Has anyone been to either or both of these places? There's a big difference in cost for our family, with Cluxewe being less than half the price of Hidden Cove. Thanks!

Hi,

Cluxewe has some very nice cabins just along the ocean front at the mouth of the Cluxewe River. They are part of a campground complex which has about 120 sites. The cabins are a bit away from the campground. Cabins are clean and quite new with all of the basic amenties including barbeques. We stayed there a couple of years ago in early Sept and enjoyed the place.

I've stayed at Hidden Cove Lodge twice -both times in August. You are about a 15 minute drive from Telegraph Cove.
The lodge was hand built by the owners and is quite nice. The bedrooms are simple but fine. You are really paying for the location which is [not surprisingly] on an isolated little cove overlooking the ocean.

The food is good [although perhaps a bit pricy for a family], the owners friendly, and the lodge affords lots of wildlife watching opprtunities right on the grounds.

A neat feature is that MacKay Whale Watching, my favourite local whale tour operator, will pick you up right at the lodge dock.

Please let me know if you have other questions.

cheers

Jerry

Thanks for your help Jerry! Having never been to Vancouver Island, it's very nice to have help sorting out destinations, distances, etc.!

I inquired at Hidden Cove Lodge about availability and all they have right now is the cabin at $299/night. By contrast, the cabins at Cluxewe Resort are $125/night. I was just wondering what accounts for the huge difference. Is it mainly location?

In a 10-day trip, starting in Victoria, how many nights would you suggest for Telegraph Cove/Port McNeill and how many for Tofino?

Would we be missing anything by not including the Gulf Islands?

Our family (we have 3 teenagers)really enjoys wildlife, hiking, and being on the water (though we are just beginners on kayaks). Our girls also love cute little towns and shops, so if we can work that in some way that would be great.

Thanks again for your help!

Hidden Cove lodge has a very peacfull location. Black bears visit sometimes the garden. The Lodge is served by a tour operator offering whale whatching tours for the Lodge visitors. Hidden Cove lodge has a more remote location than Cluxewe Resort. Hidden Cove Lodge can be reached via a small gravel road. You will need a car or water taxi to reach the Lodge.

I'm *also* interested in these spots.
And trying to decide between Hidden Cove & Telegraph Cove Resorts, which looks quaint. May put up a separate posting about that spot. Sounds like they have renovated some spots recently.

Are there any dining options if staying at Hidden Cove? Do they do dinners, too? Is it really frequent that someone might see bears there?

We, too, could use advice on how to allocate time between Tofino & Telegraph Cove. Thinking 2-3 nights up north...and maybe 3-4 in Tofino w/a start in Victoria or ending there. (have been several times)

Like Jules...just trying to decide whether to add in time for the Gulfs. We've been & LOVE them. (been to SaltSpring, Mayne & Galiano briefly)

So much beauty, too little time!
Decisions, decisions!

Oh & Jules...when in August are you going there? If your kids like cute little towns...I think SaltSpring Island might be fun for them!! Quaint...lots of artists...perhaps a bit more 'vibe' to it than Tofino for teens, but I can't be sure never having been to Tofino.

Have been to Salt Spring twice, I think. Ganges & Fulford Harbor, both cute areas. Might want to include 2 nights if you have the opportunity.

Regarding bears -there are black bears in that area, not grizzlies, in case you were wondering. We've stayed twice at Hidden Cove and visited friends there on another occasion. Out of about 7 days there we saw bears maybe five of the seven days. Of course they are wild creatures so nothing is guaranteed but there is a good chance in that area. Black-tailed deer are common as well.

Dining option from Hidden Cove include the lodge restaurant, the restaurant at Telegraph Cove [15 minutes] and several in Port McNeill [25 minutes or so drive...]

Jerry

Thanks so very much again for the help. Your assistance is priceless to so many here, I'm sure (who may never post) but glean much from your postings.