Wah-nuh-jus—Hilthoois Tribal Park (Meares Island) Trail Project
Stay in Tofino, work on the legendary Big Tree Trail!
Tofino is a small but mighty tourism mecca 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, and provides access into the iconic old-growth rainforest of Clayoquot Sound to tens of thousands of visitors every year.
This 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 will entail trimming undergrowth on the backside of the loop trail, to keep this route open and clear.
Trip dates: June 10-12
Itinerary and packing
Exact times are subject to change but will involve a mid-day rendezvous in Port Alberni, with volunteers coming in carpools from Victoria Vancouver, and other areas. The Wilderness Committee will organize and cover costs for all transportation and accommodation, and all necessary tools are provided. Volunteers will be required to pack their own camping gear (we can help arrange rentals if needed) and food. See the list below, and contact us for any ideas.
- Friday a.m. Leave Victoria, Vancouver and other locations between 7 and 10 am, to meet in Port Alberni by about 1 p.m.
- Friday p.m. We will arrive in Tofino and check into the hostel between 3 and 4 p.m., depending on road and traffic conditions.
- Saturday We will wake up and have breakfast, and then catch a water taxi over to Meares between 8 and 9 a.m. The entire Big Tree Trail loop is about 4km, and we will move along it and trim the trail for most of the day, with frequent breaks and a lunch break, and a potential afternoon beach visit, depending on the weather, and timing and progress of work. We will return to Tofino by water taxi between 4 and 5 p.m.
- Sunday a.m. We will wake up and have breakfast, pack all belongings into vehicles, and then catch a water taxi over to Meares at around 8 a.m. We will work on the Big Tree Trail until 2 p.m. when we will water taxi back to Tofino.
- Sunday p.m. We will aim to depart Tofino between 2:30 and 3 pm, arriving in Nanaimo (for ferry service to Vancouver) by 5:30-6 p.m. and Victoria by 7-7:30 p.m.