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Meares Island Big Tree Trail
Water Taxi ServiceMeares Island
Big Tree TrailThe magnificent back drop to picturesque Tofino Village is pristine Meares Island. From Tofino you may take a 10 minute boat cruise aboard the “Re-Joyce” to the Big Tree trailhead.
Depending on the tide, you will begin your journey past many mud flats which are extremely important to migratory birds for rest and feeding on their west coast flying routes. You will then pass between a variety of small islands including Morpheus Island. For centuries, Morpheus was a tribal burial ground, and more recently from 1900 to 1950 used as Tofino’s cemetery. No one is buried on Morpheus today and the island is under the guardianship of Tofino. From this point, the edge of Meares Island lay before you.
In the early 80’s Meares Island was in immediate danger of clear cut logging. Concerned Tofino residents, environmentalists and Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations joined together to face off the big timber industry. This initial battle ground gave birth to BC’s “War of the Woods” which spread up to the Queen Charlottes and culminated into the largest act of peaceful disobedience in Canadian history!
These trees, aged between 800 and 1300 years, are something to marvel at. Take your time to explore the fern carpeted forest floor and to hug some of the hugest and oldest life forms on this precious planet.
The Big Tree trail has two parts. The trail begins as a boardwalk leading you past many features of special interest to the Hanging Garden Tree which has a circumference of 18.3 meters and a height of 42.7 meters! The board walk is 620 meters in length and takes approximately 1.5 hours return to enjoy. If you prefer a longer hike you can continue on and do a loop trail (no board walk and often very muddy!) for a total distance of 3163 meters.TYPICAL DEPARTURES:
11:00 am (12:45 pm pick up)
12:30 pm (2:15 pm pick up) and so on... we are flexible! If you would like an earlier or later departure we will try to accommodate you. Just let us know your preferred departure time.Self-Guided:
ADULTS $25.00 per adult + $5 per ticket payable to the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations.
CHILDREN 2yrs. – 12yrs. $20.00
CHILDREN UNDER 2 FREE
Guided: With a naturalist $110.00 per adult including Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations ecosystem service fee and taxi service. Children 12 and under $55.00 each. Guided tours are for minimum two passengers. Advance reservations are required for all naturalist guided tours.
Hilthuu? is the Tla-o-qui-aht place name for Meares Island. Hilthuu? Is a significant part of the Haahuulthii ~ traditional territory, resources, rivers, songs and names of the Tla-o-qui-aht Hawiih ~ Hereditary Chiefs.We recommend that you pack some food and drinks and dress in appropriate clothing for a wilderness hike. Please pack out what you bring in. Keep in mind that our west coast weather can be unpredictable, so come prepared!
BOOK YOUR ADVENTURE ONLINE NOW
Please call our office directly for reservations during the off season from October – March
Special Interest Features:
1. From the landing/trail head - 0 meters
2. Junction with the circuit route - 81 meters (Head clockwise)
3. Hollow Cedar - 268 meters
4. Wetfoot Cedar – 317 meters
5. Yellow Dog Landing – 352 meters (Built for the 1993 Yellow Dog
film shoot.)
6. Eagle Nest Tree – 458 meters
7. Poster Tree – 518 meters
8. Viewpoint – 565 meters
9. Hanging Garden Tree – 594 meters (BC’c 4th largest Western Red Cedar!)
10. End of the boardwalk – 620 meters (Here you may turn back or continue on according to your scheduled pick up time.)
11. Junction with the Big Cedar trail and the Pipeline trail – 869 meters (Back leg of the circuit route. Please note that the spur to the left ends in 58 meters. Don’t get lost ~ please follow the flagging tape!)
12. Stream Crossing – 1135 meters (Mostly dry in summer)
13. Candelabra Cedar – 1951 meters
14. Waterline Trail ends – 1968 meters
15. Step-up Cedar – 2141 meters
16. Picture Perfect Cedar – 2480 meters
17. Nurse Log – 2529 meters
18. Trail circuit completed you are back at the junction point.
Ocean Outfitters Ltd.
368 Main Street, Tofino, B.C. VOR 2ZO
Tollfree- 1-877-906-2326
Local (250) 725-2866e-mail: oceanoutfitters@telus.net
Contact Names: Ken Thomson or Elizabeth John
Gift Certificates Available
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