I’ve been thinking about how much Tofino means to me. It was the first place I travelled to after I landed in Vancouver to start my West Coast adventure over 12 years ago. Tofino leaves me speechless. Everytime I go there, I’m in absolute awe of the rugged landscape, the roaring Pacific Ocean, the endless beaches and the incredible hidden trails just waiting to explore. I was initially going to write about all of my favourite spots in Tofino in general, but there are so many! So to keep this post short and sweet, I’m going to focus on one of my favourite beaches in Tofino – Tonquin Beach!
This beach is a hidden gem. It’s located just beyond the town of Tofino, at the end of Tonquin Park Road or from the Tofino Community Hall. After you’ve parked at the small parking lot, it’s a relatively easy walking trail along wooden stairs and gravel paths through a spectacular Pacific Northwest rainforest, which ultimately leads your way to the beach access.
Unlike the more popular Tofino Beaches like Long Beach or Chesterman Beach, which are known for their famous roaring waves for surfing enthusiasts, Tonquin Beach is not located facing directly towards the Pacific ocean, so it’s much calmer and quieter. It’s the perfect spot to have a picnic during the day (we love grabbing freshly brewed coffee and baked goods at Common Loaf Bake Shop in town) and settling in for a sunny afternoon to take in the serene views. It’s also a great spot to watch the sunset in the evenings from the rocky beach.
After your picnic, you can always head back into Town, or if you’re feeling more adventurous, continue following Tonquin Trail by heading back to the trail where you accessed the beach, then you’ll see a couple other trails that lead you further into the forest. Follow that coastline trails and you’ll continue into the forest to check out other incredible viewpoints above the ocean and Clayoquot Sound.
For more information, check out: http://www.tofino.ca/trails
Happy Exploring!
Recent Comments