Pacific Rim National Park

The Pacific Rim National Park spans 130km (82 miles) of shoreline and is comprised of Long Beach, the Broken Group Islands and the West Coast Trail.

The Long Beach unit is located between the villages of Ucluelet, in Barkley Sound, and Tofino, in Clayoquot Sound. The most famous features of the region are the long, sandy beaches of Wickaninnish Bay, stretching for 16 km (10 miles) and Florencia Bay, to the south, an additional 6.4 km. (4 miles) long.

There are nine (9) walking trails within the Long Beach Unit of Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. Purchase a Hikers Guide at Park info centres, local book stores or by calling 250-726-7721. The Park Information Centre is located on Highway 4, just inside the park's southern boundary.

Green Point is the only campground in the Long Beach Unit and all 105 sites are situated on a forested terrace with trail access to Long Beach. Green Point Campground is open from mid-March to Mid-October. During the high season, the campground fills every night.

The Broken Group Islands is made up of more than 100 islands and inlets in Barkley Sound and is reached only by boat across exposed open ocean channels. Only experienced boaters, canoeists or kayakers should consider an expedition here on their own. In the summer, a 100-passenger cargo vessel carries visitors and their canoes and kayaks between Port Alberni, the Broken Group Islands and Ucluelet.

The services and facilities in the Broken Group Islands are limited. This is a backcountry area and users must be self-sufficient. All camping in this unit of the Park must be within designated camping areas located on Hand, Turret, Gibraltar, Willis, Dodd, Clarke, Benson and Gilbert Islands.

West Coast Trail. A 77km (48 mile) trail between Bamfield and Port Renfrew, can only be travelled on foot and requires five to six days to hike the entire trail. The trail is open between May 1 and September 1 only and a quota system governs the number of hikers who can start the trail each day. This rugged trail requires hikers to cross deep gullies on fallen trees, negotiate steep slopes, ladders and follow an irregular, often rain-soaked trail. Parks Canada staff provide orientations and issue the West Coast Trail Overnight Use Permit from the park information centres at Gordon River and Pachena Bay.