging spot, Now it’s a campsite, and the camping is free, it’s located on the eastern shore of Vancouver Island north of browns bay but south of rock bay, just a bit south of the Chatham point lighthouse.
When I was a young man, l logged for an outfit that had their camp in Elk Bay, which was quite a busy logging spot, Now it’s a campsite, and the camping is free, it’s located on the eastern shore of Vancouver Island north of browns bay but south of rock bay, just a bit south of the Chatham point lighthouse. There are 11 campsites here, and it’s easily reached with a two-wheel drive. There are grand opportunities for kayaking, canoeing, boating, and fishing, along with some great beach access for the kids. Picnic tables and fire pits at each site, a boat launch, and pit toilets for your use.
Situated in the Sayward Forest, Elk Bay is one of the nicest developed recreation sites with access to the ocean that can be found on the island. There is a great chance to see whales and other marine life, right from the shore, and the scenery is awesome.
At Elk Bay, there is the main camping area with the boat launch, and then there is a smaller, two-unit site located on the other side of the creek, great for group or more private camping. If you follow the road further, you will find a few more nice spots to camp on the shore. Looking towards the sea, you will find incredible views looking across Discovery Passage to Quadra and Sonora Islands and the mountains beyond. You can continue and drive right over the mountain and reach Browns Bay Road, but this is a rough logging road with big trucks.
To get there from Campbell River, head north on Highway 19 and turn right just after Roberts Lake, onto Elk Bay Road (gravel). Drive 11.3 km from the highway, and you’ll come to the Stella Lake turn-off. Turn right here, follow it for another 3.2 km, and the road will split. Make a sharp right and carry on for another 0.7 km, and you will reach the entrance to the main part of the site. The entrance to the small part is another 400 meters down the road.