Bamfield, B.C, February 2, 2022 – Opening in spring 2022, Outer Shores Lodge will welcome guests year-round for remarkable wildlife and cultural experiences in the splendour of British Columbia’s West Coast. Bordering Pacific Rim National Park Reserve and directly fronting Canada’s exposed west coast, but only a minute’s walk to a protected harbour to safely launch daily excursions, the intimate Outer Shores Lodge sits in an awe-inspiring location that has seen near continual habitation for more than 5,000 years.
Outer Shores Lodge guests will enjoy daily expert guided excursions of the ecology, culture, and rugged local scenery, exploring on hikes, by kayak, or by boat. They can also take time to independently explore the historic boardwalk town of Bamfield, the region’s lush rainforests, or the stunning west coast beaches. From the comfort of the lodge, situated only a few footsteps back from the shoreline, guests will be able to comfortably view an incredible variety of wildlife as well as jaw-dropping sunsets, and dramatic seasonal storms, all while enjoying delicious locally sourced meals created by Outer Shores’ award-winning chefs.
Outer Shores Lodge consists of six bedrooms and two cabins. The lodge itself features a great room with stone fireplace, spacious dining room (seating for 24), a commercial kitchen with secondary dining area, library, indoor steam shower, and workshop space. Each of the cabins is fully self-contained with a full kitchen and fireplace.
In addition to full-service packages, which include the guided excursions, Outer Shores Lodge is an ideal location for events such as a multi-family gatherings, retreats, workshops, weddings, executive team building, or reunions.
“Truthfully, there’s really no other location or lodge that we would have ever considered, but having explored most of British Columbia’s 26,000 km of shoreline aboard our vessel the Passing Cloud with Outer Shores Expeditions, we understand how truly unique and special this place is,” says Russell Markel, founder, owner, and operator of Outer Shores Lodge and Outer Shores Expeditions, an award-winning, niche adventure travel company specializing in small-group wildlife and cultural expeditions to Canada’s Haida Gwaii Archipelago, West Vancouver Island, and Great Bear Rainforest.
“I’m in a constant state of awe of the place and we are thrilled to soon be sharing it with guests,” said Scott Wallace, founder, owner, and operator of Outer Shores Lodge. “It’s incredible just how endlessly fascinating and joyful this place is, and how much everyone gets out of their time here.”
Both founders have a deep connection and personal history with the lodge and the local community, having taught at the lodge when it operated as an outpost for the School for Field Studies.
The lodge experiences will feature Outer Shores Expeditions’ well-honed approach to balancing escape, relaxation, education, conservation, inspiration, and connection throughout a guest’s stay. This compelling new partnership represents a continuation of Outer Shores Expeditions’ commitment to connecting people with nature, fostering stewardship, and reducing their footprint on the planet. That means working diligently to create experiences that maintain some of the highest levels of sustainability and for which the company was awarded a 2021 Ecostar Award, a 2019 Ecostar Award, and the 2015 Canadian Tourism Award for Sustainable Tourism and has earned the company carbon-neutral-certification and a Green Tourism Gold rating.
Outer Shores Lodge is owned and operated by two marine ecologists, Scott Wallace (PhD) and Russell Markel (PhD). Both owners taught coastal ecology and led numerous research programs at the lodge when it operated as an outpost for the US based School for Field Studies (1998-2003). Russell has combined his passion for marine ecology and tourism through a decade of operating the vessel-based company Outer Shores Expeditions. Outer Shores Lodge is an extension of this tourism model. Scott has worked for over two decades as a marine scientist, university instructor, and conservation advocate.
