Rainforest Trail
About Tofino Pacific Rim National Park Reserve
Home to the Nuu-chah-nulth people, Pacific Rim National Park Reserve is a place of wandering beaches, stunning natural beauty, and vivid culture.
Pacific Rim National Park Reserve is a 511 km² park located in British Columbia, Canada, which comprises three separate regions: Long Beach, the Broken Group Islands, and the West Coast Trail. It represents the Pacific Coast Mountains landscape, characterized by rugged coasts and temperate rainforests.
The Long Beach Unit stretches between Tofino and Ucluelet, from the south end of Cox Bay to Halfmoon Bay. The National Park Reserve is just under a 15-minute drive south from Tofino’s town centre, or a 35-minute bike ride along the Multi-Use Path (MUP) to the ʔapsčiik t̓ašii (pronounced ups-cheek ta-shee) pathway through the National Park Reserve.
As one of the most western points in Canada, Tofino had a military defense presence during World War II. Long Beach was scattered with wooden pilings buried in the sand vertically to prevent enemy planes from landing on the sand.
Adventures in the Park
Suit up in your storm gear and watch the winter breakers crash from the Kwisitis Visitor Centre viewing deck, or enjoy a summer stroll along an endless sandy beach. Take a bike ride along the ʔapsčiik t̓ašii to beach hop, have a picnic, or read a book, resting against the driftwood. Get your crew together and park yourselves for a day on the sand, playing bocce or tossing a frisbee, or try skipping rope with bull kelp that has washed ashore. There are so many ways to experience every nook of these places.
Activities & adventures
Passes, parking and dogs
National Park Entry fees are collected and used to support visitor services and facilities at most national parks and national historic sites. Day and annual passes include parking and may be purchased at the Tofino Visitor Centre, Pacific Rim Visitor Centre and Parks Administration. Machines are also available at most trails and/or beach parking. Dogs are permitted on leash within Pacific Rim National Park Reserve with the exception of Combers Beach, where dogs are not permitted between April 1 and October 1 as a shorebird conservation measure.
There are no lifeguards on the beaches in Načiks (Tofino) or Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. Before you visit the beach, learn how to stay safe from potential hazards like riptides and unexpected waves.
cover photo: Kyler Vos
"Visiting with Respect" / Parks Canada
