Bamfield / Pacific Rim National Park Reserve
Visiting Bamfield is a wonderful adventure on the rugged coast. Plan to spend at minimum a whole day, or even 2 or 3, seeing all that this tiny town on the edge of the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve has to offer. Accessible by logging road, ferry, or seaplane.
To start your trip from Port Alberni to Bamfield and the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, there are several ways to travel including road, ocean freight vessel and seaplane.
- By Road: Take Ship Creek Rd to Franklin River Road for 2.4km (3 min), continue on Franklin River Rd/Bamfield Main for 87.4km (1 hr 55 min) map
- By Boat: Lady Rose Marine Services provides daily sailings (4hr 30min) to Bamfield year round
- By Air: Pacific Seaplanes has a regular flight (15 min) from Port Alberni to Bamfield (May 1 – Sept 30)
Bamfield
A tiny town on the edge of the Pacific Rim National Park, Bamfield is the closest community to the western trailhead of the West Coast Trail, and a welcome sight for many weary hikers. Bamfield is also home to Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre for coastal and marine research and education.
Visitors will want to stop at the Market & Café for a delicious treat or enjoy a local brew in the Malsit Public House. With mild winters and warm summers, Bamfield is a destination that’s worth the trip. If you’re looking to extend your stay beyond a day, check out the McKay Bay Lodge.
Take a step back in time while visiting Kiix̣in Village, the only known traditional First Nations village remaining on the west coast of southern B.C. This National Historic site is unique with significant examples of standing house remains. Learn more by visiting our First Nations page or by visiting kiixin.ca
To learn more about what Bamfield and its surrounding area has to offer, visit the Visit Bamfield website.
Pacific Rim National Park Reserve
If you’re a fan of rugged coasts, ancient forests, and harmony in nature, you’ll want to include this unmatched destination. With over 500 square kilometres of reserved parkland on the west coast of Vancouver Island, there’s a good chance you can see bears, wolves, whales, deer, Steller sea lions, and other beautiful creatures, all on the same day. Pacific Rim National Park Reserve is popular for hiking, sea kayaking, nature photography, surfing, storm watching, and other outdoor activities.
The park comprises three distinct regions: the iconic multiday backcountry West Coast Trail – on the bucket list for many hikers, the Broken Island Group a must see for any avid kayaker looking for an overnight adventure, and Long Beach – located at the northern section of the park, in the Tofino/Ucluelet region, is a popular spot for year-round surfing.
To learn more about what the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve be sure to visit the Parks Canada website.
