There are dozens of great beaches (and walks) within a short distance of Tofino Hummingbird Cottage. Here are some of the most popular ones, ordered north to south.

Chesterman Beach

The closest – and one of the most famous – is Chesterman Beach, just a couple of minutes from here on foot. The surfers are what make Chesterman so popular and there are lots of them here, young and old, expert and novice, flying and flailing. Be aware of the powerful rip currents if you’re thinking of joining the fray, and choose the spots with the smaller waves if you’re a noob.

If you’re disinclined to surf, there are enough crabs and starfish in the tidepools on this 2.7 km long expanse of white sand to keep you entertained. And when the tide is low enough, you can actually walk out to Frank Island at the southern end of the beach and grab some spectacular shots of the whole beach and its framework of nearby mountains.

Cox Bay Beach

Just south of Chesterman, this one might be a bit more challenging for beginners with its large waves and sideways riptides. There are two parking and entrance areas, a northern one that leads to Cox Bay Beach Resort with washrooms and showers and a path to the beach. For the second entrance, take the Maltby Road turnoff. Parking here is also free but there are no facilities. And of course, when the seas are calm, this saddle-shaped bay is a fabulous place to kayak. You can rent a craft in town or even join a group lesson first to learn the skills you’ll need.

Radar Hill

Radar Hill was a radar station used to detect air strikes to North America during WWII. Drive (or cycle) down the well-treed Radar Hill Road to get to the former station area and its beautiful vistas that include panoramas of Clayoquot Sound. There’s a second parking lot at the end of the road for the less mobile.

Schooner Cove

With its easy one km hike from the parking lot, and consequent inaccessibility by large vehicles, Schooner Cove used to be the favourite of free-spirited beach campers. Now that it’s become part of Pacific Rim National Park, there’s no more open air camping. But it’s as beautiful as ever, and still a 1 km walk from parking to reward the relatively fit. Located at the northernmost end of the famous Long Beach, Schooner Cove’s sheltered south-facing location also makes it a good choice for beach walks on windy days.

Long Beach

The most famous beach in the area is also, at 16 km from Schooner Beach on the north to Wickaninnish Beach on its south end, the longest sandy beach on Vancouver Island’s west coast. There’s something here for everyone – dog walkers, Frisbee throwers, boogie boarders, surfers, kayakers, or anyone who simply loves water and nature. Do remember that it’s part of Pacific Rim National Park, so you’ll have to pay to park your vehicle in one of the three lots. There is camping available at Green Point for those astute and keen enough to book well in advance. And the upscale Pointe Restaurant in the Wickaninnish Inn (reviewed elsewhere in this blog) is perfect for those special evenings out.

Rain Forest Trail

This is a moderate 2 km stroll along a figure 8 boardwalk that straddles the highway near Wickaninnish Beach. With its giant cedars, salmon streams, hanging moss and lush ferns, it’s classic west coast ancient rainforest, delightful for locals and an exotic treat for those from out of province.

Shorepine Bog Trail

To get to Shorepine Bog, take Wick Road off Pacific Rim Highway and drive 2 km (bearing right) to the parking lot. This flat 800-metre loop boardwalk is an easy 20-30 minute stroll for almost anyone, including those in wheelchairs or walking their pooch. Glacier-carved, the bog is covered in sphagnum moss along with odd-looking stunted and deformed trees and bushes cause by the overly acidic soil. Definitely worth a visit, and a good example of the region’s rich biodiversity.

Nuu-chah-nulth Trail

Formerly known as the Wickaninnish Trail, the 3.8 km-long Nuu-chah-nulth Trail is the longest hiking trail in Pacific Rim National Park. The trail gives you access to four different beaches: Wickaninnish, Lismer, South Beach and Florencia Bay. It’s mostly boardwalk and nice and flat, though there is a steep climb to a viewpoint overlooking Long Beach. You could easily spend a whole day here exploring and taking photos.

You access it the same way as the Shorepine Bog Trail – by taking a right on Wick Road off the Pacific Rim Highway. If you want to start your walk at the north end, keep going past the Shorepine Bog parking until you get to the Kwisitis Visitor Centre at Wikaninnish Beach. Or, if you’d prefer to start at the south end, bear left at the fork 200 m before the Shorepine Bog parking and drive south for about a kilometre. Or hey, just follow your GPS. This U-shaped trail is not a loop, so be prepared to retrace your steps over the roughly 8 km total distance.

Willowbrae/Halfmoon Bay Trail

This 2.8 km loop with 173 stairs includes one of the original corduroy roads used for travel between Tofino And Ucluelet. You can still see the notches made by the axes of pioneer homesteaders. From the dirt parking lot accessed by turning off at Willowbrae Road, walk through a wooden gate and along a wide, gravel path as it heads almost straight to a boardwalk followed by a long stretch of stairs leading to a beautiful, secluded beach area. A left fork about 200m from the end of the Willowbrae Trail diverts you to the Halfmoon Bay Trail, with its hairpin descending turns, stairs and wooden ramps to the beach.

Wild Pacific Trail Lighthouse Loop

If you don’t mind driving (or biking) all the way south to Ucluelet, this trail is definitely worth a visit. An easy and relatively flat 2.6 km, it’s a beautifully laid out and maintained loop circumscribing the perimeter of a rugged peninsula projecting out into the ocean – and still home to an active lighthouse. Lots of places to take classic photos of the massive rock formations along the Pacific Ocean coastline. It’s especially popular with storm watchers who don’t mind bundling up on those blustery weather days to observe nature’s fury from the relative shelter of this tree-covered pathway.