Walk The Wild Side Trail

Used by the Ahousaht First Nations people for over a thousand Years, Walk The Wild Side Trail is an 11Km escape into the Wilderness of Clayoquot Sound.
First restored in the 1990's, walk the Wild Side Trail has developed into a must-see Ecotourism destination for those visiting Tofino and Ucluelet.
Take a Tour through the Maaqtusiis reserve and then head out on the Trail with your Ahousaht Heritage Trail Guidebook for the Ultimate Cultural Experience.

The Ahousaht Wild Side heritage trail packs an awesome array of wilderness experiences along the entire 11km. The trail is located on the wild west coast of Flores Island, a region steeped in the history of the Ahousaht people.

The Ahousaht First Nations village of Maaqtusiis on the breathtakingly beautiful Flores Island is the gateway to the Wild Side trail. The trail winds its way through ancient Sitka forests and visits two of the most spectacular pristine beaches in Clayoquot Sound: Whitesand Cove and Cow Bay.

The trail ventures through old growth forest and along 8 of the most beautiful beaches in Clayoquot Sound.
Pick up Stanley Sam Sr's book Ahousaht Wild Side Heritage Trail Guide Book for listings of historical Ahousaht sites along the trail $20.

Location: Flores Island, community of Ahousaht, 30 minute water taxi or 8 minute float plane ride from Tofino.

Time Required: 2 days recommended for ultimate trail experience. Roundtrip day-hike is approximately 8.5 hours.

Length: 11km one way, 22km roundtrip hike. Water taxi pickups available for charter.

Difficulty: Moderate. No elevation, boardwalk from 1st to 5th beach. Lots of beach walking, and occasional muddy

For safety reasons we do not advise people to walk the trail during the winter months as the weather can become extremely unpredictable and make parts of the trail inaccessible.