Ucluelet

Wild Pacific Trail - This trail is perhaps the most dramatic in the region, as it follows the coast over rocky outcroppings and through the old-growth forest. Benches are strategically placed for optimal bird/whale-watching along this gravel/boardwalk trail. Be careful of large waves. Stay on the trail. wildpacifictrail.com
Lighthouse Loop - 3km. Beach access. Stairs - This section of the trail offers great views over Barkley Sound and the Broken Group Islands, and leads to the Amphritite Lighthouse and down to a pebble beach adjacent to Terrace Beach.
Big Beach to Bike Path - 8.5km one-way. Beach access. Stairs - This section is awe-inspiring. The many viewpoints provide breathtaking vistas and excellent opportunities to see migrating whales. Watch for blowspout sprays and even breaching whales!

Big Beach - Beach access. No stairs - This protected cove boasts a sandy/pebble beach strewn with driftwood is a great place for exploring tidepools or a picnic.

Little Beach - Beach access. No stairs - This pebble beach offers the same attractions and activities as Big Beach, only on a smaller scale.

Tofino

Tonquin Beach - Beach access. Stairs - The closest beach to downtown Tofino. The trailhead leads to a wooden staircase and down to a series of small beaches.

Lighthouse Trail - Currently under construction - This trail connects Tonquin Beach with Middle Beach overlooking Templar Channel and Wickaninnish Island.

Middle Beach - Beach access. Stairs - This small, secluded beach is a great place to escape the crowds.

MacKenzie Beach - Beach access. No stairs - A popular place for sunsets and tidepool exploring in Crystal Cove, at its south end.

Chesterman Beach - Beach access. No stairs - A great place for surfing and sunbathing. Explore the tidepools of Frank Island, accessible only around low-tide.

Cox Beach - 100m. No stairs - Unprotected by reefs or islands, this beach sees the biggest waves.

Tofino Mudflats - Road/Trail - Calm and quiet. A great place for bird-watching. Be Bear Smart. More Info

Pacific Rim National Park

Radar Hill - 100m one way. No beach. No stairs - The site of a WW2 radar station now offers unparalleled views of Clayoquot Sound and the Pacific Ocean.

Schooner Cove - 1km one-way. Beach access. Stairs - This boardwalk trail through the old-growth temperate rainforest takes you to the north end of Long Beach. The community of Esowista is located here.

Long Beach - Beach access. No stairs - World-famous for its vast expanse of pristine and endless white-sand beaches. 16km from one end to the other!
Combers Beach - Beach access. Stairs - A short boardwalk hike through the forest and over salmon-spawning streams to the miidle section of Long Beach.

Rainforest - 1km each loop. No beach. Stairs - Each loop of this trail is loacated on either side of the highway. A great place to immerse yourself in the temperate rainforest.

Shorepine Bog Trail - 800m. No beach. No stairs - This boardwalk loop is less than a km long. Stunted by the acidic soil of the bog, the Shorepine trees here resemble a overgrown Bonzai forest.

Wickaninnish Centre - Beach access. No stairs - Enjoy lunch overlooking the open Pacific ocean and explore the exhibits in the adjacent museum before heading down to the south end of Long Beach.

South Beach - 800m. Beach access. Stairs - From the Interpretive Centre, head down the boardwalk and stairs to this steep pebble beach. Be careful of large waves.

Nuu-chuh-nulth Trail - 2.5km one-way. Beach access. Stairs - This excellent interpretive trail connects Long Beach with Florencia Bay. Along the boardwalk and staircases are displays explaining aspects of the area's flora, fauna and First Nations culture.

Florencia Bay - Beach access. Stairs - Also known as Wreck Bay (due to the abundance of shipwrecks), this 7 km long beach is great for tidepool exploring and surfing.

Willowbrae Trail - Beach access. Stairs - Part of the original pioneer "Cordouroy Trail" which linked Ucluelet and Tofino, it leads to both Half Moon Bay and the south end of Florencia Bay.

Half Moon Bay - Beach access. Stairs - This secluded and seldom visited beach offers great opportunities to escape the crowds and a dip in the ocean on a hot day.

Hiking & Beaches
Hiking opportunities abound on the Pacific Rim. Ucluelet is home to the magnificent Wild Pacific Trail which winds its way along the coastline's rocky outcroppings. Tofino offers the Lighthouse Trail, endless beachcombing and exploration of its many tidepools.

However, the majority of hiking trails can be found in the Pacific Rim National Park. They range in length and difficulty, and provide insight and exposure to the fascinating temperate rainforest and beautiful beaches.

Below are detailed descriptions of the area's hiking trails. Please remember that the forests and beaches in the region are delicate and fragile ecosystems. Please treat them carefully and with respect. Stay on marked trails and obey posted signs. Do not feed wildlife. Do not litter or remove any part of the natural environment. Leave only footprints and take only photographs. Thank you.

 

Other Hiking Trails and Beaches

Big Tree Trail - 3km loop. No beach access. Stairs - Located on the tip of Meares Island across Browning Passage from Tofino, this trail winds through old-growth forest to the massive "Market Tree". Take a water taxi or make it part of a kayaking trip.

Ahous Trail - Currently under construction - Spanning the width of Vargas Island, this historic telegraph trail passes through bog areas and sand dunes. Cougars and wolves are common on Vargas Island. Please be careful and maintain a clean and secure campsite.
Wild Side Trail - 16km one-way. Beach access. Stairs - This trail traverses across the slopes of Mt. Flores as it links the Nuu-chah-nulth community of Ahousaht with the sandy beaches of Flores Island. Call 1-800-665-9425 for more information.

Kennedy Lake - Beach access. No stairs - The south shore of Kennedy Lake is a popular day-trip for many locals looking to escape the summer heat. A great place for a picnic and a dip in the lake.