Telegraph Cove - Sea Kayak Destination

Part of the experience on coming to the area is to visit the quaint broad walk village of Telegraph Cove. It is the focal departure point for sea kayaking, whale watching, bear watching, sports fishing and time for me vacations. It is a perfect place to start your sea kayaking trip whether you are paddling out of the cove, being transported to the Broughton Group of islands, or starting your trip at Paddlers Inn. Telegraph Cove offers three options for accommodations. Book well in advance to guarantee that you get to stay where you choice to. 

We also have a well established sea kayaking company that has offered guided day and multi-day sea kayaking adventures for over twenty years at www.orcaseakayaking.com.

Recreational pursuits based on nearby abundant wildlife and marine life are encouraging more people to find and part take in a day or multi-day wilderness experience. You can go bear viewing or just stroll the boardwalk and take in the Giant Fin Whale Skeleton in the Telegraph Cove Museum/Bones Project, a non profit, volunteer-driven museum of marine mammal bones.  Visiting Telegraph Cove is a must if you want the complete experience of  outdoor adventures on Northeastern Vancouver Island.

Local History

Telegraph Cove, on Northeastern Vancouver Island, BC, began as a telegraph station in 1911 (the telegraph line still can be found along the new trail to Blinkhorn); in the 1920’s, the Japanese built a successful salmon saltery, later a sawmill to build to provide shipping boxes for the salmon export; and as Canada entered into WWII telegraph coves location became important as a very busy sawmill town. Logging and local transport took over over the next decade. The Grahams (Gordie & Marilyn) purchased the cove from Wastell and put in the first campground in the North Island, not to mention the start of an active sport fishery.  As we entered the 60’s logging was in decline and the cove became just another quiet small village on the Coast of BC. In the late 60’s Jim Borrowmen and Bill McKay changed all that.  Thanks to their dedication and insight a whale watching industry started to take shape. Mr. B. Wagner am American, moved into develop the adjacent property is the late 80’s. moved a great deal of gravel, made a hell of lot of noise (dawn to dusk) and finally established a subdivision of homes on the east side of the cove. I brought a condo on B. Wagner side of the cove but gave it up in the light of the development failing and lossing my investment. The facilities are well kept and comfortable for all ages. Recent expansion on the Telegraph Cove Resorts Side has added a number of services to encourage folks to stay in the cove.  A quaint boardwalk leads us to a fully service restaurant and adjacent pub. Just a little further down the boardwalk is a coffee stop and the bones museum (life long hobby of Jim Borrowman). At time during the summer you can sit on the large beams at the end of boardwalk and watch Orca Whales surface in front of the cove. Recently Stubbs Island Whale Watching sold, Jim Borrowman remains a resident of the Cove; Bill McKay moved to Port McNeill and starting his business, McKay Whale Watching and B.Wagne has since pasted on. A new whale watching company has moved into the Cove, bear watching trips are still available and a new brand of adventurers are slow returning to enjoy what we all have enjoy for years. Telegraph Cove remains to be a MUST STOP if you visit the North Island.....highly recommended. lwr. 2024

Friends Who Love Telegraph Cove (on facebook)   

This is a private websites for folks who have stayed a summer or two at Telegraph Cove Resorts. It is a tribute to the undying determination of Gordie Graham to keep Telegraph Cove original!  No small feat during challenging times....my hat goes off to you .....Sir Gordie....lwr....2024.