Maquinna Provincial Park is a dazzling park on the northwest of Tofino. This majestic land comprises a remarkable wilderness area with spectacular scenery, a pristine environment and a gorgeous boardwalk.
Maquinna Provincial Park offers an excellent chance for wilderness camping, coastal hiking, sea kayaking, swimming, and wildlife viewing.
A pleasant walk through the amazing old-growth rainforest leads you to the beautiful natural Tofino Hot Springs Cove.
The natural hot spring pools are known as a unique feature and attract numerous visitors from all around the world.
The average temperature of the pools is about 50 degrees Celsius (122°F). The hot springs flow through waterfalls into rocky pools and pour to the lower pools, and become cooler.
Soaking in Hot Springs Cove with a view of the Pacific Ocean can be a brilliant experience for any visitor.
Maquinna Marine Park also features an extensive coastal area with a variety of coastal ecosystems, including cobble and sand beaches, off-shore cliffs, boulder, sheltered bays, sea caves, kelp beds, and mudflats.
Maquinna Provincial Park gives an opportunity to see blue jay, bald eagles and seabirds while they are roaming around, and some other animals include gray whales, sea lions, sea otters, humpback, seal, coastal wolves, and cows.
Maquinna Provincial Park, with about 2,667 hectares (6590 acres) area, is located in the northwestern part of the Clayoquot Sound region, West Coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.
There are two washrooms on the island, One of them is at the beginning of the trail, and the other is next to the hot springs. There are also two change rooms next to the springs.
The park and Hot Springs Cove are only accessible by air or water. There are lots of companies in Tofino, Hotsprings Village, and Ahousaht that offer tours and/or transportation to this destination.
Boats can anchor in Hotsprings Cove and on the west side of Openit Peninsula, adjacent to the park entrance where a dock is located.
If you plan to drive, choose Tofino for your destination and from there, getting to Maquinna Marine Provincial Park is possible through waterways by a Cruiser Boat.
From Nanaimo:
Take Third St to BC-19 N. After about 3.3 km (2 miles), head west on Fitzwilliam St toward Wesley St. Follow BC-19 N to Memorial Rd/BC-4 W in Nanaimo G. Take exit 60 from BC-19 N. After about 42.8 km (26.5 miles), follow BC-4 W to Campbell St in Tofino. After 161 km (100 miles), you will reach Tofino.
From Victoria:
For reaching Tofino from Victoria, you have to spend 111 km (128.6 miles) to Nanaimo, which is about one hour and a half. After reaching Nanaimo city, the rest of the travel is as was said above.
About 1.5 km (0.9 miles) hiking through the woods to the south of the park leads you to the hot springs (which takes around 30-40 minutes).
Refuge Cove was a remote place on the West Coast of Vancouver Island until the 1930s.
Those who wanted to have a stop till the bad weather pass used to stop in Refuge Cove, which was the best place to relax.
In 1933, Ivan Clarke, the supply boat operator, saw a great business opportunity in this place. He expanded his operation quickly.
By 1950, over sixty people lived in Refuge Cove. The name changed to Hot Springs Cove, and it became a popular destination for tourists.
Ivan Clarke wanted to expand the hot springs into a health resort, but he changed his mind and donated part of his lands to the people of British Columbia.
In 1955, 31 acres (12.5 hectares) of land next to the hot springs became Maquinna Provincial Park.
Maquinna Provincial Park is well known for Hot Springs Cove where attracts lots of visitors from all around the world. The park features a stunning forest and offers a pleasant walk that ends with the hot pools.
The park also offers excellent water activities, including sea kayaking, swimming, and fishing.
The spectacular environment and wildlife diversity are other attractions of this area.