The Lodge at Gold River is a remote luxury lodge, located on the banks of northern Vancouver Island’s Gold River, just minutes’ from Strathcona Provincial Park. Access is by plane to Campbell River Airport, or a scenic ferry and car journey from Vancouver. Fly fisherman Roderick Haig-Brown made the Gold River famous for salmon and steelhead fishing in BC.
The Lodge accommodates 18 guests under its handsome log construction. Each room has its own fireplace, seating area and outdoor patio with direct access to the river. The great room in the Lodge is the central gathering place for guests, with its grand fireplace, library, bar, sitting room and dining room, all graced by an international collection of sculptures, carvings and native west coast masks. The property boasts 1,200 ft. of riverfront, a large casting pond, a massage tent, and landscaped gardens planted with native shrubs.
Operating year round, The Lodge at Gold River specializes in heli-fly fishing, river and lake fishing, as well as saltwater fishing for avid anglers as well as beginners. Heli-fly fishing excursions to remote inlets on the West Coast attract hardy fishermen looking for a spring cutthroat trout fishery, while the Gold River has quite a storied past of winter run steelhead. In summer saltwater fishing beckons when feisty Chinook salmon challenge guests to an exciting day on the ocean, and late fall has its own appeal as Coho and Chinook reach fresh water and demand more experienced casting.
After a day on the water, guests return to the grand lodge for cocktails on the riverside patio or in the art-filled great room, as they swap tales of fish caught and released; others may opt for an in-room massage to round off their day. The lodge specializes in West Coast cuisine, with Vancouver Island venison, fresh seafood or Saltspring Island lamb starring on the menu.