July 06, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Ucluelet, Hiking
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We pulled into He-Tin-Kis Park, on the southern end of Ucluelet, near Terrace Beach. The trail to the water was wide with gnarled trees bending to create a canopy over our heads. The ferns grew up the mossy banks beside the trail. We felt like we were in Jurassic Park.
At Terrace Beach we walked along the headlands on the left hand side of the bay. The waves lapping into rock pools, home to purple starfish and florescent green anenomes.
At the mouth of the cove we found a set of wooden steps. After a steep climb we found ourselves looking over Terrace Beach on the right and the open Pacific Ocean in front. We had arrived on the Wild Pacific Trail.
“I’ve seen humpback whales breach off of this trail,” I told my hiking companion. The trail, carefully cut through old grown rainforest, ran along the rugged cliffs that make up that part of Ucluelet’s shoreline. From benches and look outs you can watch the waves rage against the black rocks, catch a glimpse of the Broken Group Islands in Barkley Sound, and look out forever into the open ocean.
We came around the bend to the Amphitrite Lighthouse. Visitors were on the park benches, the steps of the lighthouse, the rocks, the trail, the beach, swarming to take in their wild pacific surroundings.
That day the water was calm and the sun had come out. It shone its late morning light on the ancient spruce and cedars, and glistened off the wet black rocks. The Wild Pacific Trail truly was “hiking on the edge” ...of something amazing.
May 25, 2010 | Tips from Us >
Ucluelet, Hiking
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I absolutely love
Ucluelet - it's got the same charm but more character than Tofino and plenty of stunning hikes and beaches to explore. One of the best things to do in "Ukee" (besides having a "Ukee dog" and going to the Aquarium which is one of the best tiny tin-hut aquariums on the planet) is taking in the amazing walks along the
Wild Pacific Trail.
A great, one-hour easy hike is the Lighthouse Loop, which takes wanderers through forests and along amazing rocky coastline for about 2.4km. Perfect to watch waves crashing, birds soaring above or even deer crossing the paths. It's one of my fave things to do in BC and didn't disappoint when I was there in mid-May.
You can also pick up the Wild Pacific Trail from near the
Black Rock Ocean Front Resort. Black Rock is a new, stunning, modern hotel resort perched atop amazing cliffs and near shell- and driftwood-covered beaches. Sneak out through the side door of their excellent restaurant Fetch and you'll join up with another 3km of trails that run from Big and Brown Beaches.
Had to say I was blown away by Black Rock. The rooms face the ocean and if you're lucky enough to do some storm watching (a great way to enjoy a blustery day and we had a doozy while we were there - but then sunshine the next day!), you'll be able to see amazing waves and even a few cheeky otters. I saw four munching on clams from my balcony!
We were there during a power outage (as a result of the storm) and it was actually so much fun - the hotel gave us flashlights and we dined by candlelight. Amazing views, amazing rooms, amazing access to the Wild Pacific Trail. Such a highlight of our recent Vancouver Island roadtrip - Ukee is a real gem.
May 04, 2009 | Tips from Travellers >
Ucluelet, Hiking
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View a larger image on flickr.com
I spent an afternoon walking along Lighthouse Loop, a portion of Ucluelet’s Wild Pacific Trail that clings to the rim of the shoreline before weaving along boardwalks in the forest.
If you walk this trail, bring a pair of binoculars to watch the boats and birds in the distance. On my trip, a bald eagle was perched on a jagged, black rock near the surf, calmly dodging dive-bombing seagulls.
The shoreline trees on this trail have survived so many wild ocean storms that they are permanently sculpted, giving the illusion they’re being blown by the wind even when the air is calm.
As expected, part of Lighthouse Loop includes a lighthouse; Amphitrite Lighthouse and the surrounding tangle of rocks, tidepools and surge channels were fun to explore during low tide.
The loop takes less than an hour to complete. On the drive back to our campsite, we spotted a doe and two fawns nimbly stepping into the bushes next to the road. Always have your camera handy on the west coast – you never know when nature will decide to wander past your car window.