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The exposed open coast of the Pacific Coast mountains surround Pacific Rim National Park Reserve of Canada.
This unique park is composed of three units; Long Beach, the West Coast Trail and the Broken Group Islands.
The park includes sand beaches, an island archipelago, old-growth coastal temperate rain forest and significant archaeological sites.
Extensive interpretive programs are available throughout the summer for exploration of this amazing marine and forest environment.
The mammals in Pacific Rim include black-tailed deer, Vancouver Island wolf, black bear, raccoon, cougar, marten, mink, short-tailed weasel, river otter, Norway rat, deer mouse, red squirrel, wandering shrew, Townsend vole and muskrat. Offshore are Pacific gray whales, dolphins, seals and sea lions.
There are also two general types of vegetation, those found in the forest and those along the shore. Each is a reflection of its climatic and oceanic influences, soil development and stability, drainage and landform contours.
Within these two vegetation worlds, there are a total of 441 different species of vascular plants within the park. Of all the wildlife found in the park, the most abundant and diverse is found in the marine environment.
The Long Beach Unit is the best known and most accessible of the three park units. It is located on a broad coastal plain northwest of Barkley Sound, a large inlet of the Pacific Ocean.
The villages of Ucluelet and Tofino flank the boundaries of this unit. The most famous feature of the region is the long, sandy beaches.
The Broken Group Islands of the park include approximately 100 islands and rocks located in Barkley Sound.
The outer islands are fully exposed to the force of the Pacific Ocean. In the lee of the outer islands, there are more protected waterways for boating and ocean paddling.
The third unit of the park, the West Coast Trail, includes the section of coast southeast of Barkley Sound between the villages of Bamfield and Port Renfrew.
The 46-mile historic trail was constructed for the rescue of shipwrecked mariners. The land of the trail unit is temperate coastal rain forest.
From mid-October through mid-March, most park facilities including the Wickaninnish Centre, the Park Information Centre and Green Point Campground are closed.
Outdoor Activities |
