The Cultural. The Coastal. The Calm.​

Spring on Saysutshun is a slower kind of spring. The forest floor starts to green up, coastal blooms line the shoreline, and the days stretch out a little longer. It only takes 10 minutes to get here from Nanaimo, but it feels like worlds away. Something about the water stretches the distance between you and whatever you left behind. And by the time the ferry docks, you’re already breathing a little slower.

Birds are back in the trees, wildlife starts to reappear, and you can feel right away that this place is different, shaped by the teachings and traditions of the Snuneymuxw First Nation. There’s history here, layered into the landscape, with cultural and archaeological sites throughout the island. Walking the trails and listening to the wind through the trees, you start to get a sense of the power that lives here. Awe-inspiring with every step, and something to experience with care and respect.

Starting May 1, the ferry to Saysutshun is back up and running every hour, making spring access easy. With spring comes fewer crowds, quieter trails, and a little more space to explore at your own pace. Pack up the dog, bikes, or camping gear and hop aboard. Once you’re there, you decide how you spend your time. Walk the trails, take the long way along the shoreline, or get out on the water. Or don’t. Sit on a log, watch the tide roll in, and let the day unfold.

With campsites reopening and picnic areas ready for the season, Saysutshun is exactly what spring should feel like: calm, uncrowded, and easy to settle into. Stay for a few hours or make a night of it. You’ll head back feeling a little more like yourself and probably already thinking about your next trip back.