The section of the Wild Pacific Trail from Brown’s Beach to Rocky Bluffs is not only one of my favourite hikes near Ucluelet, it’s one of my favourites ever. I love hikes that offer views that I haven’t seen before, and this was one of them. Super well-built trails like this offering incredible views of rugged Pacific coastline are hard to come by, and it’s hard to think of a better example than here. Not only are the many viewpoints on the Wild Pacific Trail from Brown’s Beach to Rocky Bluffs absolutely spectacular, they’re also super accessible. The hike sees very little elevation gain as it follows the coastline, so almost any hiker should be able to do this trail with relative ease.
It’s possible to do the Wild Pacific Trail from Brown’s Beach to Rocky Bluffs as an out and back, but if you have someone staying with the car, it’s also possible to exit the trail near the end and get picked up there, making the hike even shorter and easier.
Continue reading this blog post for everything you need to know to experience the Brown’s Beach to Rocky Bluffs section of the Wild Pacific Trail near Ucluelet for yourself, including distance, elevation gain, how to get there, the best time to visit, and lots of photos of my experience.
About the Wild Pacific Trail
The Wild Pacific Trail is an iconic multi-segment hiking path on Vancouver Island’s west coast near Ucluelet, much of which follows the rugged coastline of the region. It’s one of the best things to do in Ucluelet and really a unique gem – so much waterfront land ends up turning into houses for the wealthy, so it’s really something special to have the Wild Pacific Trail accessible to the public.
The trail was envisioned and first started by local legend “Oyster” Jim Martin in 1979, and was built through significant community effort and collaboration across various land jurisdictions, including federal, provincial, and First Nations lands. Today the Wild Pacific Trail Society continues to enhance, maintain, and hopefully expand the trail, supported by donations and community involvement
When hiking it’s 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. 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, 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 the Wild Pacific Trail as good (if not better) than you found them, both for their preservation and for the enjoyment of other visitors.
Brown’s Beach to Rocky Bluffs Round Trip Details
Distance: 7.4 KM / 4.6 MI
Elevation Gain: 109 M / 358 FT
Hiking Time: 2 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.
More tips for hiking in bear country.
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.
More information on staying safe in the outdoors.
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 along the Wild Pacific Trail a more enjoyable experience for the next person.
How to Get to the Wild Pacific Trail: Brown’s Beach to Rocky Bluffs Trailhead
The Brown’s Beach trailhead is only a couple minutes by car from the center of Ucluelet, and easily walkable. If driving down Peninsula Road from the north (the main road going through town), pass Alberni Brewing Co and the Co-Op, turning right just before the school. If driving north, turn left just after the school. Continue down Matterson Drive alongside the school for a couple minutes, before turning right at the T-Junction. Drive down Marine Drive for a minute, keeping an eye out for a sign on the left with a big blue P. Drive in here and park.
Click here to open the exact trailhead location in Google Maps.
Hiking the Wild Pacific Trail: Brown’s Beach to Rocky Bluffs
The beginning of the trail from the parking lot. It’s also possible to take another short trail down to the left to Brown’s beach from here. Make sure you’re heading towards the right along the coastline.
Looking down over Brown’s Beach.
The Wild Pacific Trail passes over a small bridge and through the woods.
Crossing a road. There are several houses visible through the trees not far from the trail for the first five minutes or so, but after crossing this road it starts to feel like you’re actually away from town.
One of the first glimpses of the ocean.
There are several intersections like this, signed ‘Artist Loops’. Keep left. Always keep left. The newly added Artist Loops are sections of trail that hug the coastline closely, revealing spectacular views. The older trail on the right will still get you to the same destination, but skips much of the views.
A fantastic viewpoint. There are easily over a dozen benches with amazing viewpoints along the trail – it was hard not to stop at every single one of them to take in the views.
Views down over another small sandy beach.
The only stairs along the trail – otherwise its extraordinarily flat and easy.
More amazing views along the Wild Pacific Trail.
Coming out the other end of one of the Artist Loops where the trails reconverge.
And another one. Keep left.
The small platforms offer incredible views, and each one is worth stopping at. It’s so obvious just how much love and hard work has been put into this trail.
The trail heads in and out around another small beach.
One of my favourite viewpoints, and a relatively recently added one too I believe.
The most scenic point along the entire trail from Brown’s Beach to Rocky Bluffs, This view was incredible, and photos don’t do it justice.
I might have found myself a good vantage point here.
After that last amazing viewpoint, the Wild Pacific Trail spends a bit more time in the woods and doesn’t hug the coastline as tightly. Fortunately the trees are also beautiful.
Some are in fact quite large.
The Brown’s Beach to Rocky Bluffs trail meets up with the Ancient Cedars Loop. If you want to add 15 minutes to your hike and see some big old trees, then consider turning right to do the loop. Otherwise keep left to stay on the trail to Rocky Bluffs.
Another amazing viewpoint. I wasn’t able to get a good photo but I did see some whales in the distance from here.
The final viewpoint at Rocky Bluffs. This is currently the endpoint of the Wild Pacific Trail, but my understanding is that they want to extend it all the way to the National Park, something I’d love to see happen.
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 the Brown’s Beach to Rocky Bluffs section of the Wild Pacific Trail near Ucluelet! Feel free to leave any questions in the comment section below or to contact me directly via social media.