Off The Trails: A Hiker's Guide to the Outdoors

Pacific Rim National Park

Tofino, BC, Canada

Difficulty: Varies

All of us at some point have stood on a beach and looked toward the horizon at the next body of land somewhere in the distance. However, there is something different about looking at a flat featureless ocean knowing the next body of land is another country thousands of miles away. In Pacific Rim National Park, the next major body of land is Japan, about 4,500 miles (7,360 kilometers) away, 1.5 times the width of the United States. Think about that, you would have to drive from Los Angeles to New York City and then turn around and drive to Denver, Colorado to cover the same distance.

Like most countries, Canada has a very rich National Park system. Officially the park was established in 1970, however the regions history goes back much further. The entire park lies within the land of nine Nuu-chah-nulth nations, who have called this land home for more than 4,000 years.

The Nuu-chah-nulth nations were divided into different factions, each with their own dialects of the language (Nuučaan̓uɫ) and traditions. However, they all shared their common beliefs of a hereditary chief, respect and living off natural resources.

In their native language of Nuučaan̓uɫ the name Nuu-chah-nulth translates too “along the mountains and sea.” According to The Canadian Encyclopedia, Nuučaan̓uɫ is considered an endangered language, with only 380 persons identifying the language as their native tongue in 2016. They also note that the actual number could be much less, since their study did not distinguish native speakers from learned speakers.

The park (and all of Vancouver Island) does a great job of preserving their history. The Kwisitis Visitor Center located near Wickaninnish Beach has an entire floor dedicated to the history of the Nuu-chah-nulth inhabitants. In the town of Ucluelet (although not offically part of the park), street signs are written in both English and the Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ First Nation language of Nuučaan̓uɫ.

The park itself is broken into 3 separate areas. Long Beach, Broken Islands Group and West Coast Trails. Wickaninnish Beach (part of the Long Beach Group of beaches) first opened to the public in 1959. In 1961 and 1968 highway 4 connecting the east coast of Vancouver Island to the west coast saw its first traffic. This led to the the surrounding towns of Tofino and Ucluelet (pronounced u-sell-it) to reach capacity. As a result, tourists camped on the beaches, which made the situation worse. trash left on the sand destroyed the natural habitat, vehicles became stuck in the sand, and deteriorating conditions. With the towns unable to handle the rise in tourism and resources like food and fuel already scarce in the region, the responsibility was eventually handed over to the Canadian Federal Government.

In terms of attractions outside of a beach, there isn’t much to see. Amphitrite Point Lighthouse is an active lighthouse that sits on the southern side of Ucluelet and offers a nice open view of the Pacific Ocean. The lighthouse is still active and fully automated, so access to it is restricted. Although Tofino and Ucluelet are about an hour drive apart, they are very similar. Tofino and Ucluelet are both quaint small coastal towns with tons of family owned eateries and Knick-knack shops filled with hand made trinkets and one of a kind jewelry. Seafood is also plentiful out here and all over Vancouver Island. Nearly everything is freshly caught and there are dishes that are as unique as the waters they came from.

Along highway 4 between Ucluelet and Tofino are plenty of beaches, bike paths and short trails that all eventually lead to the ocean. No matter what you’re looking for, it will definitely be offered somewhere along the way. Whether you’re looking for a beach, or some small town charm, the Pacific Rim National Park has something for everyone!

Parking: Visitor center located at 2791 Pacific Rim Highway (highway 4 between Ucluelet and Tofino). Parking along the coast depends on what beach and region of the park you plan to visit.

AllTrails: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/parks/canada/british-columbia/pacific-rim-national-park-reserve

References

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