Top Things to do in Barkley Sound
The 10 Best Nature & Parks in Barkley Sound, Vancouver Island
Discover the best top things to do in Barkley Sound, British Columbia including Wild Pacific Trail, Brady's Beach, Florencia Bay, Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre, Kennedy Lake Provincial Park, Thornton Creek Hatchery, Little Beach, Kennedy River Bog Provincial Park, Toquaht Bay Marina, Mount Ozzard Trail.
Restaurants in Barkley Sound
1. Wild Pacific Trail
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2,689 reviews
The Wild Pacific Trail is located in Ucluelet and is a seven phase trail system skirting the rugged cliffs and shoreline of the west coast of Vancouver Island. Overlooking Barkley Sound and the Broken Group Islands to the east and the open Pacific Ocean to the south and west, it offers spectacular shoreline panoramas and seaward vistas through ancient cedar and spruce-framed viewing platforms constructed on the best headlands along the route.
Reviewed By 369PeterR - Toronto, Canada
We did the Wild Pacific Trail in two parts. On two mornings, by 7 AM my spouse and I did the 2.5 km light house loop portion of the trail. It took us about 50 minutes, including a few stops to take photos. It is an easy walk with a little bit of up and down. One day in the afternoon we also walked the segment of the trail from Brown’s Beach as far as it would go. This was about 8 km round-trip. It was a beautiful walk, sometimes through rainforest and sometimes along cliffs overlooking the ocean. The trail is very well-maintained and almost entirely a gravel path. We love it. Despite walking the trail on a holiday long weekend, it was not busy at all.
2. Brady's Beach
3. Florencia Bay
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 34 reviews
Reviewed By gwt75 - Vancouver, Canada
In height of tourist season (summer 2020), we showed up at this beach and only one other group there. Massive beach with some fun tidal pools at low tide.
4. Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre
5. Kennedy Lake Provincial Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 26 reviews
Reviewed By 690sf - Vancouver, Canada
Kennedy Lake is an expansive & awesome body of water to look at; kayak or canoe on; fish from, or dip one’s body into. In fact, it is the largest lake on Vancouver Island. I feast my eyes on this majestic body of water — the result of inflows from Kennedy & Clayoquot Rivers — each time I travel past it en route to the ocean community of Ucluelet on Canada’s West Coast. This last December/January I was fortunate to be in its thrall on 4 occasions, while driving Highway 4, which cuts pass it to get to & from Ucluelet, & is the only land route providing access to Ucluelet & neighboring Tofino. Highway 4 makes its way between, & past, steep mountain cliff on the one side, & the large lake on the other side, for the last leg of the journey from Port Alberni to the two ocean communities, or the first leg of the trip, if one is traveling the other way — with the nuance being whether one turns left & South to Ucluelet at the very close by junction — some 8 kms distance away — or right & North to Tofino — some 35 kms away. On one of our very early family visits on immigrating to Canada to this spectacular landscape, the sight of Kennedy Lake beckoned so strongly that we could not resist turning off the highway to take a dip in the cool and exhilarating water. The lake is situated in a Provincial Park, so many come to swim, boat or fish, as well as back-country camp. Of course with overnight camping much care needs to be taKen, as others drawn to the place are bears, cougars & other wildlife which populates the region, but with precautions around one’s food storage & the like, a truly uncommercial adventure can be had. Most visitors are day-visitors. The park provides a picnic area for day-visitors, pit toilets & a boat launch. It is just some 15 mins from Ukee, as Ucluelet is known by locals, so an easy trip for residents, who may want to exchange for a short time their ocean water activities for those experienced in fresh water. It is also fairly close to Tofino & relatively close to Port Alberni, the town East of Ukee, before the summit one climbs to get to the coast & is a town which in many ways can be seen as the gateway between East & West Vancouver Island. Kennedy Lake is memorable, whether you breathe in its majesty from afar, or stop for a visit. Posted by S Fuller
6. Thornton Creek Hatchery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 98 reviews
Reviewed By Spiderdog - Cheshire, United Kingdom
We were on a road trip and staying in Ucluelet during the salmon run season. Visited following several recommendations and we arrived at 10am just as it was opening. There was excitement as volunteer staff had seen a couple of black bears and a wolf in the previous half hour! We were lucky enough to visit when it was quiet and we spent quite a while watching two bears ( Mother and a young bear) while they were in the water catching salmon. You can view the river from a raised boardwalk and we got some good video which we have watched a lot since. The volunteer staff are very helpful and knowledgeable and we were happy to make a donation as no entrance fee is charged. A great place for bear watching if you are there at the right time. The overall setting makes it a good place for viewing wildlife but there is now limited opportunity for public access as they don't want wildlife to become too tame or used to humans.
7. Little Beach
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 15 reviews
Reviewed By 690sf - Vancouver, Canada
Two beaches in central Ucluelet provide very easy access to the ocean. The one is Little Beach, and the other is Big Beach. Both are wonderful in their own way. Big Beach tips the scales for me as it is facing out onto the rugged, wild coastline, while at the same time being tucked into a small bay, sheltered from the winds by cliffs and the jagged coastline. On Marine Drive, it is neighbour to The Black Rock Resort; and across the way from the town’s wonderful community center, which has a community park; and is adjoined to an equally wonderful skateboard park - recently upgraded to include new runs which lie outside its bowl, thus allowing newbies to find their feet on a skateboard before tackling the more difficult bowl. Big Beach has public restrooms for those who come to investigate the tidal pools; or picnic at the picnic tables provided or to throw out a blanket on the grass in front of the beach or to gather to listen to ocean awareness meetings held there by organizations such as the Ucluelet Aquarium, which does so as part of its outreach programme. It is a place of community and social interaction, but also a place of quiet reflection. It has hosted popular Easter Egg hunts, which attracted large groups of residents but could as easily be the perfect place of solitude to practice yoga or meditation. Little Beach is located at the water-end of Peninsula Road, the main commercial street in Ukee - as the locals refer to Ucluelet - and also the street one drives into the town from the junction at which one either turns south to Ukee or north to Tofino. As Ukee has its non-identical twin in Tofino; Big Beach has its non-identical twin in Little Beach. Posted by S Fuller
