Seattle Times - This Vancouver Island trail is a PNW gem, from views to Indigenous community partnership
ʔapsčiik t̓ašii
Steve Lyons
When I first heard that a new multiuse path had been built in Pacific Rim National Park Reserve on Vancouver Island two summers ago, I knew that biking between the now-linked seaside villages of Tofino and Ucluelet would be a memorable ride.
By Steve Lyons
Although I had previously ridden my bike around the Tofino area and Pacific Rim, the prospect of riding all the way to the national park and carrying on to Ucluelet struck me as a potentially great adventure. So on a recent trip to the island to visit friends, research a few stories and explore the area, I decided to make the new trail one of my primary destinations.
Bike or walk this multiuse pathway on Vancouver Island
The nearly 16-mile-long path, known as ʔapsčiik t̓ašii (pronounced ups-cheek ta-shee), connects the seaside towns of Tofino and Ucluelet.
It was well worth the trip. The ride, about 15.5 miles one way, is incredibly beautiful, weaving through a lush rainforest that occasionally opens to breathtaking views of rugged shorelines, rocky cliffs and the Pacific Ocean. The path, which runs parallel to Highway 4, is almost entirely paved other than the occasional boardwalk that crosses over second-growth bogs. It is moderately challenging with a mix of flat sections and gentle inclines.
Trail entrances at the north and south ends of the national park are clearly marked. I entered from the north, which was closer to my hotel near Tofino, a town of about 2,500 residents, but both directions would provide a somewhat similar experience. (Be sure to bring your own water and snacks, as there are no services within the park. The only nearby stop for food and beverages is UkeePoke, a few hundred feet from the park’s south entrance. It was the halfway point in my ride and I can highly recommend its custom-made bowls.)
