Your Complete Guide To Pacific Rim National Park Reserve
Pacific Rim National Park is located on Vancouver Island and is a dream destination for outdoor lovers. The national park reserve consists of 3 main areas, each uncovering some of the most beautiful coastal landscapes in British Columbia.
This is a place where you can surf in the Pacific Ocean, kayak through secluded islands scattered across Barkley Sound and hike the famous multi-day West Coast Trail. It doesn’t get much better than that! But to experience all three sections of Pacific Rim National Park Reserve in one trip, you’d need at least 2 weeks to do them justice. A better solutions is to spend a couple of days in each section on separate trips.
The most popular and accessible area of the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve is the Long Beach Unit between Tofino and Ucluelet. In fact, this stretch of coastline is perfect for every type of traveler. Whether you want to surf, cycle, hike scenic trails or simply relax on soft beaches, Long Beach Unit covers it all.
On the other hand, the West Coast Trail section is best suited for experienced hikers comfortable with challenging, multi-day backpacking trips. Meanwhile, the Broken Group Islands are ideal for kayakers with some paddling experience. So these two sections are less beginner-friendly but incredibly rewarding for those ready for an adventure.
Where is Pacific Rim National Park Reserve
Pacific Rim National Park Reserve is located on Vancouver Island’s west coast in British Columbia. The national park is made up of three main areas:
- Long Beach Unit: between Tofino and Ucluelet
- Broken Group Islands: a cluster of islands in Barkley Sound, south of Ucluelet and north of Bamfield
- West Coast Trail: a popular 75 km backcountry hiking trail, between Bamfield and Port Renfrew
1. Long Beach Unit (Tofino & Ucluelet area): Best for Surfing and Relaxing
The Long Beach Unit of Pacific Rim National Park is not only the most popular but also the most accessible area of the national park. It is located between Tofino and Ucluelet on Vancouver Island and is the perfect destination for surfing or relaxing.
2. Broken Group Islands: Best for Kayaking
The Broken Group Islands can only be accessed by boat on a day trip or overnight camping trip. If you decide to spend a night on the Broken Group Islands, keep in mind that that’s only allowed between May 1 and September 30. You’ll also need a Parks Canada reservation, which opens up in early 2026.
3. West Coast Trail (WCT): Best for Multi-Day Hiking
The West Coast Trail is considered one of the best backpacking trails in the world. This 75 km trail is not for everyone but an adventure few forget about. You’ll need to set aside at least 5 days, although 7 days are recommended. The trail is one of the most iconic backcountry trails in British Columbia, featuring ladder systems, fast-flowing rivers, coastal rainforest and cable car crossings.
To hike the West Coast Trail you’ll need a reservation, that opens at the end of January for the 2026 season. The trail is also not open year round but only between May 1 and September 30.
If you prefer some shorter backpacking trip alternatives, Juan de Fuca trail and Cape Scott trail on Vancouver Island offer equally stunning coastal views.
How to get to Pacific Rim National Park Reserve
Before you visit Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, you’ll need to decide which area to visit. In fact, you won’t be able to visit all three areas in one day. Hiking the West Coast Trail requires alone at least 5 days.
1. Long Beach Unit: Drive from Nanaimo to Tofino
The Long Beach unit area is the easiest one to access. If you’re traveling from Vancouver, you’ll need to take the ferry from Horseshoe Bay to Nanaimo. Then from here you’ll drive along Highway 4 between Nanaimo and Tofino, which takes about 3 hours without stops. You can also decide to stop along the way to check out some of the attractions on this Vancouver Island road trip.
You can also drive from Victoria to Tofino in about 5 hours or from other parts of Vancouver Island.
Driving to Tofino and the Long Beach unit is the most popular way of getting here, but you can also fly in or visit Tofino without a car by hopping on the shuttle bus from Nanaimo.
2. Broken Group Islands: Multi-Day Kayaking Trip or Boat Trip
The Broken Group Islands can only be accessed by boat. One of the most popular ways of getting to the Broken Group Islands is from Secret Beach, located about 1 hour drive from Tofino and 40 minutes drive from Ucluelet. Here you’ll find a kayak launch as well as a convenient campground to spend the night before your kayaking trip.
Generally, kayaking from Ucluelet or Bamfield is not recommended due to the exposed area and more difficult crossing.
Another option is visiting the Broken Group Islands on a guided tour. There are several licensed operators that offer multi-day guided kayaking trips. Some of the main ones are:
- Coastal Bliss: offers 4, 5 and 6-day kayaking tours to Broken Group Islands
- Hello Nature: offers 4 or 5-day kayaking tours
- Sea to Sky Expeditions: offers 4, 5 and 6-day kayaking tours
- Kayak BC: offers 4 or 6-day kayaking tours
- Wild Root Journeys: offers 4 or 5-day kayaking tours
But if you prefer a simple day trip, you can book a boat tour with Jamie’s and visit the historic Broken Islands Lodge.
Another way of getting to the Broken Group Islands is on board of the MV Frances Barkley Nowegian built ferry from Port Alberni.
3. West Coast Trail: 3 Main Trailheads
The most popular way of getting to one of the West Coast Trail trailheads is by using the West Coast Express shuttle bus but you can also drive there yourself.
You can start the West Coast Trail from 3 main trailheads:
- Port Renfrew (Gordon River): Southern Trailhead
- Bamfield (Pachena Bay): Northern Trailhead
- Nitinaht Narrows: Middle Trailhead (via water taxi)
Best Time to Visit Pacific Rim National Park Reserve
The summer months (June to August) are the best to visit Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. These are the warmest as well as driest months of the year and the weather is perfect for surfing, kayaking and hiking.
Places such as the Broken Group Islands and the West Coast Trail are actually only open between May 1 and September 30. So you can only visit these areas during the summer months.
If you want to visit Tofino and Ucluelet, summer is the busiest time but I personally prefer the shoulder season when the towns are quieter and there are fewer crowds. I visited Tofino and Ucluelet both in May and October and it was much less crowded than in the summer months.
National Park Entry Pass
When visiting Pacific Rim National Park, you’ll need to display a park entry pass on your vehicle when stopping in the national park area. You can either purchase a day pass or an annual pass, if you’re planning on staying more than a day.
The current fees for 2025 are $11 for a day pass and $75 for an annual pass per vehicle. You can either buy the tickets online or in person at a visitor center as well as park gate.
⚠️ Note: you’ll need a special permit for the West Coast Trail (separate from entry fee) and for overnight stays at the Broken Group Islands.
Best Things to Do in Long Beach Unit of Pacific Rim National Park
In this section, I will concentrate on the best things to do in the Long Beach unit of Pacific Rim National Park.
1. Hiking Trails in Pacific Rim National Park Reserve
Hiking Trails near Tofino
- Willowbrae Trail (1.5 km one way): wide trail ending at the steep stairs to Florencia Bay
- Halfmoon Bay (1.8 km one way): crosses paths with Willowbrae Trail and leads through old growth trees to a small sandy cove
- South Beach (800m one way): shoreline trail accessing scenic coves such as Lismer Bay
- Nuu-chah-nulth (2.5 km one way): links Wickaninnish Beach and Florencia Bay
- Shoreline Bog (800 m loop): this boardwalk hike is an easy stroll through a lush ecosystem
- Rainforest Trails A and B (1 km per loop): both boardwalk trails take you on a history walk of the forest life cycle, structure and inhabitants
- Combers Beach (500 m one way): starts on gravel to descend on a boardwalk leading straight to the beach
- Schooner Cove (1 km one way): Currently closed
- Tonquin Trail (2 km one way): is a gravel trail leading to scenic ocean views and Tonquin Beach, but not officially part of the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve
🥾 Hiking Tip: another great hike near Tofino and just 1 hour away is 5040 Peak!
Hiking Trails near Ucluelet
- Lighthouse Loop (2.6 km loop): easy coastal trail near Ucluelet
- Brown’s Beach to Rocky Bluffs (4 km one way): scenic hike part of the Wild Pacific Trail
- Ancient Cedars loop: quiet rainforest walk around towering old-growth cedars
2. Enjoy the Beaches near Tofino
- Long Beach: most popular surf beach on the west coast of Vancouver Island
- Florencia Bay: the beach is accessed through a 1.2 km long wooden staircase
- Wickaninnish Beach: great for storm watching and surf viewing
- Combers Beach: close to Long Beach but definitely less crowded and quieter
🔥Beach fires are only allowed at Florencia Beach, Wickaninnish Beach and Radar Beaches.
Other beaches near Tofino but outside the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve:
- Cox Bay Beach: is where Tofino surf competitions take place and one of the best beaches to learn surfing in Tofino
- Mackenzie Beach: is one of the more sheltered beaches in Tofino, perfect for families with small children
- Chesterman Beach: another popular beach for surf lessons near Tofino
- Tonquin Beach: best known for the scenic wooden bridge and the small rock island
3. Rent a Surf Board and go Surfing
Rain or shine, there is no better activity in the Pacific Rim National Park than surfing. The most popular beach for surfing in Pacific Rim National Park is Long Beach. I’ve personally surfed here twice and loved how beginner friendly the beach is. I fell several times while trying to find my balance on the board, but the soft sand below made every fall completely harmless.
Some of the surf shops you can rent from are listed below, including 2025 pricing. These prices are for a full surf package for 24 hours and include a surf board, wetsuit and roof rack but accessories, such as hood, gloves and boots, are not factored in the prices below.
- Long Beach Surf Shop: $63
- Pacific Surf Co.: $65
- Swell Tofino: $64
- Relic Surf Shop: $59
- Swell Tofino: $64
- Surf Junction Campground: $61
4. Storm Watching
The best time to visit for storm watching is between November and March. The best areas for storm watching are the Kwisitis Visitor Center at the Wickanninish Beach Observation Deck or south to the Totem Pole at Lismer Beach. Another great spot is at Florencia Bay Lookout.
5. Biking in Tofino
Although not officially part of Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, beach biking at Chesterman Beach makes for a fantastic ride. Check the tide guide before you go and aim for low tide when the sand is hard-packed and easier to ride on.
Alternatively, you can cycle on more than 44 km of paved paths around Tofino.
