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Vancouver Island Hiking Guide

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COVID-19 Update

Last updated: 2021-09-05

SEPTEMBER 2021

The health and safety of our families, communities, and clients is a top priority. We all need to do our part to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Our guided trips and workshops will follow the provincial and federal health authority directives.

We have implemented our Operational Guidelines and Safety Plan for COVID-19.

Please read our Frequently Asked Questions, Terms, and Waiver before booking.

We look forward to sharing the trails with you in 2021. Stay safe!

For Questions & Assistance

For the quickest response, please email [email protected]. We will get back to you as soon as possible and we appreciate your patience during this busy time.

More Resources

For up-to-date and accurate information on COVID-19 visit:

BC’s Restart: A plan to bring us back together

Last updated: August 24, 2021

BC’s Restart is a careful, four-step plan focused on protecting people and safely getting life back to normal.

Understand the plan

BC’s Restart is a careful, four-step plan to bring B.C. back together.  Getting vaccinated is the most important tool supporting our restart.

How we move through the steps

To move through the steps, we’re looking for:

  • Declining COVID-19 case counts
  • Increasing vaccination rate in people 18+
  • Declining COVID-19 hospitalizations, including critical care
  • Declining COVID-19 mortality rate

Reference: BC’s Restart: A plan to bring us back together

Travel and COVID-19

Last updated: August 12, 2021

Recreational travel in B.C.

Recreational travel within B.C. is allowed. This includes travel for:

  • Vacations, weekend getaways and tourism activities
  • Visiting family or friends for social reasons
  • Recreation activities

Respect communities

Some towns and communities who rely on tourism are eager to welcome visitors from their region. Others might be hesitant to welcome visitors and people need to respect that. If communities are welcoming visitors, support their small businesses when you can.

Visiting Indigenous communities

Some Indigenous communities in B.C. are not welcoming visitors at this time. Indigenous Tourism BC has a list of Indigenous experiences in the province that are currently open and welcoming visitors.

Entering B.C.

From another province or territory

If you travel to B.C. for essential reasons from another province or territory, you do not need to self-quarantine when entering B.C. You must follow the same province-wide restrictions as everyone in B.C.

From a United States border crossing

Fully vaccinated citizens and permanent residents of the United States can enter Canada for non-essential travel. Entry to Canada will continue to be prohibited for travellers who are not fully vaccinated.

At the border, you must provide a negative pre-entry test result. Antigen tests are not accepted for entry to Canada.

From an international destination

Travel restrictions are in place across all ports of entry. The Canadian border is closed to most international travellers. You are allowed to enter Canada if you are a:

  • Canadian citizen
  • Permanent resident of Canada
  • Temporary resident of Canada
  • Fully vaccinated United States citizen
  • Fully vaccinated United States permanent resident
  • Protected person (refugee status)
  • Person registered under the Indian Act
  • Foreign national with a non-discretionary (non-optional) reason to travel to Canada

Find out if you can travel to Canada

Reference: Travel and COVID-19 – Province of British Columbia

COVID-19 and your visit to Pacific Rim National Park Reserve

Last updated: August 11, 2021

Important information about your visit to Pacific Rim National Park Reserve

All visitors to Parks Canada administered destinations are encouraged to plan ahead, ensure their visit adheres to current regional/provincial/national restrictions, and regularly check the Parks Canada website for the latest information on access, services, and measures that may be in place for health and safety.

Non-medical masks or face coverings are required for everyone when visiting indoor public spaces at Pacific Rim National Park Reserve including washrooms.

The health and safety of our employees, our partners, our visitors, and all Canadians is of the highest priority for Parks Canada. The Agency is following the advice of public health authorities in resuming visitor access and services. Only places and activities where health and safety risks to employees and visitors can be mitigated will be available for visitation. The visitor experience will be different than it has been in the past as we adapt to COVID-19.

Please check below for specific information on what is open and what is closed in the Long Beach Unit, Broken Group Islands, and the West Coast Trail. 

Remember to follow public health authority guidance and advice for your area, including travel advisories. Most importantly, stay at home if you have COVID-19 symptoms, or if you’ve been in contact with someone who has symptoms or has been diagnosed with the virus.

Long Beach Unit

Day Use Areas

The following parking areas and nearby washrooms/pit toilets are open for day use in the Long Beach Unit (please observe directional signage to ensure physical distance measures):

  • Radar Hill
  • Grice Bay
  • Incinerator
  • Long Beach North 
  • Long Beach South
  • Combers Beach
  • Wickaninnish Beach
  • Kwisitis Visitor Centre parking lot and beach access trail (the Kwisitis Visitor Centre remains closed)
  • Florencia Beach (north)
  • Kennedy Lake

Beaches north of Incinerator, which are closest to the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation communities of Esowista and Ty-histanis, will remain closed and approaching the national park reserve beaches north of Incinerator Rock is prohibited. Please respect and support Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation’s efforts to protect their citizens.  Directional signage will be present to share this message with visitors.

The flush toilets and pit toilets are only meant for waste that is biodegradable.  Please do not put any foreign objects in the toilets including: disinfectant wipes, feminine hygiene products and any other non-biodegradable items. Doing so will clog the waste management system and require Parks Canada to close the toilets.

Trails

The following hiking trails are open (please observe directional signage to ensure physical distance measures):

  • Rainforest Trail A and B
  • Shorepine Bog Trail
  • Combers Beach Trail – but beach access is not recommended
  • Nuu-chah-nulth Trail
  • South Beach Trail
  • Willowbrea Trail
  • Halfmoon Bay Trail

While on trails, please behave responsibly and practice physical distancing. When possible, create two metres distance between you and other visitors by stepping to the side and not following directly behind the person or group in front of you. For staircases, the visitors coming up the stairs have the right of way. 

Green Point Campground
National Park Reserve Administration Office
  • Open: 9 am – 4 pm (Mon – Fri, year round)
  • Closed: on statutory holidays

Broken Group Islands

  • Reservations are mandatory (no overnight guests without advanced reservations will be allowed). Reservations available at www.reservations.pc.gc.ca or 1-877-737-3783
  • Benson Island is closed to visitors until further notice, to protect the health and safety of the local community.
  • The Broken Group Islands are only accessible by boat/kayak.

West Coast Trail

  • Open June 4 to September 30, 2021
  • Reservations are mandatory. Reservations available at www.reservations.pc.gc.ca or 1-877-737-3783
  • Camping at Keeha Beach, Tapaltos and all other locations in the Cape Beal region and the Nitinaht Triangle will remain closed until further notice.

Throughout the national park reserve:

  • Highway 4
  • Highway maintenance
  • Water System Management
  • Law Enforcement
  • Visitor Safety and Search and Rescue

Reference: COVID-19 and your visit to Pacific Rim National Park Reserve

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