The small and mostly unpretentious town of Ucluelet doesn’t receive the same throngs of tourists that visit nearby Tofino every year, but it still is a fantastic destination in its own right. Most vistors to Ucluelet come to explore the rocky and dramatic coastline or to visit the renowned aquarium, but it’s still a bit of a secret that Ucluelet is also home to a fantastic mountain hike with far-reaching views looking over Ucluelet and the Pacific Ocean to the west as well as the Broken Island Group and further Vancouver Island Mountains to the south.
Anyone visiting Ucluelet will have seen Mount Ozzard though – the distinctive golf ball-looking installation near the summit results in a lot of head-scratching. It also justifies the 12-kilometer access road and the killer views at the top. While the hike up the Mount Ozzard access road isn’t the most technical or exciting, it is pretty accessible and could be done by nearly anyone. Which is why it’s such a surprise that this Vancouver Island hike doesn’t see more hikers – in fact it’s most likely that if you do the hike up you’ll have the Mount Ozzard viewpoint all to yourself.
Continue reading this blog post for everything you need to know to experience the Mount Ozzard Viewpoint hike near Ucluelet on Vancouver Island for yourself, including distance, elevation gain, how to get there, the best time to visit, and lots of photos of my experience.
When hiking it’s generally important to avoid harmful practices such as disturbing plants or rock-stacking, or removing any natural object from flowers to rocks, as it’s important to leave the environment as natural as possible for the animals and for fellow hikers to enjoy in perpetuity. That said, I made sure to uproot and carry down some small scotch broom plants. As many flowers as there are, there are few enough that if we all took one, then there wouldn’t be any left. Take only photos (and scotch broom), leave only footprints.
If you haven’t heard of Leave No Trace principles, they’re also really essential to read up on before heading anywhere into the outdoors in general. Following these important principles basically means doing your best to leave beautiful places like Mount Ozzard as good (if not better) than you found them, both for their preservation and for the enjoyment of other visitors.
Mount Ozzard Viewpoint Round Trip Details
Distance: 12.6 KM / 7.8 MI
Elevation Gain: 667 M / 2188 FT
Hiking Time: 3-4 HRS
Hiking & Safety Tips
- Prepare for the possibility of wildlife encounters. There are almost no grizzly bears on Vancouver Island, but black bears are still common. Bear bells are proven to be an ineffective bear deterrent, and are even actively discouraged by Parks Canada. The best way to let bears know you’re around is simply to use your voice. Make sure to keep a respectful distance from wildlife and never feed the animals. It may seem kind but it doesn’t just kill wildlife and put people in danger, it’s also in many cases illegal.
- Research current trail conditions and make sure you are well-informed about the route before you leave, and assess if it is within your capability. Be aware of what time it gets dark and check the weather forecast. Make sure to tell someone where you’re going and when you expect to return. Every year as more and more people try hiking for the first time, the number of rescues goes up. Being prepared is the best defense.
- Pack everything you need for a successful hike, including enough water and energy-rich snacks. Remember to pack out everything you pack in though – don’t expect to find a convenient garbage can halfway up the trail. Bring appropriate layers (remember you’ll warm up once you start hiking) and sun protection. Hiking poles may be helpful but are not required. In addition to not leaving any garbage on the trail yourself, I highly recommend bringing a garbage bag and collecting any trash that you do see on the trail. You’re guaranteed to make the hike up Mount Ozzard a more enjoyable experience for the next person.
Looking towards the densely forested summit of Mount Ozzard from the viewpoint.
How to Get to Mount Ozzard Viewpoint Trailhead
The trailhead for Mount Ozzard is about twenty minutes from Tofino or forty minutes from Tofino. From the highway junction between Tofino, Ucluelet, and the rest of Vancouver Island, drive towards Ucluelet, taking the first left onto Port Albion Road. if you’re driving from Ucluelet this is the last right before the junction. At the turnoff there are signs for Mussel Beach Campground. Continue along Port Albion road for 4km before turning left onto Barkley Road. Continue for another 2 km before turning left just after crossing a small bridge over Mercantile Creek. From here the road gets a bit too rough for some vehicles, so I parked at a pullout on the left side of the road instead of driving the next 700m.
Click here to open the exact trailhead location in Google Maps.
Hiking to Mount Ozzard Viewpoint
Parked at the side of the road and walking up the 700m to the proper start of the Mount Ozzard trail.
At a wide intersection / parking area. Head right and continue past the yellow gate.
Following up the access road for Mount Ozzard.
A sign marking the “new road” at left. Hikers still sometimes use the old road as the two reconnect after ten or fifteen minutes, but the new road offers more views.
A sign worth following.
The Mount Ozzard acces road cuts along the steep mountainside. Presumably this is the scenic section. As you can see I was not treated to much in the way of views.
Passing another gate.
As it gains elevation the path spirals up towards the summit.
Views down over Ucluelet opened up briefly, but seconds after taking this photo I was in a cloud again.
Approaching the radar station near the top of Mount Ozzard.
Looking down over Ucluelet from Mount Ozzard.
Recommended Hiking Gear
Water is a must whenever I’m hiking, especially if the sun is going to be out. My favourite water filter I’ve used is the Katadyn BeFree 0.6L, which unlike other water filters I’ve used packs up really small and lightweight. For hikes where I know there won’t be any readily available water sources along the way, I make sure to bring my own. The Hydrapak Stow 1L bottle is my go-to, for the same reason that it’s made of a soft plastic that folds up and doesn’t take up any more extra space than necessary in my pack. Finally, Aquatabs are another great option for purifying water, with one tablet being suitable for one litre of water. I previously used the Grayl water filter while travelling internationally, and though I found its hard body more convenient for day to day use and easier to drink from, it has a little too much bulk for my fast-and-light style of hiking.
The secret to all my photos of gorgeous sunset and sunrise mountaintop views? A lot of hiking in the dark. And let me speak from personal experience when I say that the last thing that you want to happen when hiking is to be caught in the dark without a headlamp. I used the Black Diamond Spot 400 for years and it worked great – until I lost it on top of a mountain somewhere. The only downside to it was having to worry about the batteries dying, though there’s also a slightly more expensive version that has a rechargeable battery. Nowadays I’m using the Petzl Actik Core, which is a bit pricier than the more budget-friendly Black Diamond, but is also brighter, more comfortable (in my opinion), and has a hybrid power system that is rechargeable but can also take AAA batteries if needed.
You won’t see me using trekking poles on shorter hikes often – but on long hikes and backpacking trips, as well as certain scrambles, they are an absolute lifesaver. I’ve invested in a high quality ultra-lightweight pair of MSR DynaLock Ascent carbon poles which, while pricey, I don’t regret one bit. If you’re not entirely sure how much use you’re going to get out of a pair of trekking poles, the best budget-friendly option would be the Trekology Trek Z 2.0. Amazon does sell a lot of cheaper Made in China-style trekking poles for cheaper, but these usually are much much heavier and not worth buying.
All the best and most long-lasting cables and power banks I’ve ever owned have been Anker. I once had a phone cable from them that lasted me over three years of daily use! That’s why I keep an Anker PowerCore Essential 20K power bank on me. Like many people I use my phone for a lot of stuff when hiking (checking in with family, using online maps, taking photos, flying my drone) so I like to be prepared for that low battery warning by having a backup power source on me just in case.
The only socks I ever buy for myself are from Darn Tough, and I almost always make sure to wear them when hiking. After years of having no problems only wearing these comfortable and rugged socks for hikes, I accidentally wore a pair of no-name socks on a hike last year and ended up with blisters on both feet. Safe to say I’m back to sticking with the Darn Tough. And the best part? They have a lifetime guarantee, meaning that if they ever wear out you can send them back for a brand new pair. For hiking footwear I go between a pair of lightweight approach shoes for quick and dirty mountain ascents or anything involving scrambling and more heavy-duty boots for longer treks. I’ve worn a couple different versions of the lightweight but super durable Arc’teryx Konseal FL 2 approach shoes for a few years now and am very impressed with the durability. I also really like the thick toecap that keeps me protected every time I stumble into a root or large rock. For longer, tougher, or muddier treks I rely on my LOWA Camino EVO GTX, which I find insanely comfortable and made of very high quality.
I wear my Ar’teryx Gamma Lightweight Pants on every single hike I go on, and on many days when I’m not hiking. After several years of abuse they are still holding together extraordinarily well, with only a few small holes from where I’ve fallen down and some slight stains from being repeatedly coated with mud. They’re lightweight, breathable, and super comfortable. For lightweight and breathable hiking tops I’m a big fan of both the Patagonia Capilene Shirt and the MEC Core Shirt. My Arc’teryx Squamish Hoody shows up in a lot of my photos. It’s super lightweight and packable, and does a great job of cutting the wind while also being pretty breathable. I also have an Arc’teryx Atom Hoody and Arc’teryx Beta LT that I pull out for cooler or wetter conditions.
I hope you enjoyed this guide to hiking to the Mount Ozzard Viewpoint near Ucluelet on Vancouver Island! Feel free to leave any questions in the comment section below or to contact me directly via social media.
Good description, great photos – thanks!
Thanks for the post! The coordinates are wrong, here are the right ones 48.96076, -125.51401