LONG BEACH
PACIFIC RIM NATIONAL PARK (Long Beach
section)
Long Beach is, by far, the most
recognized sandy beach in the Pacific Rim National Park area.
Long beach is the anchor beach to the largest sand dune on Vancouver
Island teaming with Florencia
Bay, Wickaninnish, Combers
and Schooner Cove Beaches.
The miles of pristine white sand, the many people and the abundance
of driftwood thrown on shore by the violent west coast storms
makes for a great picture post card.
The massive global exposure, the name recognition,
the two large pay parking lots, the changing facilities, the
flush toilets and the close proximity to both Tofino and Ucluelet
Villages tends to draw the largest crowds of any beach in the
Pacific Rim National Park.
The surfers arrive for the waves, families arrive
to spend a day at the beach, couples stroll hand in hand exploring,
children throwing frisbees and seniors laughing as they enjoy
a game of bocce ball... no matter the purpose of the visit,
everyone is smiling and laughing.
In the late spring, summer and early fall the
beach area is a popular surfing, sun tanning, photography, relaxing,
rainforest hiking and beach walk destination. In the mild winter
months the beach is a scenic wonderland of storms and crashing
waves. Thousands come to the Pacific Rim area in the winter
and early spring seasons to dress up in rain gear and walk the
sandy beaches beside thundering crashing waves while storm watching.
Long Beach region stretches for over 16 kilometres
and is anchored by Schooner
Cove on the north end of Long Beach and Florencia
Bay on the south end. At nearby Combers
Beach is Sea Lion Rock - a bird nesting site and Sea Lion
viewing hot spot.
Some of the hiking and walking trails located
in the Long Beach region of the Pacific Rim National Park are
the South Beach, Nuu-chah-nulth,
Rainforest, and Spruce
Fringe Trails.
All visitors to the park must have
a Park Use Permit. Pack out what you pack in.
How to get to Long Beach:
Along the Pacific Rim Hwy, between Tofino and Ucluelet Villages,
look for the road signs indicating the Long Beach parking lot
or the Incinerator Rock parking lot. Both are Long Beach access
parking lots. Park, pay and enjoy.