Parking
Use the marked parking area about 400 m up the road from the trailhead at the end of South Bamfield Road. Follow marked access to the trailhead and avoid blocking private driveways.
Overview
About Tapaltos Bay Trail
Why go
- A crescent beach makes a satisfying turning point.
Heads up
- Wet roots and slippery log crossings make the modest mileage slow.
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Pacific Rim map
Full mapElevation0–51 m
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
7 active Pacific Rim alerts
- ClosureWest Coast Trail winter access restrictionMentions West Coast Trail, referenced in this guideFrom October 7 through April 30, only day use between Pachena Bay trailhead and km 8 is permitted; overnight use and the remainder of the West Coast Trail are closed.Official details
- ClosureWest Coast Trail lightstations closedMentions West Coast Trail, referenced in this guideCarmanah Point and Pachena Point Lightstations and their surrounding grounds in the West Coast Trail Unit are closed to public use at all times; do not enter.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Pacific Rim Tour Guide
Your drive to Tapaltos Bay Trail, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Pacific Rim audio tourRecorded for this area
Pachena Bay Campground0:00 / 0:29
“Pachena Bay Campground is coming up, a Huu-ay-aht First Nations-operated camp beside a long sandy beach. If you're starting or finishing the West Coast Trail at its northern end, this is a handy place to spend a night.”
Plays on the road 3.2 km from the trailhead in the Parkwolf Pacific Rim Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- A Wave Across the Pacific
- Pachena Bay West Coast Trail Orientation Centre
- 34 audio storiesacross Pacific Rim’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Orca, Humpback Whale, Black Bear, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 19 trails, 52 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Trail guide
Hiking Tapaltos Bay Trail
The beach walkTapaltos Bay Trail is the westbound branch from the Cape Beale trailhead to Tapaltos Beach,…
Tapaltos Bay Trail is the westbound branch from the Cape Beale trailhead to Tapaltos Beach, then back the same way. Plan on about 7 km (4.3 miles) round trip: roughly 1.5 km to the fork, then about 2 km to the shore. The crescent beach is the payoff; low tide leaves more shoreline to explore. This outing ends at the beach. The separate lighthouse route continues beyond it and is about 7 km one way.
Mud, roots and a sloughThe headlands are fairly flat but wet, with muddy ground, roots and slippery log crossings.
The headlands are fairly flat but wet, with muddy ground, roots and slippery log crossings. The Tapaltos branch crosses a slough; its exact crossing can change, so check conditions before you go. Allow around 3 to 3½ hours with time at the beach. Shorter estimates don't say whether they include the return. If high tide covers the mudflat approach, use the marked forest route.
Access and what to bringThe marked parking area is about 400 m up the road from the trailhead at the end of South…
The marked parking area is about 400 m up the road from the trailhead at the end of South Bamfield Road. Follow the marked access to the start and avoid blocking private driveways. Day hikers must register at the West Coast Trail Information Office at Pachena Bay. There is no reliable freshwater or outhouse along the route, so bring all the water you need. Dogs aren't allowed in the West Coast Trail Unit except certified service pets.
If the lighthouse is your goalThe longer trail continues southwest from the beach along the old telegraph route toward Cape…
The longer trail continues southwest from the beach along the old telegraph route toward Cape Beale Lighthouse. The crossing to the lighthouse goes over tidal flats and requires a tide of 1.8 m or lower. That's a separate 14 km round trip; don't count the lighthouse as part of this beach outing.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Pacific Rim
11 sightingsOrcaMost seen around 10 AMSighting map
16 sightingsHumpback WhaleMost seen around 5 PMSighting map
174 sightingsBlack BearMost seen around 8 PMSighting map
16 sightingsSea OtterMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
134 sightingsSteller Sea LionMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
18 sightingsCalifornia Sea LionMost seen around noonSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Pacific Rim. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
