Yuquot

Understand

Yuquot means "where the wind blows from many directions". The site is believed to have been inhabited for over 4,300 years and is culturally and spiritually significant to the local Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nations. Before European contact, Yuquot was their summer home — sustaining a village of over 1,000 people — and one of their centers for whaling.

James Cook James Cook visited and named Friendly Cove in 1778, making uneasy but cordial contact with the community. Cook's two ships spent about a month in Nootka Sound, from 29 March to 26 April 1778, in what Cook called Ship Cove, now Resolution Cove, at the south end of Bligh Island, about 8 km (5.0 mi) east across Nootka Sound. Over the month-long stay, the Yuquot "hosts" essentially controlled the trade with the British vessels, instead of vice versa. Generally, the natives visited the British vessels at Resolution Cove, instead of the British visiting the village of Yuquot at Friendly Cove. Cook's Third Voyage journals were officially published in 1784, and aroused great interest in the fur-trading potential of the region. Even before 1784, unauthorized leaked bits had already set British merchants' eyes on the possible profits to be made. Cook's visit to Nootka Sound would later be used by the British in their claim to the region, even though Cook made no effort to formally claim possession. Spain countered by citing Juan Pérez, who had anchored in Nootka Sound in 1774.

Nootka Crisis

By the late 1780s, Nootka Sound was the most important anchorage on the northwestern coast. Russia, Britain, and Spain all made moves to occupy it for good. The King of Spain, Carlos IV, issued the Royal Order of 14 April 1789, requiring the establishment with "honour and firmness" of a colony at Nootka Sound. In May 1789, a Spanish expedition from Mexico, under commander Jose Esteban Martínez, arrived and erected Santa Cruz de Nuca (or Nuca), including houses, a hospital, and Fort San Miguel, the first European colony in

Getting there

Yuquot's only accessible by boat or floatplane. You can catch either from Gold River, which is the nearest roadhead and the end of BC Hwy 28.

By boat Arriving by boat is the most practical way to get in. Accessing Yuquot will be by using the 1 dock. Commercial operators and recreational boaters use the dock.

MV Uchuck III, ☏ +1 250-283-2515, toll-free: +1-877-824-8253. W & Sa only, last week of June through first week of Sep. Departs Gold River at 10AM and Yuquot at 2PM. An old minesweeper that ships cargo and passengers around Nootka Sound now. It provides twice weekly service between Gold River and Yuquot during the summer. Trip time is 2-2.5 hours in each direction. Adult $102, senior $97, youth $57. (updated May 2020) Maxi's Water Taxi, ☏ +1 250-283-2282. Charters available year round. Water taxi service that does trips between the wharf at Gold River and Yuquot. $270. (updated May 2020)

By plane Air Nootka, ☏ +1 250-283-2255, toll-free: +1-877-795-2255. Provides charter floatplane services in either their 3-seater Cessna or the 6-seater Beaver. Operates scenic flights and charter flights. $368/$500 (Cessna/Beaver) for Yuquot-Gold River. Price is for the plane, not per person. Cost is $662/900 if you want to be dropped off at Louie Lagoon (Nootka Trail trailhead). (updated May 2020)

Getting around

On foot It's a really tiny, roadless destination.

By kayak Bring your own. MV Uchuck III will deploy its hoist with a pallet, for a picturesque dropping. Take your selfies.

See

1 Yuquot Lighthouse (CCG IRB Station Nootka Lighthouse). Worth the hike for its beautiful views. Notable for being one of the few manned lighthouses remaining in Canada. (updated May 2020) 2 Yuquot church. Built in 1956, decommissioned as a church in the 1990s and turned into a cultural centre, housing replicas of totems and carvings. (updated May 2020) 3 Totem of Chief Maquinna. Picturesque outdoors totem with outstretched hands. (updated May 2020) The 4 west gravel side beach and 5 east side gravel beach are beautiful. 6 Discovery Cove (Ship Cove), 8 km east (enjoyably accessible by kayak). Captain Cook's chosen harbour when he visited. Two commemorative plaques are attached on "Plaque Rock", a few metres to the right of "Astronomer's Rock". The first plaque was placed by the federal government on 26 April 1978, the bicentenary of his departure; the second one, a few years later, by the Nootka Sound and British Columbia Captain Cook Bi-centennial Committee. (updated May 2020)

Do

Move your feet and enjoy the views.

1 Nootka Trail. A 35-km trek with beaches, waterfalls, old-growth forest and chances to see wildlife. Hazards to watch for include creek crossings, rough terrain with difficult footing and some beaches can't be crossed at high tide (tide tables are a must!). Typical hike times are 4-8 days. It's possible to start in Yuquot and hike to the end and back, but most are dropped off at Louie Lagoon at the north-end of the trail and hike southwards to Yuquot. There's a $50 fee to hike the trail, which permits camping and using facilities in Yuquot. The fee is paid at the office in the church in Yuquot. (updated May 2020)

Buy

There's a small gift shop in the church.

Sleep

1 The Cabins, ☏ +1 250-283-2015, [email protected]. Six cedar cabins — one on the ocean and five on a lake — roughly 1 km northeast of the dock. The cabins have a wood stove for heat, propane stove, foamies, composting toilets, cold water camp shower and camp-style kitchen equipment. Potable water is available from the staff. Guests will need to bring their own bedding and towels. $150 mid-June - mid-Sept, $75 at other times. (updated May 2020) 2 Campsites, ☏ +1 250-283-2015, [email protected]. Rustic campsites along the beach or near the village. $20. (updated May 2020) Wild camping is possible in other areas; travelogues by kayakers are available online.

Go next

The nearest community with road access is Gold River.