Pacific Rim National Park is the only National Park on Vancouver Island. The park was established to protect this area's rain forests and the amazing marine environment on the west coast of Vancouver Island.. Travel time from Victoria is 5.5 hours and from Nanaimo, 3.5 hours. The entire park totals 51,300 hectares (126,761 acres) including 22,300 hectares (55,103 acres) of ocean. The Pacific National Park was dedicated in 1970 by Princess Anne. This unique park is composed of three parts - Long Beach, the West Coast Trail and the Broken Group of Islands.

The area, which is now known as the Pacific Rim National Park, is rich in history. For thousands of years it has been home to the Nuu-chah-nulth people. The area, because of its isolation offers a great diversity of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish species. Sandy beaches dominate the western side of the peninsula, while the eastern side is more tranquil. Meares Island and its magnificent rainforest is another highlight of the area as is spectacular Clayoquot Sound with its majestic forests. Clayoquot Sound is located north of Tofino. Tofino, once a sleepy fishing village, has grown into an international tourist attraction. Close by, the Long Beach area provides British Columbia's best sea kayaking and surfing. Long Beach is famous for the long sandy beaches of Schooner Cove and Wickaninnish and Florencia Bays, stretching between the two villages of Tofino and Ucluelet. Ucluelet is nesled in a secure harbor at the south end of the park area. This area offers excellent walking and hiking trails and small beaches with undisturbed wilderness, which truly will make the visitor feel part of nature.

South of Uclulet, the visitor will find Barclay Sound, which is the entrance to the Broken Islands Group. Barclay Sound is famous for its saltwater fishing and its rich in marine life. The Broken Group Islands consist of over 100 islands, islets and rocky outcrops scattered in the center of Barkley Sound, between Loudoun Channel and Imperial Eagle Channel.The sights are breathtaking. Here you will find shipwrecks, dating back to the early 1800's and numerous reefs and it is a popular area for all diving enthusiasts. The sheltered waters are a playground” for many boaters, canoeists and kayakers. In addition, Ucluelet has been acknowledged to be one of the best whale watching locations in the world and is drawing people from all over the world to watch the Gray Whales in their natural environment.

The Pacific Rim National Park is the best the west coast has to offer.