So….it’s been a while since the last post, but it’s good to be back sharing some new adventures. The blackout has been pretty much been due to discovering the world of trail running and triathlons (as captured on Strava), but with the last triathlon of the summer less than a week away and a long list of objectives, normal service will soon resume. This winter also saw a ridiculous amount of snow, meaning that the West Coast Mountains are still cached with a think layer of the white stuff making the exploring a little more precarious.

And on with the post…

For those of you kicking around the West Coast of Vancouver Island, specifically, in the the Pacific Rim National Park there is no better view point over the pacific, coves, islands, inlets, lakes, islands, rivers, beaches and temperate rainforests than the vista from the summit of Lone Cone.

Situated on Meares Island, just North of Tofino, the trailhead is a short 30-min ferry-ride away, which, if you’re lucky, could potentially serve as a whale watching opportunity too!

The trail starts pretty much from the jetty where the water taxi drops you off and you immediately get a sense for this island’s rugged nature.

Jetty on Meares Island – the drop off point for Lone Cone

You follow a gravel road as it heads up a short slope towards the only campsite on the island. A short distance before the campsite, the trail to Lone Cone turns left, into forest where you soon find yourself quickly appreciating it’s wild and overgrown greenery.

The GREEN Temperate Rainforest of Vancouver Island

Overgrown and rough trail en route to Lone Cone

After about 2kms of flat, winding trail through a very wet and almost marsh-like section, it begins climb and as it zig-zags up some 750m of steep slope. Following the infrequent strips of marking tape, ducking underneath branches and the occasional fallen (behemoth) tree, this section of rainforest is like nothing else I’ve seen in the Pacific Northwest. Given it’s remote geography, it’s vastly different from the well-trodden paths on the mainland and for the same reason the large ancient-cedars still stand, which are incredible.

HUGE fallen tree on the hike to Lone Cone (spot the Dabous)

A big ancient cedar. A little (not ancient) Miss Dabous.

After a couple of sweaty hours heading up through the trees, you soon arrive at a pretty magnificent view point – caveating that with the basis you have an uncommon sunny day in Tofino, so timing is everything.

Lone Cone summit view point

After a spot of lunch atop Lone Cone it was time to head back down – the trails making for some knee-aching trail running given their steep pitch.

Descending the steep slopes from Lone Cone summit

Running along flatter sections of the trail back to the Lone Cone trailhead.

There is a million and one things to do when in Tofino, but this is definitely worth it. A good 6hr round trip, including the ferry, it’s a must-do adventure and well work the gruelling climb.

And this is just a couple of random shots of another great spot on the way to/from Tofino that is always worth stopping for. A small rocky outcrop on Wally Creek that, should conditions allow, makes for a great spot to jump in and take a swim.

A rather full-flowing day at Wally Creek

Wally Creek with Clayoquot Plateau mountains providing the backdrop.