The Sitka Studio - A Local's Guidebook
Favourite Beaches
A lovely beach & family friendly campground with lovely views of the mainland mountains. The main area/beach is not pet friendly.
41 locals recommend
Miracle Beach Provincial Park
1720 Miracle Beach DrA lovely beach & family friendly campground with lovely views of the mainland mountains. The main area/beach is not pet friendly.
Just a few min drive from our property, Stories Beach is best at low tide with a sandy beach. At high tide it is rocky, but a perfect spot for a beach fire!
6 locals recommend
Stories Beach
Just a few min drive from our property, Stories Beach is best at low tide with a sandy beach. At high tide it is rocky, but a perfect spot for a beach fire!
Another favourite beach, but it can get busy with limited parking. This beach is also dog friendly/off leash.
28 locals recommend
Saratoga Beach
Another favourite beach, but it can get busy with limited parking. This beach is also dog friendly/off leash.
Craving some fresh water? McIvor is a lovely lake with several beach spots to hang out for the day.
9 locals recommend
McIvor lake
Craving some fresh water? McIvor is a lovely lake with several beach spots to hang out for the day.
Oyster River
A lovely river that has multiple access points and "pot holes" to swim in!
Hikes & Parks
We hike here almost daily, plenty of trails to explore! Keep an eye out though, this park has lot of mountain bikes, horses, and is also off-leash friendly for dogs.
13 locals recommend
Beaver Lodge Forest Land
South Dogwood StreetWe hike here almost daily, plenty of trails to explore! Keep an eye out though, this park has lot of mountain bikes, horses, and is also off-leash friendly for dogs.
Take a half-day or full-day to drive out to the beautiful Strathcona Provincial Park en route to Gold River - beautiful lake with plenty of beach access & lunch spots and many hikes with waterfalls.
Strathcona Provincial Park
Take a half-day or full-day to drive out to the beautiful Strathcona Provincial Park en route to Gold River - beautiful lake with plenty of beach access & lunch spots and many hikes with waterfalls.
A lovely and family friendly hike just north of town! Elk Falls has a large suspension bridge as well as a smaller waterfall in the park called Deer Falls.
61 locals recommend
Elk Falls Suspension Bridge
Millennium TrailA lovely and family friendly hike just north of town! Elk Falls has a large suspension bridge as well as a smaller waterfall in the park called Deer Falls.
About 1-1.5 hours drive from Campbell River, a lovely spot for a quick 30 min loop ending in a lovely beach on the lake.
Lupin Falls Trail
Westmin RoadAbout 1-1.5 hours drive from Campbell River, a lovely spot for a quick 30 min loop ending in a lovely beach on the lake.
Paradise Meadows is a beautiful trail system located up at Mt.Washington. Day hikes or over-night hikes available (be sure to get your pass for camping!)
7 locals recommend
Paradise Meadows Trail
Paradise Meadows TrailParadise Meadows is a beautiful trail system located up at Mt.Washington. Day hikes or over-night hikes available (be sure to get your pass for camping!)
About 30 - 40 min drive from our property, another lovely short hike/trip.
Comox Lake Bluffs Ecological Reserve
About 30 - 40 min drive from our property, another lovely short hike/trip.
Puntledge Park & River has lovely trails and many places to explore - located in Courtenay.
18 locals recommend
Puntledge Park
Puntledge Park & River has lovely trails and many places to explore - located in Courtenay.
A great hike north of Campbell River - it does have some steep inclines but the view at the top is pretty epic!
19 locals recommend
Ripple Rock Hike Trailhead
British Columbia 19A great hike north of Campbell River - it does have some steep inclines but the view at the top is pretty epic!
Literally just down the road from our property, Hagel Park is a family friendly & off-leash park for dogs. Tennis court, basketball, kids jungle gyms & covered area as well.
Hagel Park
3021 Jody Lynne WayLiterally just down the road from our property, Hagel Park is a family friendly & off-leash park for dogs. Tennis court, basketball, kids jungle gyms & covered area as well.
Local Attractions
Saratoga Speedway
2380 Macaulay RoadRace cars & rallies - open seasonally spring/summer.
Located just 10 min drive from our property, Shelter Point offers tastings.
14 locals recommend
Shelter Point Distillery
4650 Regent RdLocated just 10 min drive from our property, Shelter Point offers tastings.
This is a super cute down about 30 - 40 min drive from our property. Worth spending at least half a day out here to explore the little shops & food scene. Also known for its mountain biking.
72 locals recommend
Cumberland
This is a super cute down about 30 - 40 min drive from our property. Worth spending at least half a day out here to explore the little shops & food scene. Also known for its mountain biking.
Hit the slopes year round with skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, cross-country, hikes & mountain biking!
133 locals recommend
Mount Washington Alpine Resort
1 Strathcona PkwyHit the slopes year round with skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, cross-country, hikes & mountain biking!
You will need to take a short ferry over to Quadra (be warned this ferry gets exceptionally busy in the summer) so we recommend arriving earlier than you think. Once on the neighbouring island you can explore away - definitely check out Rebecca's Spit - or you can take another ferry to Cortez Island.
21 locals recommend
Quadra Island
You will need to take a short ferry over to Quadra (be warned this ferry gets exceptionally busy in the summer) so we recommend arriving earlier than you think. Once on the neighbouring island you can explore away - definitely check out Rebecca's Spit - or you can take another ferry to Cortez Island.
Lower Myra Falls
Upper & Lower Myra falls is a beautiful place for a picnic!
A nearby local winery that often hosts seasonal events like a pumpkin patch & tulip festival!
32 locals recommend
Coastal Black Estate Winery
2186 Endall RdA nearby local winery that often hosts seasonal events like a pumpkin patch & tulip festival!
Food Scene
Riptide Marine Pub
1340 Island HwySession Taproom, Kitchen + Spin
926 Island HwyCrabby Bob's Seafood Inc
705 Island HighwayDick's Fish & Chips
660 B Island HwyIl Falcone Restaurant
536 6th StLand & Sea Brewing Company
2040 Guthrie RdBeach Fire Brewing and Nosh House
594 11 AveAtlas Cafe
250 6th StPerks Donuts
1100 Homewood RdIdeal Cafe
2263 N Island HwyMiki's Sesame Sushi
80 Island HwyJackknife Pizza Black Creek
8574 Reinhold RoadGladstone Brewing Co.
244 4th StBigfoot Donuts
477 5th StAce Brewing Company Ltd
150 Mansfield DrFratelli Pizzeria
1140 Shoppers RowThe Island Grind Coffee & Tea
801 Hilchey RdDiscovery Fishing Pier Ice Cream Shop
655 Island HwyTraveler advice
Book before you go
Photography Session w/ Renae Leboe Photography
Want to document your trip and capture your adventures? Be sure to book your session early on as the summer season is busy!
Your host Renae is a professional photographer and you can book your photography session by emailing her at photo@renaeleboe.com / www.renaeleboe.com
What to pack
Be sure to pack a good rain jacket & weather proof footwear!
On the coast the weather can change quickly and we get lots of rain year around (with the exception of the peak summer months)
Getting around
Personal vehicles are the way to go
While there is a public transit system, it is not the best so a personal vehicle will allow you to explore much more of the area.
For nearby adventures, biking is popular and there are epic mountain biking trails all around!
Customs and culture
Please respect our environment and wildlife
Leave No Trace - please pick up after your self and protect our environment and animal friends!
Never feed any wildlife - EVER - and be sure to avoid leaving garbage bags outside (bears!)
The crows are also very sneaky, when at the beach be sure to tuck everything away otherwise they will open your bag and tear everything out while you are swimming.
Customs and culture
Trail Safety
When exploring our trails be sure to have a first aid kit with you, have a map, tell someone where you are headed, and bring extra water, bear spray & whistle!
Also, be sure to hike trails that match your experience and fitness level.