Pacific Rim National Park Reserve in British Columbia, Canada - map, photos and visitor information

Pacific Rim National Park Reserve covers three separate coastal areas on Vancouver Island in British Columbia. Choose your destination first: Long Beach for beaches and forest walks, the Broken Group Islands for boat-based trips, or the West Coast Trail for a demanding backpacking journey. These areas have different access routes, facilities and booking rules.

Highlights along the Pacific coast

• Long Beach Unit: explore sandy shoreline and temperate rainforest between Tofino and Ucluelet.
• Broken Group Islands: reach the islands of Barkley Sound by boat for paddling and designated backcountry camping.
• West Coast Trail: experienced backpackers can plan a 75 km route with ladders, tidal sections and remote camps.
• Kwisitis Visitor Centre: learn about the coast and its continuing Nuu-chah-nulth connections before heading outside.

Plan for the unit you will visit

Fees, hours, and seasonal access

Ocean, weather and wildlife safety

Cold water, rip currents and large surf make the ocean hazardous even when the beach looks calm. High water can move heavy driftwood logs. Keep back from the surf and choose a safe viewing position during storms. Rain, strong winds and fog can change both shoreline and travel conditions.

The Long Beach Unit has a wolf warning. Keep children close, secure food and scented items, and carry accessible bear spray that you know how to use. Stay at least 100 m from wolves, bears and cougars. Do not search for these animals or follow them for photographs. Read current park restrictions before choosing a beach or trail.

Protect coastal habitats and respect access rules

Stay on designated routes and leave plants, shells, wildlife and cultural objects in place. Recreational drones are prohibited. Keep food and garbage secured in a hard-sided vehicle or food locker rather than a tent.

Dogs are prohibited in coastal areas and trails between Green Point Rocks and Willowbrae Trail until further notice. Other Long Beach areas allow dogs only on a leash and under physical control. Dogs are not permitted in the Broken Group Islands or West Coast Trail units, with the stated exception for certified service animals. Check the location-specific pet rules before bringing one.

Camping and West Coast Trail reservations

Reserve Green Point camping ahead. Arrange Broken Group Islands and Keeha Beach overnight stays through Parks Canada's reservation service. A park entry pass does not reserve a campsite.

The West Coast Trail has no standby spaces; all spaces are reservable. Hikers need the required permit, safety primer and pre-hike briefing. Permit and orientation charges are additional to admission, and transportation and ferry costs also apply. Follow the West Coast Trail planning instructions before committing to dates.

Maps, location, and access

For Long Beach, follow Highway 4 west from Port Alberni toward the Tofino–Ucluelet junction. Turn toward Tofino for the Long Beach Unit. Allow time for a winding mountain road and check road conditions before departure.

The Broken Group Islands have no road entrance. Arrange a suitable launch or boat transfer; Parks Canada advises against paddling from Ucluelet or Bamfield across the exposed channels. West Coast Trail access is through Pachena Bay near Bamfield, Gordon River near Port Renfrew, or Balaats’adt (Nitinaht Village). Choose a gateway that matches your permit and transport plan.

Download the relevant unit map from the official maps and preparation guides. A general park pin cannot identify the correct trailhead, launch or campground.

Nearby parks along Highway 4

• Kennedy Lake Park: a provincial day-use park beside Highway 4, 8 km east of the Tofino–Ucluelet junction. It is a nearby road stop when visiting Long Beach.
• Taylor Arm Park: another Highway 4 option, 23 km northwest of Port Alberni. Short walking trails connect its parking areas with Sproat Lake.

Choose a beach walk, forest trail or expedition

For a shorter visit, combine a Long Beach shoreline stop with a forest walk. Rainforest Trail A is closed for maintenance and operational work; Trail B remains open. Shorepine Bog has limited access during trail work. Schooner Cove is closed, so do not build an itinerary around that trail.

For a multi-day trip, island paddling and the West Coast Trail need different skills and equipment. The full West Coast Trail commonly takes six to eight days. Ladders, mud and river crossings make it unsuitable as a first backpacking trip. Check the trail condition report before departure.

Visitor centers, camping and accessible facilities

Green Point has drive-in and walk-in camping. Drive-in facilities include electrical service, flush toilets, showers and a dump station during operation. Walk-in sites have a different service level and do not allow pets. Confirm the site type when reserving.

Kwisitis has exhibits, a viewing area and accessible washrooms. Companion-operated all-terrain wheelchairs are available on loan; ask about availability. Long Beach day-use areas also have accessible washrooms and picnic facilities. Radar Hill's viewing platform involves steep grades. The Broken Group Islands and West Coast Trail are rugged backcountry areas rather than barrier-free routes.

About Pacific Rim National Park Reserve

Nuu-chah-nulth homelands and the coastal trail

The reserve lies within the traditional territories of nine Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations. Their relationships with the rainforest and ocean continue today. Parks Canada works with the nations through cooperative management boards and working groups.

The reserve was established in 1970. The West Coast Trail joined it as a recreational route in 1973, following an earlier lifesaving route developed along a coast known for shipwrecks.

Rainforest, shorebirds and coastal wildlife

Coastal forests and nearshore waters support a connected ecosystem. Wolves, bears, cougars and shorebirds share places that visitors also use. Salmon stream restoration and dune restoration are part of the reserve's conservation work. Watch from a distance and avoid disturbing resting seals or feeding birds.

Contact Pacific Rim staff

Call +1 250-726-3500 or email [email protected]. The administration office is at 2040 Pacific Rim Highway, Ucluelet, BC V0R 3A0; mail goes to P.O. Box 280. For emergencies within the reserve, call +1 877-852-3100 or +1 250-726-3604. These office details do not replace directions to your chosen unit.