Park overview
Flores Island is one of the most popular destinations in Clayoquot Sound. Here, visitors can enjoy hiking, whale watching, fishing, kayaking, beach camping and more.
This vast, untamed wilderness area protects undisturbed watersheds with old-growth forest stands of Sitka spruce, as well as representative coastal and marine ecosystems, including excellent spawning conditions for coho salmon, exposed rocky coasts, sandstone reefs, beaches, sheltered channels and bays, fast narrows, mudflats and shallow banks.
One of the main attractions of Flores Island is the “Walk the Wild Side Trail,” a route that extends 10 km from the village of Ahousat to Cow Bay. First Nation peoples have used this route for centuries to reach the wild beaches on the west side of the island, and this vital circuit can now be explored by park visitors. Most of the route follows sandy beaches, and trails cut across headlands to join with the next beach. Muddy and slippery sections are present on this route, at this time.
The park offers excellent opportunities to see gray whales, who pass by the Island in their annual migration from Baja California to Alaska. Seasonally resident Gray whales also use the bays for feeding during the summer. Visitors come from around the world to see the whales and kayak the waters in Clayoquot Sound, and a trip to the area would not be complete without discovering all that beautiful Flores Island has to offer.
Advisories
Dates of operation
The park is open year-round
- Facility type
- Backcountry camping
- Main operating season
- 2024: year-round
- Winter season
- Not known
- Winter season note
- Flores Island is accessible year-round. There is no winter camping fee at this time.
Safety info
Wolf advisory for Flores Island and Gibson Marine Park. It is imperative that park visitors going to Flores Island:
- Be extremely mindful about how they store their food as wolves have learned how to get into kayak hatches.
- Have equipment available to hang food in the event food caches are full.
- Due to high frequency of wolves coming into campsites during the night, BC Parks is advising against campers sleeping outside their tents.
- Park visitors are advised to not bring pets to Flores Island. Dogs are a high level attractant to wolves and other large carnivores. Protect your pet and keep them at home.
- Please do your part when recreating in wolf country and help to keep wolves wild. Please avoid wolf encounters and practice proper backcountry etiquette.
- If you encounter an aggressive wild animal, report it by calling the Conservation Officer Service 24-hour hotline toll free at 1-877-952-7277 (RAPP) or #7277 on the Telus Mobility Network.
- Hiking to Mt. Flores is not recommended. The old route to Mt. Flores is not marked, very rough, and is difficult to locate.
- Tsunamis are a series of unusually big waves caused by a large-scale disturbance of a body of water. If you are on the beach and feel strong shaking from an earthquake or if the water suddenly recedes, move immediately to higher ground (greater than 15 metres or 45 feet above the tide line). There is no way to be certain how high a tsunami is going to be. The first wave to arrive at the coast is often not the largest, and each wave may be separated by up to an hour or more. Waves may continue for up to twelve hours, so you must stay on high ground until advised otherwise. Do not go to the beach to watch.
Special notes
- There are currently no BC Parks fees to camp within Flores Island Park. For more information or to purchase permits to hike the Walk the Wildside Trail, please contact the administration office at info@wildsidetrail.com or call 1-250-670-6803.
- Guiding in Parks: In Provincial Parks, any person acting as a guide or offering guiding services, including vessel drop-offs, must hold a valid Park Use Permit ( Park, Conservancy and Recreation Area Regulation, Section 4). Please ensure the company you hire is legally operating in the park.
- Park Access The trail is best accessed from the village of Ahousaht. Water taxis to Ahousaht generally depart numerous times a day, from the 1st Street dock in Tofino.
Camping
A campsite consisting of three tent platforms, two pit toilets and two food caches is located at Cow Bay on the southwestern end of the park. There are additional popular camping areas along the Wild Side trail. Random wilderness camping is allowed, however, always practice "Leave No Trace" camping ethics. Flores Island is accessible year-round and there are no fees.
Flores Island is accessible year-round. There is no winter camping fee at this time.
Facilities
While small fires are allowed, we encourage visitors to conserve the environment by minimizing the use of fire and using stoves instead. If you do have a fire please use small pieces of wood that will burn completely and keep the fire below the high tide mark. Never build your fire near the beach log piles as the fire could ignite the logs and get out of control. Do not leave your fire unattended and practice “Leave No Trace”.
Campfire bans may be in place. Before lighting a fire, check for bans or restrictions on BC Wildfire Service and on local or Indigenous government websites.
Activities
This park has a trail called the “Walk the Wild Side” trail. This route extends 10 km from Ahousat to Cow Bay and most of the route follows sandy beaches. Trails cut across headlands to join with the next beach. At this time, muddy and slippery sections are present on this route.
The trail is best accessed from the village of Ahousaht. Water taxis to Ahousaht generally depart from the 1st Street dock in Tofino. For your own safety and the preservation of the park, obey posted signs and keep to designated trails. Shortcutting trails destroys plant life and soil structure.
Please note: Hiking to Mt. Flores is not recommended. The old route to Mt. Flores is not marked, very rough, and difficult to locate.
There is no designated swimming area in this park, however opportunities exist for swimming on the park’s sandy beaches.
There are no lifeguards on duty in BC Parks.
People come from around the world to kayak and camp in remote Clayoquot Sound and enjoy the sandy beaches, scenery and wildlife. The beaches of Flores Island are a very popular kayaking and camping spot. International and local eco-tourism companies offer trips into this area, and kayak rentals are available in Tofino. Canoeing is not recommended.
The waters of Clayoquot Sound may contain a variety of fish species, including salmon, rockfish, halibut and lingcod. Fishing is permitted as per provincial and federal fishing regulations. All anglers should check the current regulations issued by Fisheries and Oceans Canada prior to fishing.
Anyone fishing in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence. To learn more, see the fishing and hunting guide.
Gray whales can be encountered at any time during the summer, particularly in Cow Bay. This park also offers opportunities to view seals, sea lions, Bald eagles and a variety of seabirds.
Note: Please abide to current Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) Marine Viewing Guidelines when viewing marine wildlife in BC Parks.
Pets and domestic animals must be on a leash at all times and are not allowed in beach areas or park buildings. You are responsible for their behaviour and must dispose of their excrement. Backcountry areas are not suitable for dogs or other pets due to wildlife issues and the potential for problems with wolves, bears and cougars.
There have been incidents involving wolves killing dogs in this park. BC Parks is strongly advising park visitors to not bring their dogs to the park.
Portions of this park are open to hunting for specific species. Hunters must have valid licences and tags. Please refer to current printed Hunting and Trapping Regulations and Synopsis publication for closures and regulations.
Flores Island is located in the central portion of Clayoquot Sound, north of Tofino on the West Coast of Vancouver Island. This park includes the western and southern parts of Flores Island, and is accessible only by boat from Tofino. Boaters can reference marine chart #3674 and #3673 for more information on this area. Water taxis from Tofino and Hot Springs Village offeraccess to the park via the Village of Ahousaht. Nearby communities include: Tofino, Ahousat and Hotsprings Village.
Learn more about this park
Park details
- Date established: July 12, 1995
- Size: 7,113.3 hectares (4,144.5 ha upland and 2,968.8 ha foreshore)
Nature and culture
Cultural Heritage
The park lies in the traditional territory of the Ahoushat First Nations. Flores Island Park contains many Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations heritage sites, including middens and Culturally Modified Trees (CMTs).
Conservation
This area was identified for protection in the Clayoquot Sound Land-Use Decision. The park protects undisturbed watersheds with old-growth forest stands of Sitka spruce as well as representative coastal and marine ecosystems, including excellent spawning conditions for coho salmon, exposed rocky coasts, sandstone reefs, beaches, sheltered channels and bays, fast narrows, mudflats and shallow banks. Gray whales migrate through the off-shore waters and seasonally resident gray whales use the bays for feeding during the summer.
Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples
BC Parks honours Indigenous Peoples’ connection to the land and respects the importance of their diverse teachings, traditions, and practices within these territories. This park webpage may not adequately represent the full history of this park and the connection of Indigenous Peoples to this land. We are working in partnership with Indigenous Peoples to update our websites so that they better reflect the history and cultures of these special places.