12 Uniquely Tofino Things To Do this Spring and Summer
Jeremy Koreski
There are certain things that Tofino is well-known for: expansive, sandy beaches; an established, cold water surf community; and a laid-back, hippie energy.
But there are also some lesser-known gems that we think you should know about:
1. Remote Kayaking Tours with Tofino Resort + Marina Adventure Centre
Get a jump start on your paddle with a boat ride from the Tofino Harbour to a remote floating dock in Clayoquot Sound. Get deeper into the blue-green coves and inlets on the edges of Meares Island by kayak and feel a world away with the Adventure Centre.
2. Visit Cougar Annie's Garden
Approximately 2 hours by boat from Tofino Harbour, in Hesquiaht territory, homesteader Ada Annie Rae-Arthur, her first of 4 husbands, and her children began the Boat Basin Farm in 1915. She cleared the land and established a garden, post office, and fur trade, and is said to have shot over 50 cougars for bounty payments, thus the name 'Cougar Annie'. Since her passing in 1985, the Boat Basin Foundation has restored and maintained the garden. Visit as a group day trip or stay at the off-grid Temperate Rainforest Field Study Centre cabins (advanced booking required). Please note that this trip involves lots of walking and may not be accessible to all physical abilities.
3. Crab Bucket from Naas Foods
Have a truly West Coast experience with a crab cookout on the beach or over the BBQ. Naas Foods - an Indigenous-owned kelp and seafood harvesting company based here in Tofino - offers crab, prawn, or shellfish buckets. This will be available for the season starting on May long weekend.
4. Sea Otter Tours with Jamie's Whaling Station
Every wildlife tour is different because of changing conditions and animal behaviour. Perhaps one of the most consistently reliable sighting are the rafts of sea otters that gather in Clayoquot Sound, floating above kelp forests. This is special because sea otters were nearly eradicated from the coast completely due to the fur trade, so it is exciting to see their numbers grow.
5. Beachfront Camping
There aren't too many places along the coast where you can wake up to the ocean right outside your tent. Book at Bella Pacifica Campground or Mackenzie Beach Resort to camp right along Tinuwis (MacKenzie Beach) and enjoy oceanside living from dawn to dusk.
6. Hike the Wildside Trail
Located on Flores Island in Ahousaht territory, the Wildside Trail is a culturally significant trail that stretches 11km from the village of Maaqutusiis to Cow Bay. The trail is maintained by the Maaqutusiis Hahoulthee Stewardship Society (MHSS) and costs $15 a person per day. It is recommended to do this as an overnight camping trip (You will need to bring your own backcountry camping gear. Practice leave-no-trace principles and pack out what you bring in.)
7. Fishing from Shore
With the appropriate license and gear, you can actually fish right from shore! Please consult the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) to confirm which license is needed, if there are any closed fisheries, and if there is a Rockfish Protected Area (RPA) nearby.
8. Multi-Day Kayaking Trip
You can book a 5-day kayaking trip with Paddle West, island hopping from Tofino to Vargas Island, Flores Island, and back. Enjoy the storied Wildside Trail and sandy Cow Bay for some nice R&R mid-trip. Or, take the Hot Springs Cove Adventure, which culminates with a healing soak in geothermal hot springs and a boat ride back to Tofino.
9. Bike through a National Park
You can easily cycle along the Multi-Use Path (MUP) in Tofino and link up with the ʔapsčiik t̓ašii path near Radar Hill in the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. From there, about 25km of paved path and bridges stretch out until you nearly reach the Junction heading to Ucluelet. Rent an e-bike to help you take that extra mile to see that next beach.
10. Oceanfront Hot Springs
Hot Springs Cove is within Maquinna Marine Provincial Park, in Ahousaht Hahuulthi (territory), about a 20-minute flight or a 1.5-hour boat tour that brings you to a boardwalk in the rainforest. A 30-minute walk through the woods leads you to the cascading pools of Hot Springs Cove, ending in the ocean.
11. Hike Lone Cone
Hop in one of the Ahous Adventures boats and zip across the Inlet to the west side of Meares Island, where an approximately 2km trail will lead you up 742 meters of elevation gain to spectacular views of Tofino Harbour and surrounding islands. This trip is 6-7 hours, so bring lots of water and lunch!
12. Experience a Seabird Colony
Did you know that tufted puffins live here? That's right! Tufted puffins can be found near Cleland Island off Tofino from late May to the end of August. These expert fliers are burrow-nesting seabirds. They catch fish by diving from the air into the water, using their wings to "fly" underwater. Head out with The Whale Centre on the Tofino Bird Watching Tour to spot them!
