Thursday, June 9, 2016

June 9 – Wild Pacific Trail Lighthouse Loop

This morning was cool but mostly sunny so we headed down to Ucluelet to do a loop of the Wild Pacific Trail that is out at the end of a peninsula. We just did the section in the lower right of the map below. The map says it should be 2.6 km. Our GPS said 3.8 and it is probably somewhere in between with all the wandering that we did..

 Wild Pacific Map

This is a really well maintained trail. It sticks as close to the coast as it can, on a wide smooth path.

IMG_1028693

Most of the time we weren’t right on the cliff edge but there were little paths out to viewpoints everywhere. And they actually were viewpoints because they trimmed down the salal so that you could clearly see without any obstructions. The guard rails were unusual as well.

 IMG_1028688

Lots of twisty trees.

IMG_1028687

This sort of looked like a yelling face.

IMG_1028692

The views from the trail were good.

IMG_1811

IMG_1028690

But we wanted to get closer so we followed an unofficial trail down onto the rocks.

IMG_1815

IMG_1028702

IMG_1028706

IMG_1028705

I checked out the tide pools. I have no idea what this is.

IMG_1028707

IMG_1028708

Jennie checked out the flowers.

IMG_1028711

IMG_1832

IMG_1028698

Continuing on.

IMG_1028718

Our pet peeve with a lot of places is how most viewpoints could be made so much better with a little trimming. No problem here.

IMG_1028722

Amphitrite Lighthouse.

IMG_1028729

IMG_1028726

IMG_1028740

We did some more rocky exploring.

IMG_1028741

p1

IMG_1028763

IMG_1028767

Endless great viewpoints.

IMG_1028771

IMG_1028784

IMG_1028791

IMG_1836

There was a side trail down to a rocky beach with some more tide pools.

IMG_1028835

There looked like there was a sandy beach around the bay but the tide was too high to get to it.

IMG_1028803

IMG_1028799

IMG_1028825

IMG_1028823

IMG_1028829

I thought that this pool was full of snails.

IMG_1028816

IMG_1028810

But each shell had a little crab in it.

IMG_1028814

Another unknown creature.

IMG_1028818

Back up to the main loop.

IMG_1028838

Looking down at that beach around the corner.

IMG_1028842

IMG_1028840

Up and over the hill in the middle of the peninsula and back to the car.

IMG_1028844

We thought that this stump looked like a horse with a flowing mane.

IMG_1028843

Our path. You can see all the little spikes out from the main trail as we hit the viewpoints.

09-06-16_17-56-48

We went to another section of the trail because it was early but by now it was getting darker and colder so we quickly turned around and just went home.

1 comment:

  1. What a spectacular hike!!! Love those twisty tree shapes!!!

    ReplyDelete