Things to Do When Visiting Telegraph Cove

Telegraph Cove is a seasonal destination for a reason! The weather on the North Island is generally windy, rainy and cool from October 1 to April 30. May 1 is the beginning of tourist season when the weather warms and the days start to get longer. You still need to expect rain and cooler days during May and June. The peak season is July and August and reservations are highly recommended during these months. In the summer it is often light out until 10:30 pm. August is also affectionately referred to as Fog-ust because it gets socked in with thick fog until around noon. If you are boating, radar is highly recommended. September is our favourite month of the year! It is less crowded with warm days and not much rain. The fishing is good and the wildlife watching is great! Spectacular sunsets are available year-round.

Humpbacks, Dolphins, Sea Lions, Seals, Bald Eagles and Seabirds are in the area year-round. Orcas (Killer Whales) are periodic and infrequent for most of the year but are much more plentiful and seen almost daily from July through October. It doesn’t mean you won’t see one on any given day of the year though! Check out our photo gallery to immerse yourself in the nature and wildlife around Telegraph Cove!

Here are a few things we recommend in and around Telegraph Cove during your visit.

Wildlife Watching in Telegraph Cove

Vancouver Island Photo Tours (Rolf Hicker)
Rolf is a professional photographer who offers a very special, personalized experience for up to 4 people per trip. Explore the waterfalls and see the Grizzly Bears of Knight Inlet or spend time watching Dolphins, Orcas, Humpbacks, Sea Lions, Eagles and Black Bears along the way. Do it all in a full day on your own private charter (with a washroom on board!). Well worth the money for an incredible day on the water! Rolf can even pick you up at our Marina in Telegraph Cove.

Prince of Whales Whale Watching
Large 74 passenger boat or 12-person zodiac. Located near the end of the Historic Boardwalk of Telegraph Cove and within walking distance of our RV Park.

Tide Rip Grizzly Tours
Full day trips to Knight Inlet to see Grizzly Bears. Located on the Historic Boardwalk of Telegraph Cove and within walking distance of our RV Park.

Museums in Telegraph Cove

Whale Interpretive Centre
The Centre was founded in 2002 to provide a venue to increase public awareness about the biology of marine mammals and the anthropogenic threats facing their populations. The Whale Interpretive Centre is home to one of the best collections of marine mammal skeletons in British Columbia. Located on the Historic Boardwalk of Telegraph Cove and within walking distance of our RV Park.

Historic Boardwalk of Telegraph Cove
Take a stroll in history down the Boardwalk of Telegraph Cove, which in and of itself is a like a museum. Learn how Telegraph Cove came to be and the history of the buildings along the boardwalk. And make sure you don’t leave Telegraph Cove without taking a picture of the old truck on the boardwalk!

Hiking and Exploring in Telegraph Cove

Telegraph Cove Marina & RV Park Boardwalk
Take a stroll on our private boardwalk. See how it feels to be perched above the kelp covered rock and hear the ocean lap beneath your feet. If you are lucky, you might to see a pod of Killer Whales as they pass by on their way into Beaver Cove! Update May 2024: Unfortunately our boardwalk is closed for repairs.

Blinkhorn Trail/David Farrant Trail
Take a 1-hour hike through the forest to a lookout high above Johnstone Strait. The entire trail is 7.7 km return, so most people opt for the 2 hours round trip to the lookout. Fabulous view! Considered a moderate hike with ropes and bridges to help you along the way. A 1-km walk or drive up a gravel road in Telegraph Cove to the trailhead. Parking available.

San Josef Bay
A scenic day trip from Telegraph Cove for a short, easy 45-minute hike to explore the picturesque white sand beach on the south end of the Cape Scott Provincial Park. It takes about 2.5 to 3 hours one-way on a gravel logging road to get there, so pulling a trailer is not recommended.

Bere Point Park
Worth taking the BC Ferry from Port McNeill to Sointula on Malcolm Island. 6 km from Sointula on a rustic road. This beach is often called the “Whispering Beach” because of the sound it makes when the water washes over the smooth rocks. It is also a historic rubbing beach for the Killer Whales, similar to the beach at the Robson Bight Ecological Reserve The trail is 4.5 km round trip or you can walk along the beach.

Marble River Trail (Marble River Provincial Park on road to Port Alice)
An hour drive from Telegraph Cove to the trailhead. The 4.2 km trail is ideal for hiking or biking with interpretive signs along the trail. Fall salmon spawning viewing areas at the trailhead and Bear Falls (2/3 of way down trail). Access to the river provides a popular destination for fly fishing.

Storey’s Beach (Beaver Harbour Park in Port Hardy)
Approximately 45 minutes from Telegraph Cove. A sandy beach that seems to go on forever when the tide is out. A nice place to walk and do some beachcombing!

Little Huson Caves Regional Park (Nimpkish Valley)
Just under an hour from Telegraph Cove and only 20 minutes off the Island Highway. A short walk through the woods from the parking lot takes you to a beautiful rock bridge extending over deep pools. Caves are carved out of the limestone by Atluck Creek.

Kayaking in Telegraph Cove

North Island Kayak
They offer different length trips: 2-hour, sunset, half day, full day and multi-day trips. Located on the Historic Boardwalk of Telegraph Cove and within walking distance of our RV Park.

At the Water’s Edge Adventures
Small, guided group kayak tours exploring the Broughton Archipelago, Blackfish Sound and Johnstone Strait. State of the art equipment and professional, experienced guides.

Dining in Telegraph Cove

Cove Coffee Company
Located on the Historic Boardwalk of Telegraph Cove and within walking distance of our RV Park.

Sally’s Food Bar
Located near the General Store. Within walking distance of our RV Park.

Killer Whale Café/Old Saltery Pub
The outdoor patio overlooks the marina. The café and pub have the same food, but we prefer the ambience at the pub. Located on the Historic Boardwalk of Telegraph Cove and within walking distance of our RV Park.

Art in Telegraph Cove

Telegraph Cove Art Gallery
On the right side of the road as you drive into Telegraph Cove. Worth a look! Parking is very limited, but it is within walking distance from our RV Park. Check out this video to find out what it’s all about!

Metal Place Art
Located in the Forest Campground near the trailhead of the David Farrant/Blinkhorn Trail.