A historic coal-shipping port on Vancouver Island's east coast — close to Denman Island ferry access, waterfront trails, and rich fishing waters
Union Bay is a small waterfront community on the east coast of Vancouver Island, located just south of Fanny Bay and about 15 minutes from the Buckley Bay ferry terminal that connects to Denman Island. Once a bustling coal-shipping port, Union Bay today is a quiet, scenic community with a rich history, waterfront walking trails, and easy access to the marine waters of Baynes Sound.
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, Union Bay was one of the most important coal-shipping ports on the Pacific coast. Coal mined from the nearby Cumberland mines was transported by rail to Union Bay's deep-water wharf, where it was loaded onto ships bound for San Francisco, Alaska, and ports across the Pacific. At its peak, the community had hotels, stores, a hospital, and a population that far exceeded today's quiet village.
Remnants of this industrial past are still visible along the waterfront. The old coal wharf pilings stand in the bay, now encrusted with marine life and serving as perches for cormorants and eagles. The Union Bay Historical Society maintains a small museum and interpretive displays that tell the story of the community's coal-mining era and its transition to the peaceful residential area it is today.
Union Bay's waterfront offers some of the best easy walking on this stretch of coast. The shoreline trails wind through second-growth forest and along rocky beaches with views across Baynes Sound to Denman Island. At low tide, the tidal flats reveal a rich intertidal zone — sea stars, anemones, crabs, and the occasional octopus in the rocky pools.
Birdwatching is excellent here year-round. In winter, the bay fills with surf scoters, buffleheads, and goldeneyes, while great blue herons stalk the shallows. Bald eagles nest in the tall Douglas firs along the shore, and during the herring spawn in late winter, the concentration of seabirds and marine mammals visible from shore is extraordinary.
Union Bay and the surrounding area offer a range of accommodation options, from vacation rentals and B&Bs to campgrounds. The community is well-positioned for visitors planning multi-day trips to the islands — you can stay on the Vancouver Island side, take the ferry to Denman for a fishing charter or sightseeing tour with Captain Pat, and be back for dinner.
There's a boat ramp at Union Bay suitable for launching small vessels into Baynes Sound. The general store and a few local eateries provide basic supplies. For more extensive shopping, restaurants, and services, the Comox Valley (Courtenay/Comox) is about 25 minutes north.
Union Bay is located on Highway 19A (the Old Island Highway), approximately 25 minutes south of Courtenay and 75 minutes north of Nanaimo. The Buckley Bay ferry terminal — where BC Ferries departs for Denman Island — is about 15 minutes north along the highway. The Comox Valley Airport (YQQ) is the nearest airport, roughly 30 minutes away.
From Union Bay, it's an easy day trip to Denman Island and beyond. Catch the morning ferry, spend the day fishing or touring with Captain Pat, and return in the evening. Or head to Fanny Bay for fresh oysters on the way home — it's only five minutes up the road.
Union Bay puts you minutes from the Denman Island ferry and some of the best fishing, sightseeing, and wildlife viewing on the BC coast. Captain Pat and Big Coast Marine Adventures are ready to take you out on the water — whether it's salmon fishing, a tour of the sea lion colonies at Norris Rocks, or a water taxi to Hornby Island.