Winter Storm Watching in Ucluelet, BC

Welcome to Ucluelet, BC. This stunning region on Vancouver Island’s West Coast is home to an abundance of exciting activities. Whether you are a returning or first-time visitor, we have compiled 18 things to do in Ucluelet so that you can make the most of your trip.

1. Plan to stay a few days more!

There is so much to see, learn, and do out on the West Coast, that you’ll wish you were here longer. And don’t forget to build some much-needed downtime into your itinerary.

Check out our local accommodation providers.

2. What’s that plant or animal? Explore nature in a new way.

Ever wonder what flora and fauna surround you while walking the trails in Ucluelet? Take your exploration of the West Coast to new educational heights with the iNaturalist app, where you can explore, log photos, and learn along the way. Suggested Explorations:

Wander the Wild Pacific Trail ‘Lighthouse Loop,’ and see if you can find a banana slug or sword fern!
Explore the intertidal zone at Big Beach, where the rich marine life provides an incredible opportunity to learn and discover.

3. Discover the wonders of the intertidal zone at the Ucluelet Aquarium

Focusing on local species, interactivity, and sustainability, the ‘collect-and-release’ model at the Ucluelet Aquarium was the first of it’s kind in Canada.

4. Find some inspiration on the Wild Pacific Trail

Craggy volcanic rock and ocean swells form the backdrop of the Wild Pacific Trail. For a humbling experience, wander the 8.4 km of one of the top trails on Vancouver Island.

Lighthouse Loop (2.6km) – The first section of the trail to be built, this loop follows an undeniable scenic route to Amphitrite Lighthouse, which was re-built in 1915 to withstand the power of the Pacific Ocean.

Brown’s Beach & Artist Loops (3.5 km one-way) – Forest sections make way for wild vistas on the edge of the cliffside.

Ancient Cedars & Rocky Bluffs (1.25km) – This 15-minute loop winds through some of the largest trees in the area, and can be combined with the Rocky Bluffs to view wild rocky cliffs and surge channels.

5. Are you a history buff?

Take a self-guided historical walking tour with our On This Spot app.

• ‘Ucluelet’s Seaplane Base‘ walks you through the history of the Canadian Forces stationed here during the Second World War.
• The ‘People of the Safe Harbour‘ tour guides you through Ucluelet’s vibrant history, highlighting the unique challenges and joys that came from living on the edge of the Pacific.

6. Enjoy the local food and drink, at one of Ucluelet many incredible eateries

We are all about local, from amazing bakeries, untraditional BBQ, wood-fired pizza, awesome seafood food trucks, and one of the best new restaurants in Canada! Ucluelet has everything you need from grocery, delis and liquor stores, to fair-trade locally roasted artisan coffees and hand-blended teas.

Check out the mouth-watering options!

7. Surf or SUP at one of the West Coast’s many beaches and bays

Join a lesson or rent your gear with one of our local surf shops! Surf is a way of life on the west coast, so why not try your hand at this popular pastime?

Never been surfing or stand-up paddleboarding (SUP)? Lessons are highly recommended.

8. Kayak along Ucluelet’s historic waterfront or into the crystal blue waters of the Broken Group Islands

Local guides offer an opportunity to paddle out, on either a 3-hour tour of the historic harbour or on a day trip among the many islands in Barkley Sound that make up the Broken Group Islands.

Bookings are highly recommended. Check out the local operators offering kayaking out of Ucluelet.

9. Search for bears or whales on an ocean adventure

Explore miles of coastal scenery on the search for grey whales, which migrate up the coast in March and hang around to feed in the rich coastal waters until November.

Black bears may be found along the coastlines, flipping rocks in their quest for a tasty meal.

The vibrant ecosystems of coastal Vancouver Island mean you never know what you might see out on the water!

Check out the local operators offering wildlife watching experiences.

Bookings are highly recommended.

10. Wandering the stunning trails and beaches of the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve

From old-growth rainforest to windswept sand dunes, the many trails of the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve offer ancient bogs, towering cedars, and Nuu-chah-nulth history.

11. Observe the rocky pools in Big Beach’s intertidal zone

The intertidal zone of the West Coast is incredibly rich in biodiversity, and Big Beach is a wonderful place to explore it! Keep your eyes peeled and you might even find 19th-century shipwreck along the shoreline.

Be a Better Beachgoer!

Our local beaches host hundreds of visitors a year, which means lots of interactions for the inhabitants. Watch your step when exploring the intertidal zone, hang on to your cigarette butts, and please leave the beach at the beach!

12. Try your hand at fishing for halibut, cod, or salmon

For a truly ‘West Coast’ experience, try your hand at open water fishing with one of the local charters. Depending on the season, halibut, salmon, or lingcod could be the catch of the day!

Bookings are highly recommended.

13. Hop on an e-bike for a tour on the Ucluth Peninsula

Explore the west coast on a state-of-the-art electric bike, stopping at local points-of-interest (and maybe a few secret spots) for some incredible photo opportunities!

Bookings are highly recommended.

14. Take a flight over the rugged coastline with West Coast Wild

If you’re looking for the adventure of a lifetime, Ucluelet has an adventure that only the imagination is capable of; whether it be whale watching, as they dive for herring and roe, or the sea lions and otters as they play amongst themselves, you’ll have an “eagles eye” perspective on it all when you take a flight tour above the West Coast of Vancouver Island.

Bookings are highly recommended.

15. Soar over the Kennedy River canyon on a series of 6 ziplines

Fly through the mystical forest of Tla-o-qui-aht territory on a series of 6 ziplines that hover high above the Winchee River in Kennedy River Canyon.

Check out West Coast Wild Zipline!

Bookings are highly recommended.

16. Golf year-round at the Long Beach Golf Course

There is something fun for everyone at the year-round Long Beach Golf Course. A mini putt, driving range, and a 9-hole championship course let you practice your putt and swing in any season!

17. Bike, hike, or skate along Ucluelet’s 8km multi-use pathway

Ucluelet’s multi-use pathway follows the Pacific Rim Highway and offers a paved path for use with roller-skates, bicycles, skateboards, strollers… anything with wheels! Or, if you choose to walk, you can connect up with a hike along the Wild Pacific Trail.

18. Observe the stunning West Coast sunset

A west-facing coastline means wildly colourful sunsets!

Crossword

Directions

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• Share with your family and friends!

Jigsaw Puzzles

Ukee Days is a 3-day weekend-long festival celebrating West Coast life. The celebration happens in late July every year. For full current details and more information, please visit: ukeedays.wordpress.com, and be sure to check out the sample schedule below to get an idea of all the community fun.

The festival features logger sports demonstrations, live music and performances, awesome food and retail vendors, an eclectic parade, beer gardens, surf & turf BBQ, and some of the most interesting and unique contests you have ever seen.

Only the best of family-friendly West Coast fun… We look forward to seeing you there!

Stop by the Pacific Rim Visitor Centre as you arrive on the West Coast. There is a lot going on, from free guided interpretive walks on the Wild Pacific Trail to a speaker series on “The Wonders Of The Pacific Rim National Park Reserve.” This summer in Ucluelet is going to vibrant!

What’s On

Sunday Market (All Summer) from 10am – 2pm. Make It, Bake It & Grow It! Come down to the Village Green (at the bottom of Main St across from the Ucluelet Aquarium) for our quaint local market.

This year, the Canada Day celebrations on July 1st will be infused with excitement. 2017 marks the 150th year since Confederation; Canada’s sesquicentennial. The town celebrates down on the Village Green with music, vendors, and more! Local restaurants are already planning their events for the big day. It is sure to be one of the most exciting Canada Day celebrations in recent memory.

Summer Fest (July) kicks off the festival circuit with two weeks of art, film, music, and dance.

Ukee Days (July), the annual celebration of the community, always draws a large crowd. Tents showcasing local businesses and artisans cover the field. Food trucks and beer gardens feed the patrons. Live music, logger sports, and an opening parade entertain visitors. Ukee Days is an unmissable, jam-packed weekend. What happens in Ukee, stays in Ukee!

Checkout our event calendar and discover more events in Ucluelet this summer!

Explore the Outdoors

Of all the things to do in Ucluelet, exploring the outdoors is an absolute must. Perched on the edge of the Pacific, Ucluelet has clean sea air, endless blue skies, and awe-inspiring vistas. Enjoy the summer in one of the most beautiful places on earth. In Ucluelet, there are outdoor activities abound.

Take It All In

The sunsets out here are spectacular. Catch the last warm rays of the sun before it dips beneath the horizon at one of several vantage points. Head over to Amphitrite Point on the Wild Pacific Trail, and view the Pacific panorama as the sky darkens. Witness just how fast the sun disappears over the edge. Big Beach also offers a great spot to watch the sun go down. The West Coast sunset is one of Mother Nature’s finest shows. Sit back, relax, and take it all in.

Summer is full of excitement in Ucluelet. From vibrant culture to thriving ecosystems, summer here has something for everyone.

Come out and #DiscoverUcluelet

It is the time of year for springtime celebrations in Canada, and on the wild West Coast of British Columbia’s Vancouver Island, that means the migrating whales will return to celebrate the return of the sun’s warmth with us!

Each year in March, the Pacific Rim Whale Festival celebrates the continued protection and annual return of migrating Pacific Gray whales to the coastal waters of the communities of Tofino, Ucluelet and Pacific Rim National Park Reserve.

The migrating Gray whales join resident Gray whales, orcas, humpbacks and the occasional minke that can be seen in these Pacific Northwest waters any time of year off of the West Coast of Vancouver Island.

After having spent the winter in the warm waters surrounding the Baja Peninsula breeding, an estimated 20,000 of these magnificent Gray whales make a 13,000 kilometre migration towards the North, where they will feed heartily in the fruitful waters of the Bering and Chukchi Seas, near the Arctic. This is the longest annual migration of any animal in the world!

Whale Watching – Season Beginnings

The Pacific Rim Whale Festival coincides with the kick-off of whale-watching season on the West Coast, a local must-do attraction. If you’ve never had the supreme pleasure of experiencing the majesty of whales in their natural environment, then it’s time for you to add whale-watching on the West Coast of Vancouver Island to your bucket list!

There are several ways for you to get acquainted with these magnificent marine mammals such as seeing the spray from their spout on the horizon while walking one the many hiking trails in the area. Or you might take to the sea to get up close and personal with pods playing in the cold waters of the Pacific, or perhaps you can get a bird’s eye view of the magnificent whale migration from way up above in a sea plane is what you’re after – the choice is yours!

Check out our local tour operators for more details and be sure to book ahead!

Events That Entertains The Whole Family

Many events at “Whalefest” are free or require the one-time purchase of a button, which is a suggested minimum donation of $5 and will get you into all of the button events. The buttons are designed by talented local children, are printed at Piña Studio in Ucluelet and they are available at most events. Buttons can also be bought at local Visitor Info Centres, select merchants and supporting tour-operators. Some events do have a cover charge, so please refer to the Whalefest Events calendar to find out more.

ArtSplash! – An Artistic Exploration of The West Coast

ArtSplash! also happens every year in Mid March at Black Rock Oceanfront Resort. The work of talented local artists will be featured in the main foyer, and all are welcome to come marvel and mingle, or even purchase the unique artistic pieces. This is a fantastic opportunity to see the creative work of established and emerging artists on the West Coast of Vancouver Island!

Event Updates On Facebook

Latest events and updates being posted to The Pacific Rim Whale Festival’s Facebook Page

Family Friendly Festival

We are so excited to celebrate the return of the whales and the emerging of Springtime with you here on the wild West Coast. Come bring the whole family. It’s quality time in an amazing location. Come on up!

Book Your Stay Today

Remember to book your accommodations early as this is one of the most exciting seasons to experience in Ucluelet!

Explore Ucluelet Accommodations

Happy Whalefest Everyone!

It’s most definitely time to get away to the coast, wouldn’t you agree?

Making the epic trek to Ucluelet, BC., no matter how you choose to get here, whether you are arriving via the wondrous drive along Highway 4, or by spectacular air to the Long Beach Airport, your journey to the west coast of Vancouver Island will no doubt have you feeling a mix of both excited and exhausted.

For those of you who really enjoy the cozy comforts of home while you are away, you will find yourself delightfully amazed by the fully-loaded Ucluelet accommodation options that are all decked out and awaiting you and your family, here in Ukee.

The idea of waking up to the sound of the lull of lapping waves and the delightful songs of the birds of the temperate rainforest, can make any traveler swoon for this place, but there’s this enticing option of also being able to shuffle to the kitchen, put on a pot of your favourite hot beverage, slip into your warm housecoat and soft slippers, and step out onto the balcony of your very own home-away-from-home.

There are quite a few Cabin and Cottage options available, but you will no doubt find one that fits your style perfectly. There is something here for every taste; whether you prefer to be beachside in the lap of luxury, or tucked away in the lush green of trees, there is a full-stocked space, already set-up and just waiting for your relaxation and enjoyment.

Typically, these accommodations include most of everything that you will need to live life just as you would on any other day, such as dishes and cutlery to cook in the kitchen, soaps and towels in the bathrooms, as well as bedrooms so comfortable that they invite you to stay an extra day, just so you can lounge around a little longer…

With so many choices of things to do in Ucluelet, you will be pleasantly surprised if Mother Nature decides to shower you with one of her very special days of precipitation. Rainy days make for a perfect time to stay right where you are and get your nose into a book, play cards with your friends, or watch a movie or two curled up on the couch with your loved ones.

When you have rented a Cabin or Cottage in Ucluelet, you might decide that you do not even want to leave, since you have everything that you need. If provisions are waning, you can always call for delivery from one of the local eateries, but if you’re someone who likes to plan things out in advance, your cupboards and fridge might already be chock full of snacks!

But let’s be honest, a little rainy weather certainly does not require that you stay inside – far from it! There are plenty of things to do on a rainy day in Ucluelet. We hope that you find a perfect place for you and your favourite people that you will love returning to year after year, because once is never enough.

August 2015 Interpretive Walks Calendar On the Wild Pacific Trail!

The Wild Pacific Trail Society, located in Ucluelet, British Columbia, introduced interactive Interpretive Walks to the Wild Pacific Trail hiking experience over the past summers and already thousands have discovered this wonderful wilderness exploration.

The fun and informative outdoor classroom opportunities happen on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday mornings at 10am and they are as engaging for adults as they are for the kids! Be sure to keep an eye out for special Interpretive Walks lead by the man who made the Wild Pacific Trail possible – Oyster Jim Martin!

The Summer Program is free of charge thanks to partnerships with funders such as the Clayoquot Biosphere Trust, the Raincoast Education Society, the Ucluelet Aquarium and the District of Ucluelet.