Cathedral Grove
MacMillan Provincial Park (BC Parks) · Port Alberni, British Columbia
Cathedral Grove is a small stand of old-growth rainforest inside MacMillan Provincial Park, right beside Highway 4 on Vancouver Island, on the road from Parksville and Qualicum towards Port Alberni, Ucluelet and Tofino. Here Douglas-fir giants hundreds of years old and some of the largest in the region rise from a floor of ferns, moss and fallen nurse logs, with western red cedar and hemlock between them. The trunks are wide enough that a group of people cannot reach around them. Two short loops, one on each side of the road, take you past the biggest trees in a half hour or so. It is a quick, easy stop, not a hike, and it is free. The honest downsides are the narrow highway, tight roadside parking and heavy summer crowds, and the forest is small compared with remote old-growth. It suits anyone driving to Pacific Rim, families with small children and photographers who like misty light. Confirm trail conditions and any damage before you go.
MacMillan Provincial Park, Highway 4, Port Alberni, British Columbia, V9Y 7L5, Canada
The park is a day-use area with no gate, so the trails are normally open all year in daylight, but nothing here is verified and you should confirm current conditions with BC Parks. There are no staffed hours, no camping, and no food or fuel on site. Trails or parts of them can be closed after a storm, in strong wind when branches fall, or for repair of boardwalks and bridges. Highway 4 itself can close for crashes, rockfall, wildfire or roadwork, which also cuts access to the west coast, so check the road report before you set out. Early morning has the fewest cars and the softest light, and summer midday is the busiest period.