Pacific Rim and Tofino
National Park Reserve (Parks Canada) / UNESCO Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Reserve · Tofino, British Columbia
Pacific Rim National Park Reserve and Tofino sit on the wild west coast of Vancouver Island, where temperate rainforest meets long surf beaches on the open Pacific. The park reserve has three units: Long Beach, the Broken Group Islands and the West Coast Trail. Tofino, at the end of Highway 4, is Canada's best-known surf town, and Ucluelet lies to the south. This is Nuu-chah-nulth territory, and Clayoquot Sound nearby is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. People come to surf, walk the beaches, watch whales from March to October and watch winter storms from November to February. The water is cold all year, so surfers wear wetsuits. It suits surfers, families and storm watchers who accept rain, crowds in summer and a long winding drive. Allow three to five days or longer. A Parks Canada pass is needed to stop in the park reserve, and rip currents, sneaker waves and big drift logs are real dangers, so be careful.
Kwisitis Visitor Centre, Wick Road, Tofino, British Columbia, V0R 2Z0, Canada
The park reserve and its beaches are open all year, with no gates, but the visitor centre at Kwisitis and other facilities keep seasonal hours that change by year, so confirm before you go. A Parks Canada pass or day fee applies at the Long Beach Unit parking areas, with paid or pay-and-display parking, and the rules should be confirmed. The West Coast Trail runs roughly May to September and needs a reservation and permit, and the Broken Group Islands are reached by boat in season. Whale watching runs about March to October, and storm watching peaks November to February. Beaches are best at low tide. Hot Springs Cove is a separate boat or floatplane trip, so confirm tour times and whether the site is open before you book.
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