Know Before You Go

Find all you need to know about travelling with BC Ferries at bcferries.com.

Reservations are highly recommended. If you have questions about travel with BC Ferries, you can contact 1-888-BC Ferry, or www.bcferries.com/contact-us.

Always check DriveBC before heading out on the road to learn about the current conditions along your planned route, including webcams, closures, construction delays, or detours.

Please visit Emergency Info BC for updated details on emergencies including evacuation orders and alerts.

Whether spotting bears and eagles in the forest or seals, sea lions, and shorebirds along the estuary, please enjoy all wildlife safely from afar. Never feed, approach, or touch wild animals—human food harms their health and habituates them to people. Store food and garbage securely, keep dogs on a leash in sensitive wildlife habitats and salmon-spawning areas, and always pack out pet waste. For wildlife safety tips, visit WildSafeBC.

Help keep the Comox Valley’s trails, beaches, and backcountry pristine by practicing the seven principles of Leave No Trace:

• Plan Ahead & Prepare: Know local regulations, check trail and weather conditions, and pack reusable containers to minimize waste.

• Stick to Durable Surfaces: Stay on designated trails and camp only in established sites—avoid cutting switchbacks or trampling fragile coastal and alpine vegetation.

• Pack It In, Pack It Out: Bring home everything you bring with you, including food scraps, micro-trash, and pet waste bags. Where washrooms aren't available, follow backcountry sanitation rules (at least 60 metres away from water sources).

• Leave What You Find: Leave rocks, shells, driftwood, plants, and cultural or historical artifacts undisturbed so others can experience them too. Clean mud and seeds off boots, bikes, and gear to prevent the spread of invasive species.

• Be Considerate of Others: Yield to uphill hikers on narrow trails, keep noise levels down so nature can be heard, and keep pets leashed and under control.

Our coastal forests dry out quickly, making wildfire prevention a top priority across the Valley.

• Check Before You Burn: Always verify current provincial fire bans and local municipal bylaws (Comox, Courtenay, Cumberland, and Regional District beaches/parks) before lighting a campfire or beach fire.

• Use Designated Rings: Where fires are permitted, keep them small and use provided fire rings or stay below the high-tide line away from driftwood and vegetation. Never leave a fire unattended, and douse it completely with water—not sand—until ashes are cool to the touch. Visit BC Wildfire Service for active restrictions.

From Comox Lake to our rushing rivers and the Salish Sea, water is at the heart of life here.

• Be Water-Wise: Seasonal dry spells put pressure on local watersheds and salmon-bearing streams. Respect regional water restrictions, take shorter showers, and reuse hotel towels when possible.

• Stay Safe on the Water: Cold ocean temperatures, fast-moving river currents, and shifting tides can catch visitors off guard. Always wear a PFD, check tide tables before coastal walks or paddles, and stay off slippery, wave-swept rocks.

The Comox Valley is home to tight-knit neighbourhoods, working farms, and living Indigenous heritage.

• Respect Cultural Heritage: Never disturb archaeological features, clam gardens, middens, or culturally modified trees along shorelines and forest trails.

• Park & Tread Lightly: Use designated parking areas at trailheads and beach accesses—never block residential driveways, farm gates, or emergency access lanes. During peak summer weekends, pack your patience at popular dining spots and beaches.