subject: Sayward, Vancouver Island, Bc, Canada [print this page] Sayward is located on Kelsey Bay in a spectacular setting of the Sayward Valley, along the Johnstone Strait, in the North Central part of Vancouver Island.
Sayward was established in the 1890s at the mouth of the Salmon River and was known as Port Kusum. Settlers arrived by boat and pushed inland into the lush valley.
Today Sayward is a small logging town on Johnstone Strait and features a log sort where cut logs are brought to be sorted before being transported south.
Sayward offers visitors all the amenities including moorage, accommodations, a recreation centre, shopping, and more. The Village of Sayward offers most services including a post office, RCMP office, ambulance station, regional library, groceries, gas and a liquor store.
In addition to a village center, Sayward offers many recreational opportunities in and around the village, including sport fishing charters, killer whale watching tours, wildlife viewing, world class caving, eco tours etc. Of course there are great places to eat, clean accommodations, and several pubs to relax in after a long drive or hike.
It is also natural playground with unbelievable opportunities for exploration and recreation. Outdoor recreation includes caving, kayaking, hiking, whale watching, and wild life viewing. The Kusam Klimb, held in late June, is now ranked as one of the most challenging wilderness races anywhere.
Kelsey Bay harbour is the only small craft harbour located between Campbell River and Port McNeill on the Johnstone Straits. It offers a recently overhauled and rebuilt loading ramp, a derrick, a wave reduction system. Electricity and marine gas is also available.
Daily charters take visitors whale watching into nearby Robson Bight, the only sanctuary in the world created to protect and preserve the killer whales (Orcas) that flock to the region in 'pods' of 20 or more. There are other charters for wildlife, site-seeing tours, or to take anglers out fishing for salmon which are so plentiful, some people just cast from the dock or shore! In Sayward, nature truly is 'right out side the door.
