Middle Beach is a small, secluded beach connected to the property of Middle Beach Lodge Resort and is only accessible through the resort property. It is a sheltered and quiet beach, with little shaded areas and dramatic, rocky headlands at either end. There are tide pools at low tide and often a large pool of trapped water in the spring and summer months.
The beaches, Schooner Cove Beach, Long Beach, Coombers Beach, Wickaninnish Beach, and Florencia Beach are all within driving distance of Tofino. It is rare for people to have their wedding ceremonies or receptions in the Pacific Rim Park but it is a great option for a photography session or ‘first look’. If you are considering one of the Pacific Rim beaches for your ceremony, you will need to contact the Reserve for information and permits. You can do so HERE.
Schooner Cove is a spectacular and fairly secluded beach that is accessible from Long Beach North at low tide. There is a Schooner Cove trail that can take you to Long Beach North, but you will still need to time it with the tides if you want to get around the point. The boardwalk trail is 2 km through beautiful temperate rainforest. There are a lot of stairs on this trail.
Long Beach is one of the most accessible and popular beaches in the Pacific Rim Reserve. There are two parking lots, one of which you can drive right up to the beach. The airport is across the road to the beach.
Long Beach sometimes refers to four beaches: Schooner Cove, Long Beach, Wickaninnish Beach and Coombers Beach. At low tide all these beaches do connect with rocky headlands separating them. Most of the time Long Beach refers to the 12 km of golden sand that spans from Schooner Cove in the north and Coombers Beach in the south.
Coombers is a secluded long stretch of beach that is accessible in 10 minutes from the parking lot. The trail opens up to a river that is crossable at low tide. This is a very photogenic beach and very popular for engagement photo sessions.
This is another very long stretch of golden sand with surf and sand dunes. Do not be confused by the name as there is a Wickaninnish Inn in Tofino but this beach is a 20 minute drive from the hotel.
The Kwisitis Visitor Centre and restaurant is located at the south side parking lot. And there are plenty of parking spaces and bathroom facilities at the trail heads to the beach. It is also the entrance to the trail to South Beach.
This is one of the wilder beaches. There are cliffs to the south, rocky areas great for exploring tide pools, lots of sandy stretches strewn with shells and a river that was once the location of a gold mine. A 10 minute walk from the parking lot takes you down a steep flight of stairs to the beach. There is also a trail that will lead you to connect with South Beach and Wickaninnish Beach.
Spectacular Cox Bay is 1.5 km in length and sits on the edge of the Pacific Rim National Park. It can be accessed through two public parking lots. The first is located across the highway from the Tourism Information Centre, the second is at the end of Maltby Road. There are three very popular resorts on the beach: Long Beach Lodge, Cox Bay Beach Resort and Pacific Sands. Cox Bay is a favourite for weddings, surfers, photographers, and pretty much everyone that loves the rainforest, jagged black rocks, soft sand, epic sunsets, waves crashing in the background, and breath-taking vistas .
Sheltered by offshore islands and tidal rocks, MacKenzie Beach is an ideal destination for weddings and family gatherings. Although this beach is home to a few resorts and campgrounds, it still maintains a serene nature as gentle waves wash the shoreline. MacKenize is generally less windy than other beaches further south along the coast.
Accessible through the various accommodation providers along the beach, if you are staying with them or if a property is hosting your wedding.
Middle Beach Lodge Resort, Bella Pacifica Campground, Mackenzie Beach Resort, Best Western Tin Wis Resort, Ocean Village Resort and Crystal Cove Beach Resort are located along the 1km stretch of beach, offering countless options for accommodation.
Very limited parking at the end of Hellison Road.
Wickanninnish Beach, within the Pacific Rim National Park reserve and at the southern end of Long Beach, offers vast stretches of sand, scattered driftwood, the impressive waves and true West Coast rugged charm.
Easily accessible. Turn off the Pacific Rim Highway onto Wickaninnish Road, travel past the centre to the end of the road and the parking lot. A short trail then leads to Wickaninnish Beach.
This iconic Amphitrite Lighthouse, south of the town of Ucluelet, guards the northern entrance to Barkley Sound and overlooks the Broken Group Islands. This point provides stunning panoramas in true West Coast style. The ragged black rocks and wind swept trees offer a dramatic backdrop, showcasing “Life on the Edge,” as Tourism Ucluelet describes the area.
Along the trail, spruce and cedar-framed platforms, provide viewing points, as waves crash upon the rocks below.
There is a parking lot along Coast Guard Road and a smaller lot at the end of the road just before a short gravel trail to the lighthouse.
Tonquin is a charming municipal park and small, secluded wave-washed beach.
There is a parking lot at the end of Tonquin Park Road, and from there a boardwalk winds through old-growth forest about 5 minutes before descending 75 steps to the beach.
Tonquin offers white sand, sheltered coves and stunning sunsets. With its westerly exposure, Tonquin has the advantage of full sun throughout the day. Continuing along the trail at the top of the stairs will lead to the Lighthouse Trail, which weaves through the forest along the scenic coastline.
Chesterman Beach is a beautiful stretch of white sand paradise. The beach is dotted with West Coast style homes, vacation rentals and B&B’s. The Wickanninnish Inn is situated at the Northern end of the beach. At low tide, the midpoint of the beach, becomes a sandpit, allowing beachcombers to wander out to rocky Frank Island to get a better look at the waves rolling in. Despite Chesterman’s popularity and versatility for a number of leisure activities, the beach still seems to convey a sense of tranquility.
Chesterman is 2.5 km in length and is accessible by car and various trails along the beach. The parking lots are located at the Southern Middle, and Northern ends of the beach along Lynn Road, just off of the Pacific Rim Highway.
