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Vancouver Island Hiking Guide

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COVID-19 Update

Last updated: 2021-12-01

DECEMBER 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 all 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 2022. 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:

Travel and COVID-19

Last updated: November 30, 2021

If you’re travelling within Canada or leaving the country, make a plan to show proof of vaccination.

Federal requirements for travel within Canada

The Government of Canada requires all travellers 12 years and 4 months of age and older to be fully vaccinated and show proof of vaccination to use federally regulated methods of travel:

  • Departing from any Canadian airport
  • Travelling on VIA Rail and Rocky Mountaineer trains
  • Staying on a non-essential passenger vessel for more than 24 hours (like a cruise ship)
    • ​BC Ferries does not require proof of vaccination

Note: For travel within Canada, you’re considered fully vaccinated 14 days after you get your second dose of vaccine.

Federal COVID-19 proof of vaccination for travel

The Government of Canada has created a federal COVID-19 proof of vaccination document for travel. It’s recommended you use the document for travel within Canada and internationally.

Travelling internationally

Many international destinations may accept Canada’s COVID-19 proof of vaccination. Each country makes the final decision on what they accept as proof of vaccination.

When you return to Canada, you must use ArriveCAN to submit your travel and health details in the 72 hours before your arrival back in the country.

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

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

Last updated: November 16, 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

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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