Near the town of Campbell River is a small park with spectacular waterfalls. A short trail leads to the top of Elk Falls, where the river flows across a broad expanse of granite before plunging into a deep gorge. This is a popular spot for sunbathing in the summer, but we were the only ones there on this cold October morning. (That was a good thing, as no one saw me take a sprawling spill on the rocks, breaking my camera and almost breaking a bone or two. Luckily, I didn't continue slipping down the granite incline, into the rushing water.)
Photo: Elk Falls.
Campbell River is known as the World's Salmon Capitol. It's a sizeable town with plenty of provisions, lodging, even golf. Offshore are Quadra and Cortes Islands, with horse rentals and trails.