| BAMFIELD (pop. 256) is a quaint spot, half-raised above the ocean on
a wooden boardwalk, accessible by unpaved road from Port Alberni 102km
to the north, by boat - the MV Lady Rose - or gravel road from Lake
Cowichan 113km to the east. Shuttle buses run along the Port Alberni
road route if you're without transport and don't want to take the boat .
The village is best known as the northern starting point of this trail,
but its population jumps to well over 2000 in the summer with the
arrival of divers, canoeists, kayakers and fishermen, the last attracted
by its suitability as a base for salmon fishing in the waters of Alberni
Inlet and Barkley Sound. Plenty of services have sprung up to meet
visitors' demands, with lots of tours, fishing charters, stores and
galleries, but only relatively limited accommodation .
Despite the influx the village retains its charm, with the boardwalk
accessing one side of Bamfield Inlet (the open sea, the other), so that
the bay below the boardwalk is a constant hum of activity as boats ply
across the water. Trails lead down from the boardwalk to a series of
nice small beaches. The village is a good place to join in the
activities, bird-watch, walk, beachcomb, sit in cafés or simply relax in
a quiet corner with a book. For a short stroll, wander to Brady's Beach
or the Cape Beale Lighthouse some way beyond. And if you just want to
tackle the stage to the trailhead of the West Coast Trail and return to
Bamfield in a day, you can walk the 11km (round trip) to the Pachena
Lighthouse , starting from the Ross Bible Camp on the Ohiaht First
Nation campsite at Pachena Beach. After that, the route becomes the real
thing. |
