Malcolm Island is one of BC’s beautiful Northern Gulf Islands in the Queen Charlotte Straight. Just a short 25 minute ferry from Port McNeil, Malcolm Island is a quiet and secluded gem. Known well for its incredible sea life and wildlife, it’s common to spot dolphins, whales, orcas, seals, sea lions, eagles, minks, and deer on and around the island. There is also a unique whale rubbing beach where local orcas come to rub on the pebbles close to shore! The island truly is a special place and makes for a perfect getaway from Vancouver island or mainland BC. We highly recommend it and can’t wait to return! Keep reading for a full guide to Malcolm Island!
When to Visit
You can visit Malcolm Island all year round, but the most popular time is during the summer! Be sure to plan your visit between June and September for the warmest temperatures and sunniest days. During the winter months it can get quite cold and wet in the Mount Waddington Region, but the island is still a beautiful place for a quiet escape. We visited in July and had perfect weather for sightseeing. Nearly every day was clear, warm, and a mix of sun and clouds. We also caught some gorgeous sunsets!
What to Do
Most people are drawn to Malcolm Island for the incredible wildlife, and there is plenty of hiking, fishing, whale watching, and sightseeing to do. We spent a week exploring the island and still feel like there was more to see! Here is our list of must-do activities for your visit:
Whale Watch at Bere Point Regional Park
Bere Point is probably the most well known attraction on the island because of its popular whale rubbing beach! Local orcas will come to rub on the smooth pebbles not far from shore, and it’s an incredible opportunity to see them so close. This is a behaviour that is specific to the community of orcas in this region, and there is a viewing platform set up to watch from. You may want to visit this spot a couple times during your trip to increase your chances of seeing them. You may also spot humpback whales! Bere Point is about 6km outside of Sointula, the small town on Malcolm Island. You can drive there from the ferry in about 10 minutes, and it’s only a short hike to the first viewing platform or an easy walk down to the beach. For a longer hike you can do the Beautiful Bay Trail, which is a 10km round-trip trail with beautiful views of the ocean, mountains, and rainforest. Keep in mind that the drive outside of town is on dirt roads and you may lose cell service.
Visit Big Lake
This lake is a popular swimming hole for locals during the summertime and it’s a great spot to bring a picnic and relax during your visit. You can drive there in about 10 minutes from the centre of town (on dirt roads), or you can hike to it on the 6km Mateoja Heritage Trail. Nearby is Little Lake and Melvin’s Bog. We spent a quiet afternoon here letting our dog play around on the sandy beach and enjoying the water views! Highly recommend!
Hike to the Pulteney Point Lighthouse
About a 25 minute drive outside of town is the trail to the Pulteney Point Lighthouse. This was probably one of our favourite attractions that we visited! Sitting on the Southwestern tip of the island, the views at the lighthouse are beautiful. It’s about a 10 minute hike through the forest and another 10-15 minute walk along a rocky beach. We recommend going during low tide so you have plenty of room to walk and enjoy the sights. The first lighthouse at this spot was built in 1905, and the current lighthouse has been there since 1943. It’s a must-see!
Explore the Town of Sointula
Sointula means ‘place of harmony’ in Finnish, which is very fitting for this blissful little town. It’s a tight-knit community that is incredibly welcoming, and as soon as you step off the ferry you will feel right at home. The town consists of the amazing Oceanfront Hotel, a co-op store (which is the oldest in Western Canada!), a bakery, a museum, a cafe, and a resource centre. It’s also known for having a wonderful arts scene, being home to talented local artists and musicians. You can learn more about the history of the town at the Sointula Museum, and visit the resource centre if you need any assistance during your stay!
Have Lunch at Coho Joe Cafe
Be sure to visit the local cafe for coffee, breakfast, or lunch during your visit. Everything is made from scratch, and they are open 9am-2:30pm every day. The owners are lovely and hosted us for lunch during our stay on the island, and even made something vegan for us! The food was fresh and delicious, and it makes for a great opportunity to chat with some of the locals. The cafe is a popular spot for both residents and tourists. Enjoy!
Where to Stay
The main accommodations on the island are at The Oceanfront Hotel. This beautiful beachfront property has incredible ocean views and cozy rooms. We loved our stay there and it was in the perfect location for enjoying the town of Sointula and exploring the rest of the island. It is steps from the ferry and right on the beach! For more about the hotel we have a full article all about it which you can read here.
Another popular place to stay on Malcolm Island is in Bere Point Regional Park. There are 29 campsites, with many of them offering beautiful views of the water. These are un-serviced sites with no hydro or running water. We saw the campsites when we visited the park to whale watch and they looked like a great place to stay! Your last option would be at a small guesthouse, cottage, or B&B on the island. You can find a full list of options here.
Where to Eat & Drink
Coho Joe Cafe is your best option for breakfast and lunch right in town. If you head out to the marina you can also try Burger Barn, which is another popular spot! The Oceanfront Hotel has a pub, which is the only evening establishment, so be sure to check it out for dinner and drinks. (The pub is currently closed due to COVID-19 regulations, but they’ve opened up a take-out window! Open for lunch and dinner every day 11:30am-1:30pm and 5pm-8pm). In the summertime you may see some farmer’s market stands and lemonade stands so keep an eye out for these! The co-op general store will have some grocery options, and if you have any dietary restrictions you can also bring along what you need. We’re both vegan so we packed a lot of our own food to prepare for our stay on the island. We stayed in the Green Lodge 3 Apartment at The Oceanfront Hotel, which had a full kitchen, making it easy to cook our own meals during our visit!
Lesbian Friendly
We will never stop talking about how fortunate we are to be from Canada, one of the most LGBTQ+ friendly countries in the world. Vancouver and its surrounding areas are incredibly welcoming to lesbian travellers and we have always enjoyed our experiences travelling locally in our province. Even in such a remote destination as Malcolm Island, we were welcomed warmly by the locals and nobody even remarked on us being a same-sex couple. We felt completely safe and free to be ourselves, and had no issues being out and open during our visit. This is a great destination for LGBTQ+ travellers and we highly recommend it! The Oceanfront Hotel is extremely welcoming, and all the business owners in Sointula are lovely, friendly people. We had plenty of great conversations with locals during our stay and we found everyone to be very kind and open-minded. They love having visitors and will make you feel right at home! Malcolm Island should definitely go on your travel list as a lesbian friendly destination.
Has anyone else visited Malcolm Island? Let us know in the comments!
Disclosure: This post is in no way sponsored by Malcolm Island Tourism. The Oceanfront Hotel Sointula did generously host us for our stay, and we had a wonderful experience at their property. We truly enjoyed our time on the island and will definitely be returning.
