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Barbara Schramm
Wild Pacific Trail in Ucluelet
Winter waves - B. Schramm photo
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Wild Pacific Trail in Ucluelet
Amphitrite Lighthouse - Ruth Hartnup photo
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Wild Pacific Trail in Ucluelet
View towards the Broken Group Islands from Amphitrite Point - Ruth Hartnup photo
By Tracy Eeftink
Free RV parking at Trip Advisors’ #1 rated attraction in Vancouver Island
20 years ago people could not get to the shoreline to see the ocean around Ucluelet on the southwest shore of Vancouver Island. It was such an impenetrable and untouched natural area where the rainforests were thick with ancient cedar trees, and unruly Salal.
Oyster Jim Martin, a real character, and a member of our community; came up with a plan to build a 5 km long walking trail along the shores of the open Pacific Ocean.
The trail now provides nine kilometres of easy walking and spectacular scenery along the shores and cliffs; where ships have been wrecked and the winter storms pound the rocks and salt spray stunts and shapes the shore pines; you can breathe in the delicious fresh air and feel the excitement of the ocean energy.
Ucluelet needed this trail; so visitors could see the place where the impenetrable rainforest meets the dramatic cliffs of the Pacific Ocean. When faced with a challenge Oyster Jim is often known to say, "impossible is what we do".
It took over 20 years for his dream to become reality, but today thousands of people from all over the world travel to Ucluelet to walk this amazing trail built in an impossible place.
The trail now offers free summer interpretive programs for visitors and community members, and a very fun and educational children’s interpretive trail. All this is completely funded by donations and grants and managed by a team of volunteers.
People enjoy the bench’s at the scenic overlooks, all providing unique and spectacular views, of not only of the dramatic landscapes but the ‘wild’ life including sea otters, shorebirds, eagles and whales.
Perhaps the best way for you to learn about this trail is to check Trip Advisor. Visitors rank the Wild Pacific Trail as the number one attraction on Vancouver Island, and #2 activity in all of British Columbia!
Here is are two quotes from 717 rave reviews:
“Wow! Just Wow!”
We took in the majority of this magnificent trail. We did the lighthouse loop on a very wet day, but it didn't detract from the stunning scenery. As the fall storm rolled in we moved on to another section of the walk. Wow... the waves crashed in and the surf ebbed and flowed into the small coves and beaches. The clearly posted paths were so well maintained.. we wiled away many hours…….
Another review from trip advisor, a reviewer from Falkirk, United Kingdom
“The Wild Pacific Trail is more than a path along cliffs and beaches, it is an encounter with a very wild place -- unique in the world.
Interpretive signs and guided walks offer insights into the natural and historical context of the trail.”
As Oyster Jim says, “this is nothing less than the 8th wonder of the world”.
We hope that hearing about the trail and Ucluelet from us will influence your next decision on where to vacation and that we will see you soon on the Wild Pacific Trail in Ucluelet.
For more info visit www.wildpacifictrail.com
Nearby RV Parks
- Surf Junction Campground - Tel: (250) 726-7214 Toll: 1-877-922-6722, 2650 Tofino-Ucluelet Hwy, Ucluelet BC V0R 3A0; www.surfjunction.com
- Ucluelet Campground - Tel: (250) 726-4355, 260 Seaplane Base Road, Ucluelet BC V0R 3A0; www.uclueletcampground.com