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Ucluelet’s Wild Pacific Trail
A grassroots community effort has created one of the gems of the West Coast: Ucluelet’s Wild Pacific Trail.
This past weekend, another new section of the trail was inaugurated: a new half-kilometre section called the “Artist’s Loop,” which branches off from the main trail, with viewing platforms and benches perched over the steep rocky shoreline.
Waves crash relentlessly on the gnarled outcrops below. The views out to the horizon are of the wide, open Pacific; somewhere off to the right lies Japan, and somewhere off to the left is Hawaii.
The Wild Pacific Trail is the brainchild of Ucluelet resident Jim Martin. Numerous Ucluelet residents have supported the trail initiative over more than two decades, both by donating funds and volunteering to help create and promote the trail. Many of the town’s businesses are financial supporters to the project.
The first, southern section, which passes by Amphitrite Lighthouse, was completed in 1999. The trail currently consists of an 8.5 km rolling gravel pathway that winds along the shoreline—much of it perched right on the edge of the forest, above the wave-dashed rocks. It’s a great place to view wildlife—from sea lions and whales (especially during the spring gray whale migration, which peaks here next month)—as well as eagles. So, as beautiful as the views are out to sea, remember to keep an eye up to the trees, too.
A pair of bald eagles, filmed from the Wild Pacific Trail in Ucluelet, Vancouver Island, BC.
I’ve travelled to many parts of the world, and hiked extensively. I am being quite honest when I say that the Wild Pacific Trail is one of the most beautiful hiking routes I have ever come across. And, unlike most, you don’t have to spend days carrying a heavy pack to get there.
The trail has several access points along the way, none of them more than a half-hour walk from downtown Ucluelet—so you can choose to hike the whole trail in one go (8.5 km one-way) or you can just do a couple of kilometres of it at a time.
The trail itself is wide and composed of hard-packed gravel, so it is accessible to strollers and wheelchairs. That said, the terrain is rolling, so pushing a stroller or wheelchair up and down the hills could be taxing on the person pushing; plan your pace or distance accordingly. It is also one of my favourite running trails, and part of the annual Edge to Edge Half-Marathon route.
A colour trail map is available from the Ucluelet Visitors Centre, or you can download the map as a pdf file here: Wild Pacific Trail Map
And good news for Tofino—Tofino’s answer to the Wild Pacific Trail, the new “Lighthouse Trail,” is currently under construction.
Runners on the Wild Pacific Trail
- Photos & text by Jacqueline Windh ©
