Plan your visit

Pacific Rim National Park Reserve

Pacific Rim National Park Reserve is on the west coast of Vancouver Island. Long Beach Unit is a three-hour drive along Highway 4 from the ferry terminal at Nanaimo, or a one-hour flight from Vancouver. Broken Group Islands are located in Barkley Sound and are only accessible by boat. West Coast Trail is accessed through Bamfield, Nitinaht Village or Port Renfrew.

Hours operation

Facilities, campground and back-country camping hours of operation.

Reservations

Make a reservation for campsites and back-country camping.

Fees

Daily visitor fees, camping and program fees, and more. Free admission for youth.

National Park Entry Passes

Daily and annual admission passes - what type of national park entry pass should I buy?

Accessibility

Accessible trails, camping, facilities and experiences.

Improvements and infrastructure

What to know before travel: facilities, roads, bridges, trails, and visitor facility improvements.

Brochures and maps

For the Long Beach Unit, West Coast Trail and Broken Group Islands.

Weather

Seasonal and local weather, and trends.  

Licensed operators

Day hikes, kayaking, marine wildlife veiwing, surf lessons, backcountry guided hiking and public transportation within Pacific Rim National Park Reserve.

Local tourism information

Links to tourism organizations related to Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, such as chambers of commerce and service providers.

Dogs and pets

Visiting Pacific Rim National Park Reserve with your pet. What you need to know, including where they are prohibited.

Gift shop

The national park reserve offers a range of official Parks Canada merchandise featuring Pacific Rim and Parks Canada.

How to get here

Location

Administration building
P.O. Box 280
2040 Pacific Rim Highway
Ucluelet, BC V0R 3A0
Canada

Phone
250-726-3500

Email
Pacrim.info@pc.gc.ca

Directions

Long Beach Unit | Broken Group Islands Unit | West Coast Trail Unit

Long Beach Unit

The Long Beach Unit is located on the west coast of Vancouver Island between the villages of Ucluelet and Tofino.

By vehicle

Follow Highway 4, the "Pacific Rim Highway" west from Port Alberni. This 108 km (65 mile) steep, twisting road takes at least 90 minutes to drive. The scenery along the route is beautiful; allow ample time and use the pullouts to let traffic pass you. The highway is very busy during the summer. At the Tofino-Ucluelet junction, turn right to enter the Long Beach Unit of Pacific Rim National Park Reserve.

Drive time from other Vancouver Island locations to Long Beach:

  • Victoria: 5 hours
  • Nanaimo: 3.5 hours
  • Parksville: 2.5 hours
  • Courtenay: 3.5 hours
  • Port Alberni: 2 hours
By bus, commercial air and foot passenger ferry

Different transportation options to reach the park include bus, commercial air, and foot passenger ferry.


Broken Group Islands

The Broken Group Islands are located in Barkley Sound and are only accessible by boat.

Launching sites to the Broken Group

Toquaht Nation’s Secret Beach Campground and Kayak Launch in the heart of Toquaht Bay, offers 66 campsites for nightly, weekly and monthly rentals and a convenient kayak launch. Located in the traditional territory of Toquaht Nation, approximately a 1 hour drive from Tofino/Ucluelet, Secret Beach Campground features stunning views of Barkley Sound and serves as a gateway to Pacific Rim National Park Reserve and the Broken Group Islands.

Road access to Secret Beach is over rough gravel roads and takes approximately 30 minutes from the turn-off of Highway 4. The turn-off is located about 12km north east of the Tofino-Ucluelet-Port Alberni junction on Highway 4. The Toquart Bay road is an area of active logging. Drive carefully and obey all signs.

For more information regarding directions and launch and parking fees, please refer to the Secret Beach Campground and Kayak Launch website.

From Bamfield and Ucluelet to the Broken Group

Paddling from Bamfield and Ucluelet is not recommended due to the exposed passages of Imperial Eagle and Loudon Channels.

Kayak drop off in the Broken Group by boat is possible through a few local operators.

Alberni Marine Transport Ltd. transports paddlers and their boats on a scheduled basis to the protected waters north of the Broken Group Islands.

Arrangements may be made with other operators based in the surrounding areas of Port Alberni, Ucluelet and Bamfield to drop off or pick up paddlers and their vessels.

For information contact the Port Alberni or Ucluelet Chamber of Commerce.

Paddling with a commercial company

Commercial companies operate in the Broken Group Islands. If you are considering travelling with a commercial operator carefully select a company that meets the needs of your group. Please see our list of Licensed Operators for the Broken Group Islands.


West Coast Trail

Parks Canada provides this listing for the convenience of hikers. Hikers must make their own arrangements for all services. Call ahead to obtain up-to-date information. Reservations are recommended.

To Pachena Bay Trailhead (5 km south of Bamfield)
  • Drive on gravel logging roads from Port Alberni (1-2 hrs) or Duncan (3 hrs)
  • Bus from Victoria (4 hrs), Nanaimo (3 hrs) or Port Alberni (1.5 hrs)
  • Passenger ferry from Port Alberni (4 hrs)
To Gordon River Trailhead (5 km north of Port Renfrew)
  • Drive from Victoria via Highway 14 (2 hrs)
  • Bus from Victoria (2 hrs)
  • Drive from Nanaimo (3.5 hrs) or Duncan (1.5 hrs.) via logging roads through Lake Cowichan
From Nitinat Narrows to Nitinat Village
  • Passenger ferry usually makes a trip at 5 p.m. from the Narrows to Nitinat Village
  • Nitinat Village is a small remote community. An overnight stay may be required.
Between Port Renfrew, Nitinat and Bamfield
  • Bus (3 hrs), reservation must be made;
  • Passenger ferry (4 hrs) ( minimum 4 people)

Contact Bamfield & Pacific Rim Tourism Association for information about businesses offering transportation services.

Email us for a list of locations where vehicles may be left during your hike.

Groupe de randonneurs qui regardent une carte

Safety and Guidelines

Important bulletins, trail conditions, weather, tides and currents, water hazards, wildlife, trip planning, park regulations.

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