Pacific
Rim National Park Reserve of Canada (PRNPR), in British Columbia, consists
of three geographically seperate areas including Long Beach, the Broken
Group Islands and the West Coast Trail. The Long Beach area
is named for the longest of a series of beaches on Vancouver Island's
west coast, the Broken Group Islands is an archipelago of over 100 islets
in the Barkley Sound and the West Coast Trail is 77 km (48 miles) of
difficult hiking which was originally used as a life saving trail for
shipwrecked mariners battling the elements of Vancouver Island's west
coast.
LOCATION
The park
is located on the west coast of Vancouver Island and may be accessed
by Highway 4 via Port Alberni.
For
more information and recent updates, visit the Parks Canada website
at http://www.pc.gc.ca
Information & Services
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LONG
BEACH The Long Beach Unit is located
between the villages of Ucluelet and Tofino, and named after the 16
km (10 miles) sandy beach of Wickaninnish Bay. Best known for its incredible
beaches and rugged rocky headlands, Long Beach is a favorite for those
wishing to hike the sandy trails, beachcomb, enjoy the pounding surf,
the dense coastal rainforest or view an impressive array of bird and
wildlife. Each spring over 20,000 grey whales migrate through the park
waters. The Wickaninnish Centre is an intrepitive centre located at
the water's edge and should be visited to learn about the park's marine
ecology and the ocean and forest environment.
Camping
Long Beach Unit: the park's front country option, Green Point campground,
has both drive-in and walk-in sites. Green
Point Campground is the only campground in the spectacular Long Beach
Unit. The campground is located 12 km north of the Ucluelet-Tofino junction
on Hwy.4, midway between Ucluelet and Tofino. Since
Green Point Campground was established in 1962, people from all over
the world have come to experience the beauty and tranquility it has
to offer. Equipped Campsites have been set up for campers in the walk-in
sites. Campers who reserve the Equipped Campsite will be directed to
a fully assembled campsite upon arrival, and enjoy the benefits of camping
in a safe, comfortable, and enjoyable setting. Each Equipped Campsite
consists of a 4 or 6 person tent, sleeping pads, tarp shelter, cook
stove, lantern, picnic table, and fire pit. Campers supply their own
bedding, kitchenware, flashlight and personal effects. There are private
campgrounds in the area offering various services.
Hiking
& Trails
A trail
system leads the visitor to various viewpoints and other notable
features.
BROKEN
GROUP ISLANDS
The
Broken Group Islands Unit is an archipelago of more than one hundred
islands and rocks scattered throughout Barkley Sound and is accessible
by boat only. The 100+ small, rocky islands are accessible only by boat.
A kayakers and canoeists paradise, this area offers protected anchorages
and numerous sandy beaches. Bird and wildlife is abundant and the undersea
world offers divers some of the world's best diving oppurtunities including
old wrecks and a varied marine life.
Camping
All camping in this unit of the Park must be within designated camping
areas located on Hand, Turret, Gibraltar, Willis, Dodd, Clarke and Gilbert
Islands. Visitors may stay a maximum of 14 nights on the Broken Group
Islands. The peak visitation period for the Broken Group Islands is
from mid-July through August. Campers arriving in this period can expect
to share camping areas with many other campers. To avoid the crowds
of peak season try camping in May through early July, or in September.
Maximum stay in the Broken Group Islands is 14 days. Maximum stay at
each camping area is 4 nights.
WEST
COAST TRAIL
This
trail is a multi-day backcountry hike for experienced hikers with designated
campsites along the route. The West Coast Trail Unit is a 75 km (47
mile) backpacking route along the temperate rainforest, sandstone cliffs,
waterfalls, caves, sea arches, sea stacks and beaches of western Vancouver
Island. A varied terrain and abundant wildlife species attract visitors
from all over the world each year. The West Coast Trail is open May
1 to September 30. Reservations must be made to ensure that the parks
natural habitat is protected from over-use. Starting points are from
Port Renfrew, Bamfield and Nitinat Lake. Beginning in January, reservations
for the West Coast Trail can be made for any date between May 1 and
September 30 through the Parks Canada Reservation Service. Spaces fill
quickly, so consider setting up an account prior to January.
For
more information and recent updates, visit the Parks Canada website
at http://www.pc.gc.ca
The Long Beach Unit is located
between the villages of Ucluelet and Tofino, and named after the 16
km (10 miles) sandy beach of Wickaninnish Bay. Best known for its incredible
beaches and rugged rocky headlands, Long Beach is a favorite for those
wishing to hike the sandy trails, beachcomb, enjoy the pounding surf,
the dense coastal rainforest or view an impressive array of bird and
wildlife. Each spring over 20,000 grey whales migrate through the park
waters. The Wickaninnish Centre is an intrepitive centre located at
the water's edge and should be visited to learn about the park's marine
ecology and the ocean and forest environment. 
BROKEN
GROUP ISLANDS
