Ucluelet BC, Pacific Rim, West Coast Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada

Hiking at Amphitrite Point

Hiking: The Wild Pacific Trail in Ucluelet skirts the rugged cliffs and shoreline of the westcoast. Overlooking Barkley Sound and the Broken Group Islands to the east and the open Pacific Ocean to the south and west, it offers spectacular shoreline panoramas and seaward vistas through ancient cedar and spruce-framed viewing platforms constructed on the best headlands along the route.
The first segment of the trail is a 30-45 minute loop off Peninsula Road, using the adjoining He-Tin-Kis Park boardwalk, and passing Amphitrite Point Lighthouse. The trailhead for the main part of the trail is at Terrace Beach, with the trail hugging the coastline all the way to Halfmoon Bay in Pacific Rim National Park.
The extensive network of trails in the Pacific Rim National Park is provided for hikers only - no bikes or horses are permitted, and motorized vehicles are not allowed on the park's beaches or trails. The hiking trails are designed to expose visitors to the miles of quiet sandy shoreline and to the truly wonderful forests of the region - whilst preventing any damage to the fragile environment.
The Willowbrae Trail to the beach is accessed from a parking lot off Highway 4, 2 km south of the Ucluelet/Tofino Junction. Part of the original land route between Ucluelet and Tofino, the trail ends with a steep decline to the beach at the southern end of Florencia Bay. A Boardwalk, stairs and handrails are provided to assist hikers on the trail. The first section of Halfmoon Bay Trail is the same as Willowbrae Trail. A fork to the left takes you down a steep, winding staircase to Halfmoon Bay, a small secluded cove to the south of Florencia Bay.

Fishing: Open-ocean fishing occurs far offshore from Ucluelet and Tofino. The continental shelf runs west of the two ports for almost 20 miles (30 km) to La Perouse Bank, an undersea plateau that forms the leading edge of British Columbia's coastline. This is where the action happens, where the currents, swells, and weather combine. It will take you almost two hours of bucking the swells to reach the nutrient-rich waters, so prepare yourself with warm clothing and antinausea protection.
The Barkley Sound offers more tyees than anywhere on the west coast! Salmon aren't the only fish in the ocean - halibut and cod also promise thrilling catches. In general, the Alberni Inlet and Barkley Sound offer year-round fishing. Salmon school in the inlet before ascending to the spawning grounds. Large runs of sockeye from the Stamp/Somass River system and Henderson Lake, and chinook from the Robertson Creek Hatchery, swim past Bamfield on their way to Alberni Inlet rivers. The Alberni Inlet on Vancouver Island is a long, narrow flute that leads 25 miles (40 km) inland to Port Alberni from the open ocean of Barkley Sound and the Pacific Ocean.

Herring Spawn: In February and March, herring gather in large numbers to spawn on the northern shore of Barkley Sound, particularly in Vernon Bay, drawing resident feeder chinook into the deep-water holding areas.

Pacific Rim National Park is the only national park on Vancouver Island, providing protection for substantial rain forests and an amazing marine environment on the west coast of Vancouver Island. The full force of the mighty Pacific Ocean mercilessly pounds the constantly changing shores of this rugged coastline. This unique park encompasses nearly 50,000 hectares of land and ocean in three separate geographic units - Long Beach, the Broken Group Islands, and the West Coast Trail. Features of the park include long sandy beaches, an island archipelago, old-growth coastal temperate rainforest, and significant Nuu-chah-nulth archaeological sites.

Long Beach north of Ucluelet

Long Beach: Located between the villages of Tofino and Ucluelet, the Long Beach unit is the most accessible and most developed component of the Pacific Rim National Park and is open year-round. Named for its 12 mile stretch of surf-swept sand, Long Beach offers outstanding beach hiking and much more. The Broken Group Islands : A pristine archipelago made up of more than 100 rocky islands and islets in Barkley Sound, the Broken Group Islands can only be reached by boat. Eagles, sea lions, and marine life abound, and tide pools and dozens of sandy pocket beaches beckon the nature enthusiasts and photographer. West Coast Trail: This 48 mile trail between Bamfield and Port Renfrew along the southwestern coast of the Island was constructed at the turn of the century as a lifesaving trail for shipwrecked mariners. Hikers are required to cross deep gullies on fallen trees, negotiate steep slopes, ladders, and cable cars, and follow an irregular slippery trail. The entire trail takes a minimum of 5 days to complete, requires preparation for total selfsufficiency, and is definitely not for beginners.

Kennedy Lake is the largest body of fresh water on Vancouver Island, offering campers, canoeists and kayakers a paradise to explore. Kennedy Lake is located on the west side of Highway 4 as you approach the Tofino/Ucluelet junction.

The Edge to Edge Marathon is hosted by Ucluelet and Tofino in June. Runners will run a slightly undulating course through the Pacific Rim National Park between Tofino and Ucluelet - a perfect marathon distance on a beautifully natural course.

Annual Events: In July, bring the family to Ukee Days - featuring a salmon BBQ, the Whiskey Dock Run, logger sports, children's shows, activities and all the charm of a small town fair.

The annual Van Isle 360 Yacht Race circumnavigates Vancouver Island, designating Ucluelet as one of layover ports for the race, with scheduled activities for both racers and spectators. The start/finish line for this leg of the race can be viewed from Amphitrite Point Lighthouse in Ucluelet. The highlight of the event will be boat viewing and the scrumptious West Coast salmon barbecue.

Northwest of Ucluelet is Tofino, a pretty village at the tip of Esowista Peninsula near the entrance to Clayoquot Sound. Once a timber and fishing town, Tofino has become a favoured destination for travellers from around the world.

The Pacific Rim is a magical stretch of coastline (80 miles / 140 km) on the West Coast of Vancouver Island. The Pacific Rim has a significant history, having been inhabited by the Nuu-chah-nulth people for thousands of years. A rich natural heritage evolved as Vancouver Island became isolated from the mainland, retaining a great diversity of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish species.