Colour the Trails ‑ Big Tree Trail, Meares Island, Tla‑o‑qui‑aht Territory
Build boardwalks on the famous Big Tree Trail, and help improve access to old-growth forests!
Tofino is a small but mighty tourism destination hotspot in the heart of unceded Tla-o-qui-aht Territory on the west coast of Vancouver Island. Nestled behind the peninsula that Tofino sits on is Wah-nuh-jus–Hilthoois Tribal Park, also known as Meares Island, home to vibrant old-growth forests stewarded by the Tla-o-qui-aht since time immemorial.
For years, teams of Wilderness Committee volunteers have worked with members of the Tla-o-qui-aht Tribal Parks Guardian Program to build and maintain the boardwalk and trails system on Meares Island. Just minutes by boat from the Tofino waterfront, the Big Tree Trail is the centrepiece of Wah-nuh-jus–Hilthoois Tribal Park. It provides access into the iconic old-growth rainforest of Clayoquot Sound to tens of thousands of visitors every year.
Our goal is to make this trip accessible to as many people as possible, so we’ve switched from backcountry camping in the Tribal Park to indoor accommodations at the hostel in Tofino, with water taxi transportation to and from the Big Tree Trail each day. The work may entail trimming undergrowth with hand tools, carrying wood and building boardwalks.
TRIP DATE: JULY 25-28