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Tofino is famous for its beaches, surf culture, and storm watching. As a hiking destination, it doesn’t move the meter the way other spots in BC do—but it still delivers with rainforest trails, awe-inspiring ocean views, big trees, and beaches. The upside? Most of the Tofino hikes are short and sweet. A few will give you a workout, though not in the same way some of BC’s tougher coastal hikes can.
The Tofino hikes described below are a great way to experience both the rainforest and the coast. I especially love the boardwalk trails when I’m in the presence of big trees – cue Meares Island and the Ancient Cedar Loop. And in my books, any hike on a beach is a great way to spend part of a day.
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What is the best time to hike in Tofino?
Tofino is a year-round destination, famous for its late fall and winter storms. The best time to hike in Tofino is from May to October when the days are longer, temperatures are mild, and chances of scoring a rain-free day are higher. No matter when you hike, go prepared for rain even in the height of summer. After all, Tofino is in a temperate rainforest.
Spring from April to June means fewer visitors, fresh greenery, and early season wildflowers. Late summer and fall can be dry and sunny. Winter hikes in Tofino have their own magic – especially coastal hikes when paired with winter storm watching. Be cautious though – as boardwalks can be slippery and you’ll probably encounter mud.
Before you do any of the Tofino hikes
Permits: If you stop to hike in Pacific Rim National Park Preserve, then you will need a park pass, though until September 2, 2025 entrance to all national parks in Canada is free.
Don’t forget: Pack the hiking essentials even on the short and easy Tofino hikes.
Practice: Let someone know where you’re going and when you are due back. Be sure to pack out what you pack in – and follow all the Leave No Trace principles.
Check trail reports: Check trail reports in Pacific Rim National Park Reserve before you head out.
Wildlife: There are frequent black bear sightings on Vancouver Island. You should know what to do if you meet a bear. I also think it would be prudent to carry bear spray and/or hike in a larger group.
Location map of the Tofino area hikes
10 hikes in Tofino to try
I’ve been to Tofino at least a dozen times. On every visit, I try to fit in a new hike or two. This is not a complete list of all Tofino area hikes – but so far they are my favourites. It also doesn’t take into account that some of the best hikes in Tofino are on the beach, any beach.
1. ʔapsčiik t̓ašii multi-use trail through Pacific Rim National Park
Distance: Up to 40 km one way
Time needed: As much time as you want. Most people choose an out and back section.
Starting point: ʔapsčiik t̓ašii (pronounced: ups-cheek ta-shee and meaning going in the right direction on the trail ) connects Tofino and Ucluelet with numerous access points along its length.
Experience: My guess is that there are more cyclists than hikers on the ʔapsčiik t̓ašii multi-use trail. But no matter how you experience it, I think you’re in for a treat.
First off, the trail is wide, so there shouldn’t be any conflict between hikers and bikers. If you’re hiking ʔapsčiik t̓ašiithen I think you’ll pick up many of the subtle designs incorporated in the trail that you miss on the bike. Cue the amphibian underpasses.
One of the prime areas to hike I think is in and around Long Beach. Do a 3 – 5 km section on either side of one of the parking lots, and you’ll experience rainforest, big trees, beaches, solitude, birds and nature at its finest.
Ancient Cedars Loop Trail
Distance: 1 km
Time needed: 20 minutes
Starting point: Raven Parking Lot at Tugwell Fields off Forbes Road or Brown’s Beach Frog Lot
Experience: The easy Ancient Cedars Loop trail showcases old growth forest made up of Sitka spruce, western hemlock and giant red cedars. Two of the red cedars are thought to be over 800 years old. You’ll also see large nurse logs, ferns, mosses, fungi, and lichen.
In 2025 the trail was upgraded, and audio boxes were added. Now you can do a Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ interpretive tour of the old growth forest and hear how to pronounce First Nations plants.
Big Tree Trail on Meares Island – one of the amazing Tofino hikes
Distance: 2.4 km return out and back hike to the Hanging Garden Tree on the boardwalk. There is an option to continue on a rougher 3 km loop dirt trail making it a 4.2 km hike in total.
Time needed: 1 – 1.5 hours for the hike to the Hanging Garden Tree or 2.5 hours for the full loop trail.
Getting there: Kayak over or take either the Tofino Water Taxi or a boat ride with Jamie’s Whaling Station.
Experience: You’re in for a treat after you’ve either kayaked or taken the water taxi over to Meares Island from Tofino. Meares Island offers a taste of one of British Columbia’s finest old growth forests via a popular out and back hiking trail to the Hanging Garden Tree. It’s a massive, awe-inspiring, centuries old western red cedar.
Getting to the tree entails hiking on an uneven, axe-hewn cedar boardwalk past moss-covered trees, massive ferns, and a greener than green understory. This is a family-friendly hike that my two granddaughters aged 4 and 5 both loved.
From the Hanging Garden Tree there is the option to continue for another 3 km on a looped dirt trail through the forest. The additional mileage adds another hour. This section of trail is rougher, so don’t forget good hiking shoes.
Bog Trail
Distance: 800 metre loop
Time needed: 20 minutes
Starting point: The parking lot on Wick Road off the Pacific Rim Highway
Experience: Enjoy an easy hike through a stunted bog, centuries in the making. The loop trail is entirely on boardwalk – much of which isn’t in very good condition. It would be tough going to push a stroller or wheelchair!
The Pacific Rim National Park bog just outside of Tofino showcases a unique ecosystem. The Sphagnum moss you see can be as thick as two metres and up to 400 years old. The only type of tree that can survive in this acidic environment is the Shore Pine.
I found this short easy hike to be fun – because I love boardwalks – and it’s quite pretty, especially with wildflowers in bloom.
Canso Bomber Crash Site hike
Distance: About 5 km return
Time needed: 2 hours
Starting point: Just off the Pacific Rim Highway in the large lower parking lot at the bottom of Radar Hill. Check out the location on Google Maps.
Experience: The well-marked, though often muddy trail takes you to the wreckage of a Royal Canadian Air Force Canso 11007 bomber. It crashed in February 1945 with 12 people onboard when it suffered an engine failure. All survived. The bombs onboard were later detonated; they created the crater you can see at the site. It’s an interesting bit of history and makes for a unique hike in the Tofino area.
Getting there now starts with an 800-metre hike along the new multi-use trail as described at the beginning of this blog. Turn right into the forest on an obvious trail marked by flagging tape. After passing an abandoned building descend into a boggy area and then head uphill to the crash site. You are allowed to go inside the remains of the plane, but don’t remove a thing – and watch for sharp metal. Retrace you steps to finish.
Nuu Chah Nulth hike – the longest hike in Pacific Rim National Park Preserve
Distance: 6.8 km return
Time needed: 2- 2.5 hours
Starting point: Kwisitis Interpretive Centre
Experience: The Nuu Chah Nulth hike combines well with the hike to South Beach as they share the first section of trail starting from the Kwisitis Interpretive Centre. The trail travels across the headland between Wickininnish Beach and Florencia Bay.
From the South Beach trail look for a well-signed junction on your left that takes you up a set of wooden steps to a beautiful long boardwalk. Follow the boardwalk as it weaves through thick forest to reach a viewpoint over Long Beach. When the boardwalk ends, pass through a wetland to meet up with another junction. To the left a short distance away is a parking lot, but if you continue right, you can access Florencia Bay Beach via a steep set of wooden stairs.
Retrace your steps to return.
Rainforest Trail A
Distance: 1.1 km return + 34 m elevation gain
Time needed: 30 minutes
Starting point: Parking lot on the south side of the Pacific Rim Highway, 24 km from Tofino.
Experience: If you only have time for one of the Rainforest Trails, good luck. It would be like picking your favourite child – but if I absolutely had to, I would pick “B”.
Rainforest Trail A is still lovely with plenty of big trees and a beautiful forest. Negotiate a steep set of stairs that takes you deep into the forest. Stop to admire the big trees and the dense understory filled with ferns before completing the loop and climbing back up all those stairs.
Simply cross the road by the parking lot to get to the Rainforest B trailhead.
Rainforest Trail B
Distance: 1.0 km return
Time needed: 30 minutes
Starting point: Parking lot on the south side of the PacificRim Highway
Experience: This trail is perfect for those who love walking on boardwalks. Nearly every step you take will be on a boardwalk, with plenty of ups and downs along the way. You’ll find yourself in awe of massive trees and a stunning forest filled with moss-covered trees and a dense understory. A Parks Canada red chair is placed beside the largest tree on the loop. You’ll have to crane your neck to see its top.
In 20-25 short minutes, you will come away feeling a sense of awe. This type of rainforest does that to you.
This trail is a great one for those of you who love walking on boardwalk. There’s lots of up and down, and many places where you will stand in awe of either a giant tree or beautiful forest, filled with mossy covered trees and a thick understory.
This trail offers a Parks Canada red chair moment beside the largest tree on the loop. You literally have to crane your neck to see the top of it.
South Beach hike near Tofino
Distance: 1.7 km return
Time needed: 30 – 45 minutes hours depending on how much time you want to watch the waves roll in
Starting point: Kwisitis Interpretive Centre
Experience: The South Beach hike may be short, but it’s still one of the best hikes in the Tofino area. From the Visitor Centre follow the well-trodden trail past the totem pole and the turnoff to the Nuu-Chah-Nulth trail.
There’s one short uphill section before your descent to a sandy beach featuring some interesting rock formations. South Beach is not a place for swimming. It’s far too dangerous. But it is a wonderful place to watch the waves roll in, pounding the rocks and sending the spray flying.
We sat on the beach here for about an hour, just enjoying the scene. It would be a great destination for a picnic. Retrace your steps to return.
Tonquin Beach
Distance: 3.2 km return + 67 m elevation gain
Time needed: 1.5 hours or more if you’ve come to enjoy a sunset
Starting point: Free parking at the end of Tonquin Park Road. You can also park at the Tofino Community Hall.
Experience: The hike to Tonquin Beach is the closest one to downtown Tofino. The obvious trail is a mix of gravel, sand, and short boardwalk sections. There is also the option to extend the hike to Third Beach.
What I enjoyed about this Tofino hike was the mix of forested sections with views and the beautiful beach itself, replete with tide pools in a couple of places. I also loved the fact that Tonquin Beach is more protected than others near Tofino, so it was a wonderful place for my granddaughters to run in and out of the ocean.
If you can time your hike for low tide, you’ll have more beach to explore and the tide pools will be filled with starfish, sea cucumbers and other marine life.
Wild Pacific Trail Lighthouse Loop – one of the top hikes in the Tofino area
Distance: 2.6 km loop
Time needed: Allow 45 – 60 minutes plus time for stops. Add 15 minutes to do the 0.5 km Terrace Beach Trail.
Starting point: Ucluelet Lighthouse Loop
Experience: A hike on the easy Lighthouse Loop, part of the Wild Pacific Trail, is a must if you’re visiting Tofino or Ucluelet. It features lots of viewpoints – some of which are ideally situated for watching the waves pound the shoreline. You can also take a side hike down to the beach and enjoy a picnic or some beachcombing. The squat Amphitrite Point Lighthouse is yet another highlight on this short, stroller -friendly hike.
Where to stay in Tofino
I have a few favourite places to stay in Tofino over my numerous visits to this amazing west coast town.
A few of my favourites include Long Beach Lodge Resort – offering up easy access to the beach and a wonderful hot tub.
I have also enjoyed multiple stays at Middle Beach Lodge. Their great room is a fantastic place to hang out and their breakfasts are marvelous.
Seafarer’s Bed & Breakfast – just 100 metres from the beach, comes highly recommended.
Even though Hotel Zed Tofino isn’t on the water, it’s a popular hotel and the dining room is very good. You’ll have an appetite after doing some of the beautiful Tofino hikes.
More ideas to keep you busy on Vancouver Island
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