Trail name: Schooner Cove
Distance: Over 2 kilometres
Difficulty: Easy
Directions:
This hike is located in the Pacific Rim National Park, 16 kilometres south of Tofino. From Highway 4, turn right onto the Pacific Rim Highway. Watch for the sign for Schooner Cove and turn left into the parking lot.
Description:
If you ever find yourself on Vancouver Island, the hike into Schooner Cove is a must see! From the parking lot, follow the path across the road to start the trail. Within seconds of walking into the forest, the abundance of giant trees are like nothing I've seen before!
As we started to descend down the wooden stairs, I felt like we were walking into a different world! The lush forest floor was lined with moss, giant ferns, skunk cabbage, amazing old growth and so much more! The stairs turned into an enchanting boardwalk crossing several streams and kept us slightly elevated over the forest floor to protect the beautiful ecosystem.
As we continued on, we climbed up and down several wooden stairs passing many interesting 'nurse logs.' A nurse log is an old tree that has fallen and as it decays, it provides nutrients, shade and shelter for new growth. Near the end of the trail, we found a giant Sitka Spruce that is over 600 years old!
Soon, we came out of the rainforest and along the sandy beach. To the left is the north end of Long Beach and to the right is Schooner Cove. With over 15 km of shoreline to walk along, the adventure definitely does not stop here!
Straight ahead is Box Island and at low tide it is great place to explore the rocky outcrops. There is even the possibility of seeing harbour seals, bald eagles, and if you’re really lucky you can even do some whale watching!
Always be mindful of your surroundings, pack out what you pack in, stick to the trails and Happy Exploring!
Things to bring:
Born and raised in the Okanagan, Kristy Draginda has always had a strong passion for the outdoors. Whether it be hiking to the top of a mountain or standing below a waterfall, she says there is no better feeling than being inspired by nature. Follow along as Kristy shares different hiking locations in and around the Okanagan. For more adventure photos, check out Hiking the Okanagan on Instagram or Facebook.
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