August 18, 2025
5 NUU-CHAH-NULTH-OWNED CAMPGROUNDS ON VANCOUVER ISLAND
These lands and waters on Vancouver Island have been stewarded by Nuu-chah-nulth Peoples since time immemorial. When you choose to stay at Indigenous-owned and operated campgrounds, RV resorts, and cabins you not only contribute to that continued stewardship but help support capacity building, employment opportunities, and economic development. Whether you’re coming to unwind on white sand beaches, surf or SUP the Pacific Ocean, wind or kite surf on an ocean fjord, hike the co-managed Pacific Rim National Park Reserve or the West Coast Trail, there are breathtaking beachfront and forested sites—both serviced and completely unplugged—to choose from. Plan your visit respectfully, practice Leave No Trace, and take this opportunity to learn more about Nuu-chah-nulth culture.
Embrace your visit at these 5 Nuu-chah-nulth-owned campgrounds:
TSAWAAK RV RESORT & CAMPGROUND—TOFINO, BC
Nestled in the west coast rainforest, at Tla-o-qui-aht-owned Tsawaak RV Resort & Campground you can choose from tent and RV sites, an RV rental, or cozy mini-longhouses — all just a short walkway away from Tin̓uwis, pronounced Ti-nu-wis (aka MacKenzie Beach).
The Visitor Centre offers camp supplies, stunning Indigenous art, and Moss & Milk Café (8 a.m.–3 p.m. weekdays, 8–5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays).
Check out Tsawaak’s affordable “& Stay” Packages, featuring onsite and local partners for eco-marine tours, kayaking, Surf & SUP, Ebike rentals, and a beachfront Nordic sauna.
Open year-round. Long-term stays available October–May.
SECRET BEACH CAMPGROUND & KAYAK LAUNCH—UCLUELET, BC
Toquaht-owned Secret Beach Campground offers a remote west coast camping experience with a marina and kayak launch on Barkley Sound. This is the departure point for the spectacular Broken Group Islands, just a 13.8 km paddle away (overnight stays booked separately through Parks Canada).
Secret Beach campsites feature firepits and picnic tables and can accommodate an RV and a single car, or 2 tents (tent platforms only near the launch). Access is via Toquaht Bay gravel road (13 km off Hwy 4) — pack in your own water supply.
There is no cell service onsite, but WiFi is available at the office. A recreational pump track onsite is perfect for bikes, skateboards, roller blades, and scooters.
Open May–September 15th.
PACHENA BAY CAMPGROUND—BAMFIELD, BC
Huu-ay-aht-owned Pachena Bay Campground offers beachfront and forested campsites on a stunning stretch of beach. Options include serviced and unserviced RV and tent sites, as well as communal sites for hikers accessing the West Coast Trail (registration with Parks Canada required).
Located 5 km south of Bamfield, there is a new entrance to the campground road off Franklin Road. Bamfield can be accessed by chip-seal or gravel logging roads (1.5–2.5 hours’ drive depending on the route), by boat on the MV Frances Barkley, or by seaplane with Pacific Seaplanes. Directions are available on the campground website.
PACHEEDAHT CAMPGROUND, PORT RENFREW, BC
This remote Pacheedaht-owned campground, located on the southwest coast of Vancouver Island, is nestled between two rivers along a mile of rugged coastal beach. Choose from beachfront, riverside, and forested sites for tents and RVs.
This is a hiker’s paradise with access to the West Coast Trail (registration with Parks Canada required) and day hikes to China Beach, Mystic Beach, and Botanical Beach in Juan de Fuca Park.
Planning ahead is recommended to ensure you bring the essentials.
Open year-round.
NITINAHT LAKE CAMPGROUND
Operated by the Ditidaht People since 2006, Nitinaht Lake Campground is located on an ocean fjord with easy access to the Caycuse River — a mecca for kite surfers and windsurfers, as well as hikers accessing the mid-entry point to the West Coast Trail (registration with Parks Canada required) and the millennia-old coastal rainforest in Carmanah/Walbran Park.
Campsites for tents and RVs, as well as cabins, are available. Day use is $20 per vehicle. Pay-per-use WiFi hotspots are available.
Open April–September 28.
For a complete list of Indigenous-owned Campgrounds, RV Resorts, and Cabins across BC visit Indigenous Tourism BC Here.