Pacific Rim National Park Reserve National Park

Pacific Rim National Park Reserve protects a rugged stretch of the west coast of Vancouver Island in British Columbia and is split into three distinct units that preserve beaches, rainforests, islands and a famous coastal trail.

The park’s Long Beach unit offers wide sandy beaches and surf access close to Tofino, while the Broken Group Islands are a sheltered marine archipelago popular for multi-day sea-kayaking trips. The West Coast Trail is a 75-kilometre backcountry coastal hiking route that attracts experienced hikers for multi-day wilderness treks.

The protected areas were established to conserve coastal ecosystems and to provide regulated outdoor recreation; the West Coast Trail follows a route originally used for lifesaving patrols and shipwreck response in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The park lies on the outer west coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, with principal access points near the towns of Tofino and Ucluelet on the island’s west coast.

• Weather and access: Weather is oceanic and changeable; the Long Beach unit is accessible year-round but the West Coast Trail requires advance booking and preparation for a multi-day coastal backcountry hike.

What to See#

• Long Beach: Long Beach unit - a long coastal stretch of sandy beaches and nearshore rainforest popular with surfers and beach recreation near Tofino.
• West Coast Trail: West Coast Trail - a 75-kilometre coastal hiking route with ladders, boardwalks and beach sections that traces a historic lifesaving patrol route and draws multi-day hikers.
• Broken Group Islands: Broken Group Islands - an archipelago of small islands and sheltered channels used for sea-kayaking and marine wildlife viewing.

Pacific Rim National Park Reserve is on the west coast of Vancouver Island near the towns of Tofino and Ucluelet. From central Vancouver you typically take a BC Ferries service to Nanaimo or Duke Point and then drive west on Hwy 4 across Vancouver Island to the Tofino/Ucluelet area (the Hwy 4 drive from Nanaimo to Tofino is roughly 200 km and takes about 3-3.5 hours). There are also scheduled regional flights from Vancouver to Tofino (Tofino-Long Beach Airport) during the tourist season; from Tofino or Ucluelet the park’s trailheads and beaches are a short drive or walk from town.

• Use Tofino or Ucluelet as your base and time visits to Long Beach for low tide to explore rich tidepools and exposed shorelines; check tide tables before heading out.
• If you plan the West Coast Trail or Broken Group Islands, book Parks Canada permits well in advance-both require reservations and planning for multi-day sea/kayak logistics.
• Visit in shoulder seasons (May-early June or September) to avoid peak summer crowds while still having reasonable weather for beach walks and wildlife viewing.