Lighthouse Loop, Wild Pacific Trail, Ucluelet

The Wild Pacific Trail is an easy and well maintained trail located in Ucluelet on Vancouver Island, BC. The trail is still in development and is expanding every single year, drawing more and more visitors to the area. This post will focus on the Lighthouse Loop section of the trail which is probably the most popular section of the Wild Pacific Trail. If you want more info on the other sections or on the Wild Pacific Trail in general, visit the official website: http://www.wildpacifictrail.com/.

When we first hiked the Lighthouse Loop section 3 years ago, 50 percent of the trail was boardwalk. In the meanwhile, all the boardwalk has been removed and replaced by a gravel path, probably since the boardwalk was a nightmare to maintain. This doesn’t mean that the trail is any less beautiful, this is probably one of the most beautiful, easily accessible hikes you can do in this area. The loop is 3 kilometers long and will take you through Pacific rain forest, amazing vistas of the Pacific ocean with rocky coastline battered by the waves and as the name gives away, a very nice lighthouse.

The whole trail is a perfect spot to go storm watching if you want to fully experience the power of the waves and the wind. If you rather stay dry and comfortable, there’s always the Wickaninnish Inn which provides a 240 degree ocean panorama from their dining room. There’s also a possibility that you’ll spot some of the wildlife in the area like whales, sea otters, eagles, …