Port of Bay Kesley

Recreation & Tourism

Recreation

The Kelsey Recreation Centre in the Village has a gym, weight room, and two meeting rooms. The Heritage Hall, located approx. 3 kilometres from the Junction, is open for dances, meetings and fairs etc. A Summer Market takes place here on Sundays in the summer months with fresh local produce and crafts. The park in the Village boasts an immaculate field with two baseball diamonds and golfers can often be seen practicing their drives. Mount Cain, 11/2 hours north of Sayward offers a variety of winter sports and summer recreation. Sport fishing, whale and bear watching tours, scuba diving, boating, horseback riding, target and clay pigeon shooting, hunting, wildlife viewing, birding, caving, hiking and kayaking are all easily accessible. The Vancouver Recreational Corridor includes Sayward on its route from the North Island to the Victoria area. Passage on this island trail can be done by any means including horseback, ATV, foot, and bicycle.

Tourism

Sayward is one of the best kept secrets of Vancouver Island and the centre for some of the most spectacular views and expanses of natural beauty to be found anywhere in British Columbia. The community is perfectly situated to take advantage of the tourism potential with its close proximity to the major centres of Campbell River and Port Hardy and its easy access by road, water and air. Towering mountain peaks, old and second growth forest, clear rivers and the fast moving waters of Johnstone Strait surround the community. Mt. H’Kusam towers over 5000 feet above the eastern boundary of the valley. Many species of wildlife can be found in the area. Sayward offers great opportunities for many diverse adventures.

Recreation And Wilderness Adventure

Hiking trails and deactivated logging roads provide easy access to back country adventures. Provincial Parks and numerous forestry campgrounds are within close proximity. Opportunities for hiking, biking, climbing, caving, ATV touring, fresh and salt water fishing, hunting, white water rafting, swimming, canoeing, kayaking and horseback riding are all easily accessible. Nearby islands and inlets offer the opportunity to observe killer whales, black & grizzly bears, dolphins, sea lions and seals. Mt. Cain provides downhill and cross-country skiing in winter and hiking in summer. The wetlands of the Salmon River estuary are a prime habitat for numerous species of waterfowl. Bald eagles, hawks, great blue heron and turkey buzzards are common large birds. Scores of Trumpeter Swans arrive in October and stay until February or March. Many varieties of ducks and geese can be seen on the pond in the village and in the estuary. Numerous resident and transient songbirds delight the patient birdwatcher.

Development Opportunities

Market studies have identified Sayward’s enormous potential for development opportunities in tourism. The key contributing factor is that Sayward not only has world class natural features in abundance, but that these features are all available within a short distance of this one drop-off point. Development opportunities include a full-service, all-season marina with sports fishing and recreational coastal cruising, eco-tourism adventures, camping and RV parks, accommodations, restaurants and forest tours. Virtually untapped and under-developed the natural geographic features that surround the community cannot be over emphasized. While many communities have one or two features worth exploring, Sayward has a multitude.