One of the main reasons we went to Tofino is that we both enjoy hiking, and Nature Photography. From all the research I did in advance of our trip, it certainly looked like we were going to see some amazing things, regardless of whether the weather was sunny or rainy. I made sure to bring clothes for extreme changes in temperatures, and conditions. This turned out to be a wise decision.
We basically spent 3 solid Days hiking. We began our journey on the Wild Pacific Trail which was close to Ucluelet, rather than Tofino.
Wild Pacific Trail Sign
It didn’t take long to realize that the “posted times” that it would take to get from one point to another ( according to the signs ) were not going to apply to us. We are not capable of quickly walking past breathtakingly beautiful scenery, without stopping to take it all in, and capturing the wild beauty with our cameras.
Rugged Coastline
I usually enjoy being outdoors most when it is hot and sunny, and am definitely not one to go for walks in inclement weather. However, many people have said that Stormwatching in this area is incredible, with crashing waves making for stunning entertainment … so I simply put on my newly-acquired rainjacket, and went with it. After all, that was why we were there – to witness and capture Nature’s best.
Crashing Waves
One thing we really noticed even during the course of a hike, was that it could be grey skies one minute, then the sun would come out the next. It was awesome how this drastically changed how everything appeared. There were many lookout points along the way, and we made sure to stop for photo opportunities at pretty much every one.
Sunny Wild Pacific Trail
The “Lighthouse Loop” was one of the shortest and easiest sections of the trails – it would be very Family-friendly if you were thinking of taking children there. Just as a note – there are no Washrooms along the trails, so it is advisable to go in the Portable ones in the Parking Lot prior to entering the trail. This loop was “supposed” to take 45 minutes to an hour, and I think it took us about 3 hours, with all the stopping and picture-taking.
Lighthouse Loop Sign
When we finally made it to the Lighthouse, we were in for a real treat – the moment we arrived and climbed on the rocks, a Mama Whale and her baby swam closeby. There were Tourists from all over the World there, and we pointed out the whales to them – even with language as a barrier, we were all united in our joy at witnessing these amazing creatures. Many of them were seeing their very first whales, and were in complete awe.
Lighthouse Loop Namesake
One of the most amazing things we saw was on our last Day of hiking. There were a pair of Eagles perched on a rock, and we figured that by the time we got close enough to take pictures, they would be long gone. We treaded as gently and quietly as we could, and were lucky enough to get some fairly decent pictures. Even my little camera got an alright shot:
Majestic Eagles
We spent a great deal of time climbing on rocks to get closer to the water for better pictures. We were so busy trying to get scenic shots, that we had to make sure to set up the timer on my Husband’s camera in order to get some of us. One of my favourite pictures of the two of us is this one:
Enjoying the Wild Pacific Trail
One of the things I most enjoyed during our hikes was seeing the Broken Islands off in the distance – just a fantastic sight, and the subject of many paintings by local Artists, as we discovered at several Art Galleries on other days. There is just something about them – the shape of the trees etc. – that just draws you in.
Broken Islands
It is hard to describe all the incredibly beautiful scenery along the rugged coastline that we saw over the course of those 3 days spent hiking. We took hundreds and hundreds of pictures each, and I wish I could post so many more. If you love beautiful views, enjoy nature, like hiking and photography, then I would highly recommend visiting the Wild Pacific Trail near Ucluelet B.C., on Vancouver Island.
View From Wild Pacific Trail
