Canso Plane Crash Site Trail

Overview

A short, gritty adventure with a big payoff. This out-and-back hike weaves through dense, moss-draped West Coast rainforest to the remains of a WWII-era Canso 11007 bomber. Expect a lot of mud, roots, and a bit of clambering. The route is roughly 3.1 miles total (about 5 km) round trip; some guides list longer distances depending on where you start and whether you include the paved multi-use path along the highway.

What You’ll See

After a mellow start along the highway corridor’s paved path, you’ll veer into classic Pacific Rim forest: saturated soil, nurse logs, salal, and towering evergreens. Boardwalks appear in spots but do not spare you from the bog—this trail is notorious for wet feet, even in late summer. About 1 km in, an abandoned WWII-era transmission station materializes from the trees—eerie, graffiti-splashed, and photogenic. Near the end, a small circular pond marks a bomb crater created during the post-crash controlled detonation of the aircraft’s ordnance. The crash site itself is the star: large, surprisingly intact sections of fuselage, wings, and engines scattered in the forest.

Trail Notes

• Type: Out-and-back. Most hikers retrace their steps.
• Navigation: Start on the paved multi‑use path paralleling Highway 4 for roughly 800 m, then watch for the right turn into the forest. The route is flagged and signed, but mud and roots make footing slick.
• Terrain: Persistently muddy, rooty singletrack with intermittent boardwalks; short, gentle climbs and a brief uphill near the end.
• Dogs: Allowed on leash.

Best Time to Hike

This is a year‑round hike. It’s almost always muddy; winter and spring are the messiest, and even summer stays wet. If you want slightly kinder conditions, pick a drier stretch of weather—but plan for mud regardless.

History & Geology

The Canso bomber crashed on February 12, 1945; all 12 crew survived. Today the site offers a tangible, if weathered, link to the park’s WWII history. The boggy ground you slog through reflects the area’s glacial and marine sediments overlain by rainforest soils; the small crater‑pond near the wreck is an unusual human-made feature in an otherwise natural setting.

Tips

• Footwear: Waterproof boots (or even gumboots) are worth their weight in gold. Pack a spare pair of socks.
• Parking & Passes: Use the official lower Radar Hill parking lot and display a valid Pacific Rim National Park Reserve pass. Do not park along the highway.
• Safety: At the wreck, watch for sharp, exposed metal; supervise kids and keep dogs leashed. The trail’s roots, mud, and slick boardwalks can be treacherous—trekking poles help.
• Time: Budget extra time to explore and photograph the site.

If you’re into history and don’t mind getting dirty, this is one of the most memorable short hikes near Tofino. If you want pristine views and dry feet, look elsewhere.