9 Hikes in Tofino, BC You Don’t Want To Miss

Tofino, strategically positioned on the west of Vancouver Island in British Columbia (BC), is predominantly endowed with unmatched natural beauty. Stretches of thick rainforests, centuries-old enormous trees, incredible gold sand beaches by the shores of the Pacific Ocean, rugged terrain, and most importantly, the popular hiking trails. Which Tofino, BC hikes are the best to take when you visit?

The top Tofino hiking trails you don’t want to miss out on are:

1. The Rainforest Trail
2. Southern Beach Trail
3. Nuu-Chah-Nulth Trail
4. Big Tree Trail
5. Lone Cone Hike
6. Shorepine Bog Trail
7. Canso Plane Crash SiteTrail
8. Tonquin Trail
9. Schooner Cove Trail

These are popular because many don’t involve scaling the mountains.

In this guide, I’ll offer a rundown of Tofino’s popular hiking trails you don’t want to miss during your next visit. And if you’re looking for a place to stay, check out our vacation rental guide for Tofino, BC!

Tofino Hiking: Important Details

Here are some key points to keep in mind when hiking in Tofino:

• Wear appropriate hiking footwear. Sturdy, waterproof hiking shoes are good for the trails. If you’re new to hiking, check out our post on essential hiking gear.
• Leave the hiking trail better than you found it. To achieve this, stick to the designated paths to prevent damage. Also, remember to pick up all your trash and avoid littering the trails.
• Carry food, water, and extra clothes. Although the trails may seem short, not necessitating the need to carry water, food, and other essentials, weather changes are bound to occur, and you may sometimes delay due to unavoidable circumstances. So, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
• Don’t drink water from the streams. Regardless of how clean and clear it may appear, it may be contaminated by bacteria & parasites.
• Follow the established guidelines. If a pass or ticket is needed, ensure you get one.

The Rainforest Trail, the Big Tree Trail, Shorepine Bog Trail, and Nuu-Chah-Nulth Trail are just some of the popular hiking trails in Tofino you should add to your to-do hiking list. Most Tofino hiking trails are short with well-designed boardwalks to give you a smooth hiking experience. So plan to enjoy yourself to the full.

The Rainforest Trail

The Rainforest Trail is undoubtedly one of the more popular and peaceful trails in Tofino, and it is located in Pacific Rim National Park. It offers you a chance to see some of the oldest, gigantic documented trees in BC.

While the name may seem self-explanatory, this hiking spot has so much to offer. The moment you start strolling through this rainforest trail, you’ll be mesmerized by the hidden beauty within this ancient temperate rainforest.

The gigantic trees standing on both sides of the trail stare down at you, while the wide array of plants and natural vegetation will feed your eyes with more of what nature has to offer.

Despite this trail loop being a natural display site, it’s virtually silent on a calm day except for birds and other wildlife calling this forest home. While here, take your time and scan the forest for birds, listen to the soothing sounds of water trickling down the streams and take a deep breath to smell the life of this productive forest.

The trail is divided into two loops, A and B, with each stretch extending to about a kilometer (0.6 miles) long. Unfortunately, there are stairs along the boardwalk, making it less ideal for wheelchairs and buggies.

The Southern Beach Trail

The Southern Beach trail is a scenic 1.6 km (0.99 miles) hiking trail that follows along the Pacific Ocean shoreline. It starts at the Kwisitis Visitor Center and extends through a thick natural rainforest before opening up into a sandy beach.

If you have the luxury of time, you can wander through the Visitor Center to get an insight into the area’s cultural history and natural endowments before proceeding with your hike.

This short but sweet hiking trail offers incredible views of rugged rock formations accentuated by foamy waves resulting from the sheer force of oncoming water waves crashing on the beach.

You can hike through this short, scenic trail on its own or tack it on the Nuu-Chah-Nulth Trail.

Nuu-Chah-Nulth Trail

Formerly known as the Wickaninnish Trail, the popular Nuu-Chah-Nulth Trail is one of the longest hiking trails in the Pacific Rim National Park. The picturesque trail follows a path of lowly raised wooden boardwalks that stretches over 3.8 km (2.4 miles) through dense pristine rainforest towards Florencia Bay.

As you weave your way through the thick rainforest, you’ll be welcomed by the sound of waves crashing to the rugged shores as you open up to Florencia Bay.

This trail also boasts a rich sense of culture with numerous placards along the trail, offering fascinating insights into the culture of Nuu-chah-nulth people who inhabited the area for centuries.

The Big Tree Trail

The Big Tree Trail features some of the largest trees in British Columbia. And a short walk through this trail will give you an idea of how it earned its name.

Generally, most of the trees here, including spruces, hemlocks, and cedars, are over 1,000+ years old. This trail’s highlight is the Hanging Garden Tree, a red cedar that’s more than 1,000 years old and is home to more than 15 different species of plants and trees.

You have two hiking options when on this trail.

The first option involves exploring the enormous trees along the wooden boardwalks through a 1.2 km (0.75 miles) stretch at the Hanging Garden Tree. The second option allows you to extend your hiking experience by a further 3 km (1.9 miles) stretch moving through a forest and passing through a beach.

If you love adventure, this trail should be your top choice.

Shorepine Bog Trail

For a hiking experience with a twist, consider touring Shorepine Bog located in the Pacific Rim National Park. This short trail, which features a completely flat 0.8 km (0.5 miles) boardwalk, extends through a swampy terrain covered by mosses, medicinal plants, lichens, and shore pine trees.

The acidic soil in this part of Tofino stunts vegetation growth, and you’ll be surprised to find that most of the squat trees here are older than you can imagine. Some of them are over 300 years old.

Although this trail may not have gigantic centuries-old trees to show off or dramatic ocean views, it boasts its unique ecosystem completely different from whatever is found within the boundaries of Pacific Rim National Park.

And due to its flat boardwalk, this trail is accessible by people on wheelchairs and is stroller-friendly.

Lone Cone

Unlike other short and almost flat trails within Tofino, the Lone Cone trail comes as a unique option stretching over 7 km (4.3 miles) with an elevation of approximately 730 meters (0.45 miles).

This trail takes you on an adventure into the towering Lone Cone mountains, offering spectacular views from the mountain top. Your eyes can’t get enough of the views to the south of Tofino, the Pacific Ocean, and the surrounding regions from the peak of the Lone Cone trail.

The hike is strenuous and challenging but rewarding, but the reward of the strenuous hike is the scenic view of Tofino and its environs from the trail’s peak.

Canso Plane Crash Site

Canso Plane Crash Site is another popular hiking site in Tofino that you shouldn’t miss out on.

This adventure provides you with an opportunity to visit and explore the site of the Royal Canadian Air Force Canso 11007, a WWII bomber plane that crashed shortly after takeoff in 1945.

Surprisingly, the plane remains fairly intact at the side of the hill where it landed over 70 years ago, with metal fragments and warped wreckage spread around the site. It’s a view that brings back fresh memories of the wartime era.

The trail is found to the south of Radar hills and weaves its way through a muddy bog (even during the summer) to the plane crash site. Besides the muddy spot, the trail is marked for an easy hiking experience.

Tonquin Trail

Tonquin Trail is a jaw-dropping trail passing through rain forests along the Pacific Coast and opening into the popular Tonquin beach extending for 3 km (1.87 miles).

This easy walking trail offers spectacular sunset watching views. And since this beach isn’t located directly facing the ocean, it doesn’t receive massive waves, making it calmer than other trails along the Pacific Coast.

If you enjoy watching the sunset in Tofino, this is the hiking trail for you.

Schooner Cove Trail

Stretching through a 2 km (1.24 miles) hiking trail, the Schooner Cove trail is a scenic hiking trail located within the Pacific Rim National Park. It provides a wide array of views because it passes through lush rainforests and gently meandering streams before opening up to a spectacular beachfront area.

The boardwalk features towering hemlock and cedar trees, cushiony moss, and hanging vines that capture your attention throughout the entire adventure. This hiking spot is one of the family-friendly and pet-friendly hiking trails in Tofino.

Generally, it offers something for everyone.