Vancouver Island, British Columbia

Cox Bay is best known for its surf, but for an incredible view with minimal effort, scramble your way through the forested hills on the southern end of beach to let sunset soak in. From the northern end of the beach near the parking lots/access trail, walk 1.5km south until the beach turns into f...

Tofino, British Columbia, is magical. It sits on the most western coast of Canada, on Vancouver Island. It is a small surf town, with natural Pacific Northwest beauty everywhere.....ocean, beaches, forests, islands. and the beautiful Pacific Rim National Park.I personally like surfing Cox Bay bec...

You can park at the public beach parking at Cox Bay Beach Resort and make your way out on to the beach. Once you are on the beach, head north until you get to the "Sunset Point" trail sign. The trail walks through the woods for ~100m until you join up with a boardwalk that takes you out to the po...

PARKING: Park in the Radar Hill lot on the west side of the Pacific Rim Highway, 7.3 miles (11.7 km) south of Tofino. Make sure you buy and display a parking pass at the kiosk or you will get a ticket. I have seen it happen. There is a large sign for Radar Hill so you should not miss it, but if y...

Park at the well marked parking lot off of the Pacific Rim Highway (4) about 16 kilometres south of Tofino. Start off on a relatively easy two kilometre trail. The scenic hike wanders through lush rainforest before arriving at a spectacular beachfront area. You will pass giant cedars, a number ...

This park is a great stop right on the side of highway 4 heading to or from the Tofino area. If you are heading to Tofino on Vancouver Island, this park is hard to miss. There are signs for it and easy parking on the side of the highway. There are two loop trails on either side of the highway, an...

The Sunshine Coast Trail is a 180-kilometre back country experience that encompasses 12 free cabins, 3 of which are winterized. The cabins are run by volunteers from the Powell River Parks and Wilderness Society (PRPAWS).Drive south on Highway 101 to Duck Lake Forest Service Road 3477 Br.1 and he...

For an amazing jungle experience in Clayoquot Sound, the fantastic Rainforest Trails is the place to go. Located in the Pacific Rim National Park, the forest is deep, wet and massive. The wonderful aroma of nature fills your lungs as an incredibly elaborate boardwalk leads you along massive nurs...

Leave from Okeover Arm just north of Powell River to get into the passage to the park. If you are coming from Vancouver, expect a 6 hour drive with multiple ferry rides.The paddle to the campground is fairly easy for an intermediate kayaker. Distances are about 10km from one camp to the next. Onl...

The staggering coastal and rain forest beauty of the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve ensures Vancouver Island’s place as one of BC's most deeply rewarding hiking destinations. The Nuu-chah-nulth Trail is just one of many trails that will leave you with a billowing sense of wonder.Starting at th...

Whether you are an intermediate or advanced paddler, there are amazing options in Nootka Sound. No matter where you end up going within this area you will likely see seals, sea lions, bears, and an array of sea birds; if you're lucky you may even see whales, wolves, cougars and otters. This area ...

The trail from Cameron Lake to the top of Mount Cokely (5302') provides the most ready access to the alpine on Southern Vancouver Island. The route is straightforward and non-technical, albeit physically challenging. Expect to spend 6-8+ hours if hiking the entire route described below (which we ...

Little Qualicum Falls Provincial Park is just off the #4 highway on your way out to Port Alberni. Simply look for the signs indicating Little Qualicum Falls Provincial Park, and you will turn into the park before Cameron Lake.Easily accessible by everyone, this park can get busy in the summer mon...

The Willowbrae trailhead is not marked along the Tofino Ucluelet highway and the turnoff is easy to miss. Driving from Tofino look for Willowbrae Road on the right hand side, 2 kilometers past the Port Alberni junction. From Ucluelet this road is on the left, 5 kilometers from town. Drive up...

Mt. Arrowmsith's claim to fame is the tallest mountain on "southern" Vancouver Island. Standing at 1,819 m (6,000 ft), it barely squeezes into the top 50 of the Island, as it stands no chance against the peaks of Strathcona, which you can see gazing north from the summit!The advantage of Arrowsmi...

Mount Arrowsmith resides in the heart of Vancouver Island between Nanaimo and Tofino within the Alberni Valley region. At the height of 1817m this peak boasts being the tallest point on the southern half of the island. With it's easy access it is surely the most visited and summited mountain on t...