A three-day trip described visiting Ucluelet in early fall, including Big Beach, Pacific Rim National Park Reserve trails and the Wild Pacific Trail loop.
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A recent three-day fall trip described time in Ucluelet, a coastal town near Tofino and Port Alberni, with stops across beaches, hikes and local businesses.
The itinerary began with a BC Ferries sailing from Tsawwassen to Nanaimo’s Duke Point terminal, followed by a drive west of about two-and-a-half hours to Ucluelet, arriving in “late afternoon” weather described as misty and moody.
The trip included a stay at Bayshore Waterfront Inn near Ucluelet’s Inner Harbour, and an outing to Big Beach where the view described dramatic rock formations and foaming waves.
After exploring, the trip went to Ucluelet Brewing Company, described as being built inside an old church, where the visit included ordering rotating cider on tap (including a blood orange and rosemary flavour) and food.
On the second day, the trip described driving about 20 minutes to Pacific Rim National Park Reserve and walking Rainforest Trail A and B, described as boardwalk loops through cedar trees.
The day also included visits to Cox Bay Beach and Wickaninnish Beach, including watching surfers at Cox Bay and walking through soft sand at Wickaninnish, with the trip description noting jellyfish and tiny hermit crabs washed up on the shore.
Later, the trip described hiking the Lighthouse Loop, part of the Wild Pacific Trail, described as a 2.6 km loop that takes about 45 minutes with little elevation but additional viewpoints along the way, including the Amphitrite Lighthouse perched atop the waves.
For dinner, the trip described going to Shipwreck Pizza and ordering items listed as the Loaded Cheese and the Navaggio, along with craft beer and cider.
The second day’s evening included another stroll to Big Beach, described as watching a sunset from the beach and then later spotting a full moon over the harbour waters.
On Sunday, the trip described visiting The Barkley Cafe for coffee, Reflecting Spirit Gallery to view artworks by Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ artists, and stopping at Ucluelet Sunday Market on the Village Green.
The final stop in the three-day description was Ucluelet Aquarium, which the trip says operates on a catch-and-release model in which animals are collected locally, kept for a few months, and then put back into their exact home habitats, with water pumped from the adjacent harbour.
The trip description also notes it returned to Vancouver after Sunday’s local stops.
In the same write-up, the author said they would consider a whale-watching trip via Jamie’s Whaling Station on a future visit and mentioned a ferry return “send-off” with humpback whales dipping alongside the boat.
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