Beaches

Experience Breathtaking West Coast Beaches

While nearby 16 kilometer sandy Long Beach on Vancouver Island's west coast is the region's most famous, the unique beaches of Ucluelet and the southern peninsula are great for hikes, beachcombing and picnics.

Many of Ucluelet's beaches have access to the Wild Pacific Trail, with its incredible vistas of ocean, forest and islands. Most beaches have parking and washroom facilities. Dogs are allowed but must be on a leash.

Big Beach

Located a short walk from town at the foot of Matterson Drive in Ucluelet, this beach has a sheltered picnic area, warm sandy beach, volcanic rocks and access to the Wild Pacific Trail. Facing west, the beach is a great place to watch the sun set.

Little Beach

Little Beach is also close to town and south of Big Beach. It is a BC Heritage Site where archaeologists have found remains of an old First Nations midden. This small beach is sheltered, has great views of the shoreline, and is located along the Wild Pacific Trail.

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Terrace Beach

Terrace Beach is a quiet sandy public beach set amongst the trees adjacent to the Wild Pacific Trail's Terrace Beach Interpretive Trail. Not far from Little Beach, Terrace Beach is between He Tin Kis Park and Terrace Beach Park.

Fletchers Beach/Ucluth Beach

Fletchers Beach, or Ucluth Beach, is a pretty, secluded beach a few kilometers north of town. The trail to the beach is located on the west side of the highway across from Fletchers Cove. From the highway this Ucluelet beach is a 15 minute walk, and the boundary of Pacific Rim National Park is just to the north of Wya Point.

Half Moon Bay and Florencia Bay

Located in Pacific Rim National Park, these three beaches are worth checking out. They are about 2 kilometers south of the Tofino-Ucluelet junction. Coming from Ucluelet turn left on Willowbrae Road, and the parking lot and trailhead are at the end of the road. It is about a 20-minute trek to the fork for either Half Moon Bay or Florencia Bay, also known locally as Wreck Beach.

Halfmoon Bay is secluded with a sandy, steep beach which is best visited at low tide. Then you'll see many tidal pools where inter-tidal life abounds. To reach the tide pools, walk to the left at the end of the stairs to the rocks along the edge of the cove.

Florencia/Wreck Beach is a 5-kilometer long beach with another access at the north end via Wick Road. Florencia and Wreck beaches are favorites of local surfers. You'll need to watch for tides on this beach as well, with the best time to visit at low tide. Long Beach, Vancouver Island's iconic beach, is located in Wickaninnish Bay, just to the north of Florencia Bay.

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Wickaninnish Beach and South Beach

Located in Pacific Rim National Park these beaches are about 3 kilometers north of the Tofino-Ucluelet junction. Heading north from Ucluelet turn left on Wickaninnish Beach Road and follow that until you reach a T-intersection.  The Kwisitis Visitor Centre and access to Quisitis and South Beaches are to your left.  Parking lots with washroom facilities and beach access to Wickaninnish Beach are to your right. 

Wickaninnish Beach is home to the Pacific Rim National Park's Kwisitis Visitor Centre and the Wickaninnish Restaurant.  It is the most southern end of Long Beach.  Wickaninnish Beach is a great place for beach combing, picnicing and surfing.  Travel north along the beach and discover the natural sand dunes.

To get to South Beach find a trail behind the Kwisitis Visitor Centre.  This trail becomes a boardwalk before reaching a fork in the trail.  Turn left to follow the Nuu-Chah-Nulth Trail to the Florencia Bay parking lot and turn right to continue to South Beach.  South Beach is picturesque with a sandy and pebbled beach.  It also features interesting grey rock formations and is a ideal for watching the waves surge and spray up on the rocks.