Pondering of visiting Painter’s Lodge in Campbell River? Learn this publish.

Painter’s Lodge in Campbell River

Are you contemplating a go to to Painter’s Lodge in Campbell River? On this weblog publish, we share our expertise staying at this widespread fishing lodge on Vancouver Island. 

Painter’s Lodge is situated immediately on the japanese shores of Discovery Passage, a slender strait that flows between Vancouver Island and Quadra Island. It kinds a part of the Inside Passage between Vancouver Island and the Discovery Islands of British Columbia. 

Campbell River is called the Salmon Capital of the World. When you’re curious about salmon fishing, whale watching and/or journey excursions, Campbell River is a superb place to go to. 

The aim of our go to to Campbell River is to take our boy salmon fishing. 

He enjoys fishing however has not discovered success catching an enormous fish. We went salmon fishing at Moutcha Bay Resort in Nootka Sound (west coast of Vancouver Island) however had been unsuccessful. Provided that Campbell River is nearer and simpler to entry from Vancouver, we determined to present Campbell River a attempt. 

Spoiler – he lastly caught an enormous salmon! A number of, the truth is.

Watch this quick video from our salmon fishing tour.

Why did we select Painter’s Lodge?

There are a number of resorts in Campbell River to select from. Provided that the aim of our journey to Campbell River is to go salmon fishing, it is smart to remain at one of many fishing lodges situated on the water. 

This narrows the checklist to a couple resorts, together with Dolphin’s Resort and April Level Resort (situated on Quadra Island throughout the strait from Painters Lodge). 

What bought us on Painter’s Lodge is the room dimension (with separate sleeping space for our boys), outside swimming pool (though, it was closed for restore throughout our go to), restaurant with oceanfront patio, and the worth level. We really feel that it’s good worth to your cash.

And, we like that our boys can go fishing proper off the dock in entrance of the resort. 

When is the perfect time to go to Painter’s Lodge?

One of the best time to go to Painters Lodge is in the summertime months. The resort closes within the winter (December) and re-opens within the spring (April).

You’ll be able to fish all 12 months spherical in Campbell River. Nonetheless, we’re informed that the perfect time for salmon fishing is July to September. That is when fishing charters are catching Chinook, Coho, Pink, and Sockeye Salmon. And, if you happen to’re fortunate, you would possibly even catch a Tyee (massive chinook salmon).

We visited in early August and spent 3 nights on the resort.

Test Painter’s Lodge room charges and availability right here. 

Our Room at Painter’s Lodge Resort

There are a number of differing kinds and sizes of rooms to select from. The property has a number of buildings, every with completely different room layouts and variety of beds.

Some rooms have ocean views, whereas others have backyard views. See an inventory of room choices right here.

We stayed in a loft that has two separate sleeping areas. See picture above. 

This room has 2 queen beds on the primary degree, plus 2 double beds within the loft above (4 beds in whole). That is the right dimension room for a household. You’ll be able to simply match 6 individuals in this room.

The rooms are spacious however dated. They’ve seen higher days. Nonetheless, the beds, pillows and linen are clear and cozy. The rooms meet the expectation of a 3-star lodge.

Above is a photograph of the upstairs loft space. That is the place our boys slept. They like having a separate sleeping space. And we do, too! 

The rooms do not need air con. It was heat throughout our go to, however not overly scorching. Nonetheless, we did must sleep with the home windows open to maintain the rooms cool at evening.  

That is the constructing we staying in. We stayed within the room on the second flooring, to the appropriate of the big window. It has a personal balcony with two chairs. Though, we not often used the balcony throughout our go to. 

The rooms on the second flooring are the place the lofts are situated. The sharp home windows on the third flooring are for the loft rooms. That is the place our boys slept (see picture above). 

Facilities at Painter’s Lodge

There are a number of facilities at Painter’s Lodge, together with an out of doors swimming pool, tennis court docket, health club and health centre, video games and sports activities tools, and a restaurant with an ocean view patio.

Visitors have entry to tennis tools, bocce and croquet units, board video games and different household pleasant leisure. These things are free to make use of for friends. 

The property has loads of grass sections, which is good for bocce ball and/or croquet. We spent one night taking part in bocce ball. 

The health club/health room is situated in a separate constructing beside the tennis court docket. It’s a small and primary health club with outdated tools. You may get a good exercise right here. However decrease your expectations. 

The tennis court docket can also be outdated and in want of restore and upkeep. We tried to play tennis however the court docket was filled with tree branches and particles (and the tennis rackets and balls had been in tough form). Much like the health club, it’s greatest to decrease your expectations. Don’t come all the way in which to this resort for the tennis and health centre. 

The pool was closed throughout our go to, which was disappointing.

It was being repaired on the time. Nonetheless, this was not communicated to us previous to our go to. An e mail or notification would have been good.

It’s not an enormous pool. From what we noticed (the gate was locked), it appears to be principally shallow. Good for households. I consider there’s a scorching tub, too. You’ll be able to see a photograph of the pool right here. 

The pathway main all the way down to the waterfront and dock.

Above is the view of the primary constructing at low tide. 

And, beneath is an analogous picture at excessive tide. 

It’s fairly the distinction. We lucked out with this stunning cotton sweet sundown one night.

Painter’s Lodge eating places

There are two eating places at Painter’s Lodge – Tyee Pub and Legends Eating Room. 

The outside patio is linked to Tyee Pub. That is the place you wish to spend your afternoon and/or night. Assuming you will have good climate.

We visited Tyee Pub just a few instances throughout our go to. It’s handy to dine on the property, particularly when having just a few afternoon beers on the patio.

There are extra eating places close to Painter’s Lodge, together with Anglers Eating at Dolphin’s Resort. We additionally ordered pizza supply one evening and ate outside whereas taking part in bocce ball on the grass. 

Tyee Pub at Painter’s Lodge

Usually I take images of our meals after we journey (I may need gone overboard on the meals pics in this publish). Nonetheless, for some purpose, I didn’t take any images on this journey. I’m really undecided what we ate?

I recall the meals being good however not nice. Many of the menu gadgets (like fish and chips) had been unavailable throughout our go to. And the service inside the pub was not superb at supper time (it was really fairly unhealthy). It took over an hour for our meals to reach.

Our server knowledgeable us they had been having staffing points. That is comprehensible given the placement and post-pandemic challenges that hospitality institutions are coping with. Nonetheless, the worth level is above common for a pub, so we anticipated the service to be higher. 

It was nonetheless a pleasant night on the resort. Hopefully the staffing points will probably be resolved for this upcoming summer season season. 

Outside Patio at Tyee Pub

The afternoon patio expertise was a lot better. We loved a number of lunches right here whereas watching the fishing boats and float planes.

You’ll be able to’t beat these views.  

Above is a photograph of Legends Eating Room.

Previous to visiting, we did a little analysis and skim good evaluations about this restaurant. Nonetheless, it was not open throughout our go to. As a substitute, friends had been directed to dine at Tyee Pub.

Legends Eating Room is the place breakfast is served every morning. It’s a buffet model continental breakfast. You may as well order scrambled eggs and sausage from a server.

The breakfast is okay. Not nice, however not unhealthy. It’s good that the breakfast value is included with the in a single day fee.

The lodge additionally gives a boxed breakfast in case you are up early for a fishing tour. It is a good function that we appreciated on our early 6am departure. The boxed breakfast contains fruit, muffins and juice.

This lounge space is situated close to reception. The waterfront view from these chairs is implausible. It’s a pleasant place to take a seat indoors and nonetheless take in the surroundings. 

There’s a bar set-up on this room, nevertheless it was not open throughout our go to. I’m not solely certain if this space is an extension of the foyer or if it’s a separate lounge that serves drinks and meals? 

Painter’s Lodge Fishing Packages

Now, let’s get to the primary purpose why we selected to remain at Painter’s Lodge in Campbell River. The salmon fishing!

You’ll be able to e book fishing packages by means of Painter’s Lodge resort. That is what we did. 

The lodge charters the fishing excursions to native operators. Our fishing constitution was booked with Massive Animal Encounters. After we requested a fishing bundle from Painter’s Lodge, they forwarded our request to Massive Animal Encounters, who adopted up with us immediately.

We selected the 4 hour tour that departs at 6:00AM. The boat picks you up from the dock at Painter’s Lodge. It’s good to have door-to-door service. 

The fishing bundle features a information with all bait and deal with supplied. You simply present up and all the pieces is taken care of. Our information even cleaned the fish and eliminated all the guts for us.

The fish are then saved within the lodge’s fridge in a single day. We introduced a big cooler with us and stuffed it is going to ice that’s supplied by the lodge. 

Test the day by day schedule and e book your excursions at this constructing, situated immediately in entrance of the dock. The resort additionally provides wildlife excursions, whale watching excursions, and Grizzly bear expeditions.

Salmon fishing in Campbell River

Our information, Bob, is an 84 12 months outdated legend who’s been fishing these waters for many years. 

We depart the dock at 6:00am. As we cruise across the backside tip of Quadra Island, we cross dozens of fishing boats establishing within the space. 

“We’re going to keep going, I know a better spot”, Bob shouts with confidence.

He’s not curious about competing with these different fisherman.

The boat continues for an additional 10 minutes earlier than Bob shifts into trolling pace. There are not any different boats round us. He units up the traces and provides us a fast tutorial about find out how to use the tools. 

Inside minutes of dropping the road, we’re on!

Our son grabs the rod and reels as quick as he can. Then, the silver fish surfaces and makes an look for the primary time. It’s an thrilling second. 

“Let it go!” yells Bob, as he jumps to our assist.

He coaches our son how and when to reel. It’s a talent that Bob has perfected for a few years. 

Moments later, we’ve got our first chinook salmon within the web. Success! 

However wait… there’s extra!

As I discussed earlier, our earlier salmon fishing makes an attempt had been unsuccessful. Heading into this fishing journey, we might have been proud of one fish. 

However that was earlier than we met Bob. 

Throughout the first 2 hours of the fishing journey, it felt like we had been both reeling a fish or establishing the traces. 

At one level, Bob checked out his monitor and noticed one thing he preferred.

“Drop the lines 20 feet, each side”, he mentioned.

Two minutes after we made this adjustment we had fish on each traces! He’s a magician on the water. 

In whole, we pulled in 10 chinook salmon that morning.

Nonetheless, we’re solely allowed to maintain one salmon per individual. That meant we might solely preserve 4 fish. 

We really needed to put two salmon again within the water as a result of they had been too large. I didn’t even know that was a factor!

Fish conservation is severe enterprise in British Columbia. 

The mountains-meet-ocean landscapes on this space are gorgeous.

Above is both Learn Island or Cortes Island within the foreground, with the mainland mountains within the far backdrop.

I like the layers of mountains within the distance. It appears like a portray.

Watch the cruise ships at Painter’s Lodge

Throughout the summer season months, a number of cruise ships will sail by means of Discovery Passage every day. This slender strait connects to the Inside Passage, which is the route used for Alaska cruises to journey from Vancouver to Alaska, and vice versa.

We really handed by means of this very spot whereas on an Alaska cruise just a few years in the past. 

These mega-ships are enjoyable to observe because the cross by means of the channel. They really feel a lot nearer in actual life than within the images. Within the above picture, the ship is crusing south in direction of Vancouver. This was captured earlier than sundown, which might be approx. 8:30pm right now of 12 months.

This cruise ship would probably attain Vancouver in about 3 hours. Nonetheless, it may additionally be crusing to Seattle, which is one other departure level for Alaska cruises. If you wish to take a look at pricing for the precise cruise we did go right here.

Watch this video about sibling cruise ships passing one another. Sound on.

Would we advocate Painter’s Lodge?

Sure, we might advocate Painter’s Lodge to your subsequent journey to Campbell River. We loved our time and the salmon fishing was an enormous success.

Nonetheless, we expect it’s vital to set correct expectations. This resort is somewhat dated. It’s rated as a 3-star lodge. We agree with this ranking. 

On the time of publishing this publish, the Painter’s Lodge evaluations are 7.4/10 on Reserving.com, 8.0/10 on Resorts.com and three.9/5 on Google Opinions. We’d probably give an analogous fee of 4/5.

What we like:

• Spacious household rooms with plenty of choices and layouts to select from (rooms are clear and cozy)
• Nice location on the water
• Outside restaurant patio with unobstructed ocean views
• Fishing off the dock, easy accessibility for fishing journeys
• Worth for cash – it’s priced effectively when in comparison with different choices
• Breakfast and parking included with in a single day value

What we didn’t like:

• Pool and scorching tub closed throughout our go to (with no notification previous to arrival)
• Buildings and facilities are dated (health club and tennis courts, particularly)
• Restaurant had a restricted menu (plenty of gadgets unavailable) and dinner service was very sluggish

We spent a pair hours sitting in these chairs whereas our boys fished off the dock. It’s the right technique to spend a day within the Pacific Northwest!

How one can get to Painter’s Lodge Campbell River

Painter’s Lodge is situated at 1625 McDonald Rd, Campbell River, British Columbia.

The Painter’s Lodge web site doesn’t seem like lively. You’ll find extra data on lodge engines like google like Reserving.com and Resorts.com. Or you’ll be able to go to the Wyndham Resorts web site. 

To get from Vancouver to Campbell River you have to to take the ferry from Horseshoe Bay to Nanaimo. Or, you’ll be able to take the Tsawwassen (South of Vancouver) to Duke Level, Nanaimo.

The ferry takes about 1.5 hours. You should arrive a minimal of half-hour earlier than departure time.

Reservations are extremely really helpful, particularly on vacation weekends in the summertime.

If you arrive on the ferry terminal in Nanaimo you comply with the indicators to BC Freeway 19. Keep on this freeway and drive north to Campbell River. The drive takes about 1.5 hours. It’s approx. 160km from Nanaimo to Campbell River. 

See extra posts from Vancouver Island, British Columbia

Are you contemplating a go to to Painter’s Lodge Campbell River?

Go away us a remark beneath when you’ve got questions.