Hike the Wild Pacific Trail Lighthouse Loop
Vancouver Island Hiking Trail Gives Panoramic Ocean Views
Sep 17, 2009
The Wild Pacific Trail skirts Ucluelet peninsula on the west coast of Vancouver Island in three portions (Lighthouse loop, Big Beach and Brown's Beach). Roads and bike paths connect the three trail sections, and there are plans for future expansion of the trail.
This article focuses on the well-marked and well-maintained graveled Lighthouse Loop path. A fit walker can do the loop in well under an hour but most will prefer a leisurely jaunt with time for photography.
Starting the Lighthouse Loop of the Wild Pacific Trail
To reach the trail, follow Highway 4 into Ucluelet and turn down Peninsula Road. The hiker can start in one of three places:
- The Terrace Beach Parking Lot off Peninsula Road, which starts in at about the 2 km mark of the trail.
- Follow Coast Guard Road to the end for a short walk to the Lighthouse.
- The parking lot about midway down Coast Guard Road is the official trail head.
Trailhead to Amphitrite Point
The first leg is almost due east through verdant rainforest, opening to dramatic and windswept views of Barkley Sound and the Broken Group islands, with waves crashing onto the rocks. A windbreaker is welcome gear at this point (otherwise, goosebumps are popular attire).
The trail turns south along the edge of the rocks overlooking the vastness of the Pacific. Frequent viewpoints open to ocean vistas and tempting little paths lead down to tidal pools. The brochure and signs warn hikers to stay on the trail, as the rocks are slippery and tide and waves can trap the unwary.
At about 0.6 km (½ mile) is a toilet and the Coast Guard station. This offers a chance to abort the hike by walking north on Coast Guard Road, but be sure to visit the lighthouse first.
Amphitrite Lighthouse
A Capt. George Richards of the Royal Navy, who surveyed much of Vancouver Island's coast, named Amphitrite Point after a naval warship. The first wooden lighthouse was built in 1906 following a shipwreck on the point. The current concrete structure was built in 1915 and is now an automated installation of the Canadian Coast Guard.
As the southernmost point on the Wild Pacific Trail, Amphritrite offers the widest vistas. It's a good place to stop and watch for whales sounding or bald eagles fishing. The lighthouse with waves crashing behind it is a popular photo.
He-Tin-Kis Park and Terrace Beach
From Amphitrite point, the trail swings to the northwest. . This stretch has some steep uphills with gorgeous views of rocky inlets and calm bays.
A picnic table overlooking a small beach is a good place to stop for a rest or snack, or carry on another half kilometer through the forest of He-Tin-Kis Park and take the left fork down to sheltered Terrace Beach.
On the last leg, expect more uphills. Watch for mossy boards and rotting uprights, remnants of historic elevated boardwalks and former versions of the trail.
The Wild Pacific Trail, created and maintained by a volunteer organization, is one of numerous short hikes in the vicinity of world-famous Pacific Rim National Park and Long Beach, renowned for its surfing.
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