Driftwood Sculptures

Start at the whale in Willow Point and walk or bike north on the Seawalk past Sarah and Peabody. The Unicorn is a short drive inland.

Drift the Humpback Whale. A juvenile humpback about 9 metres long, set on the grass above the beach at Ken Forde Park in Willow Point. The biggest piece in town, and the one most people find first.

Sarah the Herrerasaurus. Sarah started out in 2018 as a raptor on the Willow Point shoreline. She was damaged in 2020, and after a community crowdfunding drive Alex rebuilt her as a Herrerasaurus. She crouches in the bushes beside the Seawalk, so look carefully.

Peabody the Raccoon. Campbell River’s unofficial greeter (2017). Peabody stands at Rotary Beach Park on the Seawalk and waves at traffic on Highway 19A, and he is often dressed up for holidays and local events.

The Unicorn. A driftwood unicorn (2020) at the Robron Centre, a few minutes inland from the Seawalk.

While you’re there: grab a coffee at Serious Coffee or Dave’s Bakery before the whale, and finish with dinner at SoCal or Miki’s Sushi.

From the Visitor Centre on the Island Highway, north past the marinas to Tyee Spit.

Fergus the Fox. Fergus (2017) lives at the Campbell River Visitor Centre. He has also ridden on top of Toasty, the Beach Fire Brewing mobile.

Richard the Seal. Richard (2018) sits outside Dockside Fish & Chips by the Coast Marina downtown, where real harbour seals also hang around.

Chadwick the Cougar. Chadwick (2018) prowls Dick Murphy Park on Tyee Spit, greeting people on their way to the beach and the float planes.

While you’re there: the Campbell River Art Gallery, the shops on Shoppers Row, a show at the Tidemark Theatre and a pint at Beach Fire Brewing.

Bruce, the salmon and Quinnie are a five-minute walk apart in Campbellton, near the mouth of the Campbell River.

Bruce on Spruce. Bruce the black bear (2021) stands on the river’s edge at the end of Spruce Street in Campbellton River Village.

Spawning Chinook Salmon. A male and a female spawning Chinook (2022) at The River Nook, the riverside parklette on 19th Avenue.

Quinnie the Black Bear Cub. A smaller bear (2022) keeps the salmon company at The River Nook.

While you’re there: lunch at More Eatery on Spruce and the Island Highway, brunch at the Ideal Cafe across the bridge, or On The Rocks Climbing Gym. Campbellton is also the way in to the Canyon View, Quinsam and Elk Falls trails (see Hiking).

Take the 10-minute ferry to Quathiaski Cove and drive across the island to Rebecca Spit and the We Wai Kai Campground.

Mayhew the Sasquatch. Like any sasquatch, Mayhew (2018) is hard to find. He is tucked away off the main path at Rebecca Spit Marine Provincial Park on Quadra Island.

Athena the Eagle, with Bean and Fry. A bald eagle and her two eaglets (2020) at the We Wai Kai Campground beside Rebecca Spit.

Mordecai the Humpback Whale. A second humpback (2020), also at the We Wai Kai Campground.

Every sculpture here is by Campbell River artist Alex Witcombe, who builds them from driftwood washed up on local beaches. Many were donated as public art, and new ones appear every few years, so tell us if you spot one we missed. See more of his work at driftedcreationsart.ca.

Photos: Destination Campbell River (campbellriver.travel), including Bluetree Photography; Chadwick the Cougar by David Stanley (CC BY 2.0).