Join free events listed on our calendar (click to download a prinable PDF file) or visit us at Amphitrite House Interpretive Centre any day of the week.
Interpretive Walk Info: See the map at the bottom of this text for colour coded locations. Our trail naturalist and guest speakers have a wealth of knowledge and experience to share. Have questions about stewardship?
Need trail orientation?
Get tips on how to learn and see more from our enthusiastic Naturalists.
Tidepool exploration walk: 10 am every FRIDAY from Big Beach
Meet at the Big Beach Picnic Shelter or find us on the beach if you arrive late.
Step into the magical world of the intertidal zone! Join us for a one-hour guided tidepool walk from 10:00–11:00 am at Big Beach (554 Marine D).
This family-friendly program welcomes all ages. Please wear sturdy shoes for slippery rocks—this adventure happens rain or shine, and no registration is needed. Participation is free or by donation.
On your walk you might spot purple shore crabs scuttling sideways between the rocks—these tough little creatures are the clean-up crew of the tidepools, munching on algae and scavenging leftovers. You could also find anemones that “hug” your finger with sticky tentacles, or hermit crabs carrying borrowed shells on their backs. Look closely and you may even see chitons, tiny armored grazers that have been living on Pacific shores for millions of years!
Each tidepool is a window into the Northwest’s vibrant marine life—come explore what lies beneath the waves.
Please supervise children carefully, wear sturdy shoes,. No pets please. Respect the power of the open ocean, stay with your guide.
Meet at the Big Beach Picnic Shelter or find us on the beach if you arrive late.
Free Pop-Up Event
Wednesday, October 8 | 11:00 am – 2:00 pm
Location: Amphitrite House Interpretive Centre, Ucluelet
Come take part in a unique, all-ages event where you’ll help assemble a life-sized whale skeleton and learn about the amazing marine life off our coast. Join us for a hands-on, family-friendly activity!
This program is hosted by the Reddfish Restoration Society, and Wild Pacific Trail Society, with special guests from the Ucluelet Aquarium and the Ocean Wise Sightings Network (OWSN). This event will be indoors in the house overlooking the lighthouse, end of Coast Guard Road.
OWSN is a community-based science initiative that has been monitoring whales, dolphins, and porpoises along the B.C. coast for more than 20 years. By reporting sightings through the Whale Report app, observers help researchers better understand and protect these animals.
Naturalists staff this educational Centre 9am to 4 pm daily year round.
Daily Interpretive topics can be explored from our new Interpretive Centre overlooking the iconic Amphitrite Lighthouse. Learn about the Wild Pacific Trail, Ucluelet, and the array of eco-systems on the Pacific Rim. Ask about our walking trees and other unique features of rainforest, bog, intertidal or wetland ecosystems see along the Wild Pacific Trail. Birds and other wildlife abound here on the West Coast, hear about what has been seen recently.
Have questions about the ocean and marine wildlife? Need trail orientation? Get tips on how to observe whales and marine mamals swimming past. The surf is in constant motion here, sweeping up surge channels and reefs. Observe from the safety of the trail or observation deck.
The Wild Pacific Trail Society (WPTS) Naturalist is happy to greet you on Saturday and Sunday.
Raincoast Education Society (RES) staff are available Monday to Fridays daily
Calendar events are colour coded to the parking lots at the Whale Parking Lot (red), Lighthouse (teal), Big Beach aka Frog parking lot (blue) and Ancient Cedars trailhead (green).
We are grateful to program experts such the Ucluelet Aquarium the Raincoast Education Society, Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, WildSafeBC.com, and Redd FIsh Restoration Society for their expertise.
The trail and events could not exist without the support of the District of Ucluelet. Special Guest speakers enrich our programs, stay tuned.
Naturalist photo by Summer Naturalist Reanna Hoeppner
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for interpretive postings and weather being observed.
Award winning videos below are a great insight into our programs.
The Wild Pacific Trail is a unique outdoor classroom that offers incredible opportunities to connect people to nature. Our seasonal Discovery Tent at the lighthouse offers revolving topics for all ages.
Seven entertaining and award winning videos can be a great preview of what there is to see and learn.
Episode 1: "What's that smell?" video with our Wild Pacific Trail Naturalist
Special thanks to Special thanks to Vi Mundy of Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ First Nation for her guidance.
Video series by Arya Touserkani @tousquared www.waterlogue.ca
Episode 2: " Follow that Slime" -- We have a lot to learn from Nature, we just need to listen!
Special thanks to Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ community, Elder Vi Mundy and Gisele Martin of Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation for their traditional teachings.
Narrated by Tanya Nestoruk, trail naturalist, video by Arya Touserkani.
Episode 3: "For Peat's Sake" -- explore with our Wild Pacific Trail Naturalist!
Follow our naturalist as she discovers the weird and wonderful species that thrive in a Woodland Bog. Warning, you could get lost.
Follow this link for a COLOURING BOOKLET or a fun WORD PUZZLE.
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Special thanks to Special thanks to Vi Mundy of Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ First Nation. Video by Arya Touserkani.
Episode 4: "Force of Nature" will sweep you off your feet.
Explore the unique WEATHER that comes with living on the coast, how species not only manage to survive, but THRIVE!
Fun fact: Can you name an amphibian that has no lungs?
We are proud to acknowledge the skills of our naturalist Tanya Nestoruk for her work with videographer Arya Touserkani www.waterlogue.ca
in achieving an award of excellence from Interpretation Canada for the video above.
Special thanks to Vi Mundy of Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ First Nation and Dr. Barb Beasley with the Association of Wetland Stewards for Clayoquot and Barkley Sound.
Episode 5: "Remarkable Ravens" a story of the smartest bird in the rainforest
Raven’s are not only role models of communication, fair trade, and savvy intelligence, they play an essential role as ecosystem recyclers.
Challenge: how can you tell the difference between a raven and a crow?
Thank you to Parks Canada for support for this project. Special thank you for footage and raven sound clips copyright by Ian Cruickshank
Note: footage was taken with a telephoto lens to avoid disturbing wildlife. Raven vs Crow Image by Rosemary Mosco and Dr. Kaeli Swift with BirdandMoon.com @corvidresearch
Special thanks to Vi Mundy of Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ First Nation for Nuu-chah-nulth translations.
Additional footage courtesy of:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHHHAfzAuKc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEksZdWKqtA – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6K9LbRX15Y
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJdj-2XvGF4 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6vzGrWP9lc
Also thanks to the Clayoquot BIosphere Trust for funding.
Video production by Arya Touserkani.
Episode 6: "Tree-S-I: Murder by Mushroom" help us solve this mystery.
There’s been a murder in the forest! Who! What? Why!
Follow along as detective Tanya gets to the root of the crime by investigating clues and searching for suspects in the woods… will she discover whodunit in this intriguing case?!
Special thanks to the inspirational Gisele Martin of the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation for sharing her timeless knowledge of Nuu-chah-nulth language and culture.
So Mush-thanks to Andy MacKinnon, forest ecologist extraordinaire, for sharing his vast scope of marvelous mushroom knowledge and delightful sense of humour.
Stop motion animation on tree communication by Local Ucluelet youth, Riley Gerbrandt. Thank you!
Fun fact: what is our planet's largest organism?
Special thanks to the Clayoquot BIosphere Trust for funding. Video by Arya Touserkani.
Episode 7: hašaḥma quuquuʔaca ( language is precious & valuable )
Join special guests Jeneva Touchie and Gisele Martin as they share their personal connections to the Wild Pacific Trail and the importance of Nuu-chah-nulth language.
What wisdom can we learn from ancient languages?
To learn more about the Nuu-chah-nulth language visit:
https://www.firstvoices.com/explore/FV/sections/Data/Nuu-chah-nulth/Nuu%C4%8Daan%CC%93u%C9%AB/Nuu-chah-nulth%20(Barkley)
Jeneva offers free Nuu-chah-nulth language classes Tuesday evenings over Zoom. To find out more please email touchie_jeneva@hotmail.com
To learn more about Nuu-chah-nulth history, culture, news and events please go to https://nuuchahnulth.org/
We are grateful to our special guests and Sam Touchie from Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ First Nation for inspiring this episode.
Project funded by the WIld Pacific Trail Society and the Clayoquot BIosphere Trust.
Video by Arya Touserkani @tousquared www.waterlogue.ca
Send us your questions, or post photos and ideas on Instagram or email naturalist@wildpacifictrail.com.
We will post answers to the best questions. Let us know what you would like to learn!
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