Clayoquot Hiking Trail RatingThe Nuu-chah-nulth (aka the Wickaninnish Trail), has the amazing distinction among all the other beach hikes in the Tofino-Ucluelet corridor, in that it is flanked on one side by the amazing, and historic Florencia Bay.  And on the other side by the unexpectedly, extraordinary and beautiful, Kwisitis Visitor Centre. The Kwisitis Visitor Centre(previously called the Wickaninnish Centre) is in fact a pretty impressive little museum. 

They have taken a very small space and filled it with jaw dropping murals, carvings, exhibits and an amazing full sized native whaling expedition in mid-attack.  Fantastic!  You certainly don't expect such a well designed exhibition to be so understated.. and free. And if that wasn't enough there's more.  The Kwisitis Feast House(previously the Wickaninnish Restaurant) is excellent.  Reasonably priced and good food.. and every table has a million dollar view of the wild Pacific beyond and below. The restaurant juts out, over the ocean, and the waves crash here as you dine, loud, big and beautiful.  You would be hard pressed to find a more amazing view for lunch or dinner, at such a reasonably priced restaurant, anywhere.  But enough about the great restaurant, back to the great trail. The Nuu-chah-nulth is an interpretive trail that gives a glimpse of the local First Nations culture as it meanders 2.5 kilometres through the rainforest from Florencia Bay to Wickaninnish Beach.  Certainly a good way to hike this area is to park at the Florencia Bay/Nuu-chah-nulth parking lot and take the short hike to Florencia Bay.

Nuu-chah-nulth Trail Map

Take a look at the view from where the Florencia shipwreck memorial plaque is, with a beautiful view out to the island that the Florencia wrecked near.  Go down and see the beautiful beach at Florencia Bay, then backtrack up the trail to where the Nuu-chah-nulth Trail branches off toward the Kwisitis Visitor Centre and Kwisitis Feast House.  And then finally walk back to your car at the Florencia parking lot. Give yourself about an hour to enjoy the Nuu-chah-nulth Trail (each way), plus an hour at the short side-hike to Florencia Bay, and however long you take at the restaurant and Visitor Centre.  Maybe five hours total for this roundtrip hike and museum/restaurant tour.  But an amazing five hours immersed in the native history, shipwreck history and natural history of Clayoquot Sound.

Nuu-chah-nulth Trail

Nuu-chah-nulth Trail

Nuu-chah-nulth Trail

Discover the Nuu-chah-nulth Trail at HikeInClayoquot.com

Hike in Clayoquot

At 53 metres, Virgin Falls is quite an impressive sight.  You walk through the short, two minute forest trail to reach it and it fills your view.  It is ...
Read more
Hot Springs Cove is a wonderful day trip from Tofino.  Lots of whale watching companies offer whale watching/hot springs tours for very reasonable prices.  The ...
Read more
Vargas Island Provincial Park is a popular hiking, camping and kayaking destination due to its great location close to Tofino.  It has wonderful, ...
Read more
The Wild Pacific Trail is a must see on any visit to Pacific Rim National Park, Ucluelet and/or Tofino.  Located in Ucluelet, the Wild Pacific Trail is ...
Read more

Gowlland Tod Provincial Park is a beautiful park running along the Saanich Inlet just a short drive from downtown Victoria.  Accessible from Goldstream Park ...
Read more
Thetis Lake Regional Park is a very popular Victoria park that contains several lakes.  Lower Thetis Lake, Upper Thetis Lake, Prior Lake and further out, ...
Read more
Fort Rodd Hill is astonishingly beautiful and incredibly interesting as a tourist attraction in Victoria that most never see.  This fact is amazing as it ...
Read more
Mount Doug as it's locally known is a remarkably easily accessible park with both 360 degree mountain views as well as a beautiful beach.  The beach and ...
Read more