Hiking Long Beach, Ucluelet
Long Beach stretches over 22km from Florencia Beach, Wickaninnish Beach, Combers Beach, Long Beach and Schooners Cove. This renowned beach is the longest stretch of surf swept sand on Vancouver Island's west coast. Discover the untouched, natural beauty of this protected beach with access at many points throughout the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve.
Choose the distance of your hike as you walk up and down Long Beach. It is possible to hike between Wickaninnish Beach, Combers Beach, Long Beach and Schooners Cove at lower tides. Please be sure to check your tide guide and the weather before embarking. Take the time to explore through the drift wood and keep an eye out for the crawling creatures, birds, and other wild life that call this beach home. Please respect this protected environment and leave only footprints!
Stories of Hiking Adventures:
A LONG Beach Walk
Yesterday I walked on the beach in the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve with my friend Liisa. People do it everyday, in fact, on our walk we ran into swarms of people enjoying the seaside in the summer sun. What makes our walck different is that we walked the ENTIRE distance of Long Beach. It's a very Long Beach, the longest stretch of sandy beach on Vancouver Island.....READ FULL STORY.
Hike from Radar Hill to Incinerator Hill
The sun was shining, the tide was out, and it was time to strap on my hiking boots and explore more of the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. My friend Lyndsey and I decided to start at the top of the Radar Hill look-out, hike down the rainforest trail to Radar Beaches, and then scale the headlands to Schooner Cove, and eventually walk our way to the Incinerator Rock parking lot at Long Beach...READ FULL STORY.
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Hike through lush rainforest, on cliff-top trails, over rocky headlands, or discover sandy beaches, hidden rock pools and sheltered coves. Ucluelet is surrounded by the majestic outdoors and your home-base for discovering the wilderness along the Pacific coast.
The Wild Pacific Trail
The Wild Pacific Trail is accessible at several points in town. This wide trail carves through old-growth thickets of twisted trucks, roots, ferns and moss of the temperate coastal rainforest as it hugs the wild coastline of the Ucluth Peninsula. Watch the fury of the open Pacific Ocean with spectacular views of the rocky shoreline, Amphitrite Lighthouse, Barkley Sound, and the Broken Group Islands. This trail is made up of several sections with frequent viewpoints, benches and artist perches. For more information, maps and brochures please refer to the Wild Pacific Trail section of this website.
The Pacific Rim National Park Reserve
The Pacific Rim National Park Reserve is located just a few minutes north of Ucluelet. You can spend days exploring forests, bogs, and beaches on one of the many hiking trails in the park. Be sure to purchase your Park User Fee at the Pacific Rim National Park Visitor Centre or at one of the bright yellow kiosks located in most parking areas.
Willowbrae Trail
Follow a wide gravel trail through a mossy rainforest before descending down a long boardwalk staircase to the isolated South Florencia Beach. This sheltered, sandy beach is scattered with driftwood and sea shells and is the south portion of Florencia Bay. The Willowbrae Trail is 2.8km with over 170 steps.
The trailhead parking lot is located just north of Ucluelet before the Port Alberni Junction. To get there drive north out of Ucluelet and turn left on Willowbrae Rd (it is a gravel road) and continue until you see the Pacific Rim National Park sign. The parking area is there and the trail starts to the right of the parking lot.
Half Moon Bay Trail
The trail to Half Moon Bay is a branch off of the Willowbrae Trail. This hike leads you between old-growth trees and giant root systems before reaching a steep set of wooden steps. Take in the amazing ocean view before descending down the stairs to another beautiful, secluded beach. Watch the waves crash into this little bay. The Half Moon Bay Trail is 1km from the Willowbrae Trail with over 120 steps.
If you are looking for more adventure, walk towards the left end of Half Moon Bay to explore rock pools at low tide. There is also a small dirt trail accessible on the left end of the bay. This steep trail climbs up and over the headland to slate-grey rock formations on the other side. This is a great place to experience the surging open ocean.
The trailhead parking lot is located just north of Ucluelet before the Port Alberni Junction. To get there drive north out of Ucluelet and turn left on Willowbrae Rd (it is a gravel road) and continue until you see the Pacific Rim National Park sign. The parking area is there and the trail starts to the right of the parking lot.
The South Beach Trail
This short trail (1.6km) is extremely scenic as it follows the shoreline passed coves with interesting, rugged rock formations unique to this section of the park. Travel through leafy foliage as you travel passed Lismer Beach, an authentic totem pole, higher vista's of south Wickaninnish Beach, steep boardwalks, and the junction to the Nuu-Chah-Nulth Trail. Make sure you stay left to get to South Beach.
South Beach is made up of fine pebbles and features remarkable rock formations that, in the right conditions, help create incredible sea-sprays from the crashing ocean waves. The larger rock formations in the middle of the beach are a rock-climbers dream for bouldering. Bouldering is a style of rock climbing where the climber remains close to the ground moving along the side of the rock wall.
To get there drive north of Ucluelet on HWY 4, turn left on Wickaninnish Beach Road and then left at the T-intersection to park at the Wickaninnish Interpretive Centre's parking lot. From behind the interpretive centre you will be directed by signs towards the South Beach and Nuu-Chah-Nulth Trails.
The Nuu-Chah-Nulth Trail
Learn about the legendary culture of the Nuu-Chah-Nulth First Nations on this interpretive trail. This trial runs from the Wickaninnish Interpretive Centre on Wickaninnish Beach to the Florencia Bay parking area and is best experienced when hiked in that direction. Read the 12 interpretive signs, see the authentic totem pole as you weave through thick rainforest, the stunted shrubs of coastal bog-lands with cliff-top views of Wickannish and Florencia Beaches.
The Nuu-Chah Nulth Trail is roughly 5km return and can be accessed at a junction along the South Beach Trail. To get there drive north of Ucluelet on HWY 4, turn left on Wickaninnish Beach Road and then left at the T-intersection to park at the Wickaninnish Interpretive Centre's parking lot. From behind the interpretive centre you will be directed by signs towards the South Beach and Nuu-Chah-Nulth Trails.
The Shorepine Bog Trail
This trail is made up entirely of board walks and is accessible to wheelchairs and strollers. Learn through interpretive signs about a coast-style wetland or "bog". This ecosystem is unique and is home to distinctive plant species that are able to survive the acidic soil of the bog. Learn about Sphagnum moss which can grow nearly 2 metres thick and grow for nearly 400 years! See the twisted, irregular shapes of the Shore Pine, which is only able to survive in this area. The Shore Pine Bog Trail is roughly 1km.
To get there drive north of Ucluelet on HWY 4 and turn left on Wickaninnish Beach Road. After the Florencia Bay access road look for the Shore Pine Bog parking area on your left.
Rainforest Trail
Imagine staring up towering Sitka spruce, Douglas firs and giant cedars under a dense forest canopy in the best example of a coastal temperate rainforest. This entire hike is on a boardwalk since the forest floor is so deep with fallen trees, thick mosses and growth upon growth foliage. Duck under fallen trees, weave through ferns, moss covered banks, and running streams. There are some interpretive signs explaining the complex ecosystem within this ancient forest.
The Rainforest Trail is made up of two trails, each a 2km loop, located on both sides of HWY 4 in the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. If you are heading north from Ucluelet, look for the Rainforest Trail sign and turn left into the parking lot. Route A is on the opposite side of the highway from the parking area. Please use extreme caution when crossing the highway. Route B is accessible from the parking lot.
Combers Beach Trail
Hike into the forest on a downhill trail until you reach a three-way junction. Stick to the left and follow the wooden boardwalk to Combers Beach. This beach is perfect for beach combing, watching shorebirds and waves crash into the shore. Combers Beach Trail is a short trail: 0.5km.
To get there follow HWY 4 north from Ucluelet into the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. Look for the Combers Beach sign and turn left into the parking lot.
Schooners Cove Trail
This spectacular (and popular) boardwalk trail takes you deep into the temperate rainforest. Weave through majestic trees and winding streams, dipping in and out of small ravines forged through this extremely dense and lush forest until you hear the sound of the Pacific Ocean.
The beach at Schooners Cove is pristine with views of Long Beach and mountain ranges behind it. There are rock formations and the opportunity to explore the sea creatures in tidal pools at low tide. There is a rocky outcrop that can be accessed at low tide. Please check your tide guide as it is easy to get trapped as the tide comes in.
To get here from Ucluelet drive north along HWY 4, passed the Long Beach Parking areas. Watch for Schooner Cove signs and turn left into the parking lot.
Radar Hill Trail
On a clear day Radar Hill boasts panoramic views of Clayoquot Sound, the Tofino Inlet and the Pacific Rim National Park coastline. This family-friendly trail is short (0.2km), wide and wheelchair accessible. It is a historic site as it served as a radar station in World War II. It also features the Kap'Yong Memorial in honour of the 2nd Battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, which served in the Korean War.
To get there follow HWY 4 north from Ucluelet into the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. Look for the Radar Hill sign and turn left. Follow that road up the hill and into the parking lot.
