Vancouver Island tour: where to go?

[T.Low]

Hey, I'm popping in to the Delica forum because I know you guys get out and about in these vans, and I'm hoping to get some advice on where to go for Vancouver Island tour.

I'm taking my Astro on a tour of Vancouver Island hoping to explore a mix of the cool little harbor towns, the vistas, the logging roads, some lite 4Lo action, beaches, waterfalls, and whatever else there is to see. I've been studying the Backroads Mapbook, but for all I know I could drive right by a cool section after unwittingly choosing the boring section instead.

Something similar to our Sunshine Coast experience:
http://s232.photobucket.com/user/wannah ... 009?sort=6



If anybody has some advice on favorite routes, must see places, or fun little lite 4x4 routes, I'd really appreciate the local knoledge.

If anyone wants to join up for a leg, or all of it, I encourage and welcome you. The more the merrier

All I got so far:
Day 1 am Tsssssswassen to Nanaimo to Cowichan, cruise North Shore (for the scenic value) to Franklin Main to Francis Lk camp for camp #1. (Dry camping) Apparently there is lite wheeling to get into the back spots at Francis Lk. An E Series Sportsmobile will meet us.

Day 2 am head to Bamfield and camp at the coastal campground.

Day 3 explore our way back to ultimately drop the SMB at the ferry, then we will continue...north or south?

Is it worth it to cruise the highway to Port Renfro, then take logging roads back upto Parksville or Comox or something?

Or I could skip the southern stuff and take the highway up to Port Hardy, then take another two or three days to explore back to Nanaimo?

Even though I ca see the island from my house, our V.I. experience has been limited to kayak surfing at Jordan River, standard tourism in Victoria, business in Ladysmith, and sea kayaking in Ucluelet and Tofino.


Sorry for the long winded first post. Any tips and advice is greatly appreciated.

[konadog]

The back road to Duncan - Victoria - Port Renfrew - Duncan. Great trip. Pave all the way. Tahsis is cool too. Get a Search and Rescue map and a BC backroads book and yer away (River Sportsman in Campbell River). The backcountry behind Campbell River north is criss-crossed with roads logging roads.
Have fun and post pictures!

[T.Low]

Good stuff, thanks.

I'll take some pics w/out the van just for you guys! Ha. (OK, for The Samba guys, too.)

[Shaun Van Ramen]

A few years ago we rode the W. Coast Rd up to Port Renfrew - then back east to Duncan. All paved but still an old logging road. The coast was nice and there is camping in Pt. R.
Also Hwy 28 to Gold River (access from Campbell Rv.) All paved. You can go further west from Gold RIver. Beautiful scenery - kinda isolated out that way. Rode it in one day so not sure about campsites.

Report when done please.

[T.Low]

Thanks again. Keep 'em coming.

Tahsis and Gold River keep coming up.

Apparently the trai to the Vanishing/Reappearing River has been washed away a few years ago. Does anyone know if it has been rebuilt, yet?

[thedjjack]

rivers are still there....just the walkways and viewing platforms washed out...

I have only been to vanishing river recently (last winter) and it was still accessible...

there is a nice loop road around the lakes near near port Alice....logging road lots to explore

Raft Cove is nice but you have to walk in

[T.Low]

Thanks for the timely and definitive reply.

This is turning into quite a little trip. I need an intern to handle the mapping for me just for the first four das of travel.