Nitinat River

Guide Scott Blewett with a chinook salmon, Nitnat River

From its source in the remote mountains of central Vancouver Island, the Nitinat River flows through Nitinat Lake and the Pacific Rim National Park (West Coast Trail Unit) before discharging into the Pacific Ocean east of Bamfield.

Access to the Nitinat is via the Nitinat Main logging road off the Franklin South Main road to the town of Bamfield.

The Nitinat is a good river for flyfishing.

A small run of summer steelhead occurs in June and early July, with a run of winter steelhead in February, March and early April. The lower section of the river and the mouth of the Nitinat are productive for cutthroat, and Chinook salmon fishing is good from August to September, thanks to the native Nitinat Fish Hatchery in the lower river.

Coho and chum salmon runs are good in October and November.

Black Bear tracks, Nitinat River

Nearest Town: Lake Cowichan

Nearest Lake: Cowichan Lake

Nearest Park:
Hitchie Creek Provincial Park

Additional Info: Camping facilities are available at the Nitinat Lake Recreation Site.

The nearby Nitinat Triangle is a very popular island canoe route.