Port Hardy - also a major ferry terminal for mainland British Columbia - offers a jumping off point to the wilds of North Vancouver Island. Named for Sir Thomas Hardy, captain of the HMS Victoria during the Battle of Trafalgar, Port Hardy's 5,500 people enjoy some of the most spectacular scenery in all British Columbia. Primarily dependent on logging and fishing, Port Hardy is also becoming a first-rate destination for anyone with a yen for the outdoors. From diving to kayaking, hiking to fishing, Port Hardy has services for all types of eco-adventure and outdoor recreation. If you're after salmon, try Dillon Point, Daphne Point, Duval Point, Gordon Island and Hardy Bay itself. All five species of west coast salmon (chinook, chum, sockeye, coho and pink) can be caught in the Port Hardy area. Freshwater anglers should try Kains Lake. On the road to the tiny village of Holberg, Kains Lake has a good number of small cutthroat. Nearby Georgia Lake has cutthroat, a recreation site and launch for small boats. The Quatse River has a good steelhead run from February to April and some sea-run cutthroat. While you're there, check out the salmon hatchery or the bird sanctuary, home to several species including eagles and kingfishers. Hikers will want to check out Tex Lyon Trail. Starting at the boat launch at Beaver Harbor Park, this seven-kilometer (one way) coastal trail goes through both forests and rocky shorelines. The trail ends at Dillon Point, a great place for a picnic. At Georgie Lake, the Songhees Trail is an easy three-kilometer (one way) hike. If you're fished out, check out Port Hardy's scenic 18-hole golf course. Or stroll along the oceanside nature path and watch for seals, sea lions and otters. At the local museum, you can delve into the history of the area. Port Hardy is a convenient jumping off point for other wilderness spots on North Vancouver Island, particularly Cape Scott Provincial Park. A 21,800-hectare area of rugged coastal wilderness, Cape Scott is 67 kilometers west of Port Hardy via a logging road that passes through the tiny community of Holberg.