Planning on driving from Victoria to Tofino for the ISE Congress?
There are several great natural and culture history stops along the way.
We will have a "Message Board" at the registration desk for those looking to share rides with other people heading to the ISE meetings.
The drive from Victoria will take about five hours without stops. If you want to take time for a few short stops along the way here are some suggestions:
When leaving Victoria, just outside the city stop at Goldstream Park to see the large trees. A short walk- maybe 1k or less?? will take you to a small but interesting interpretive centre where you can learn about the natural history of the park.
Continue on your drive "up the Malahat" making sure to stop at the scenic viewpoint. Watch for the highway sign. You can only stop here on your way north, there is no access coming south. The views are breathtaking.
Next, is the beautiful, little town of Chemainus famous for murals painted on the outside walls of the buildings which depict the history of Chemainus and the early days of BC.
If you have time, visit Duncan, home of the Quw'utsun' Cultural and Conference Centre and the BC Forest Discovery Centre. These stops will take a bit longer.
On the way west towards Port Alberni, two short stops are a must: the Old Country Market in Coombs and Cathedral Grove in Macmillan Provincial Park. Cathedral Grove especially is the one stop you won't want to miss. It is the last remaining, accessible, low elevation old-growth Douglas-fir stand. This type of ecosystem was once extensive throughout SW British Columbia. Cathedral Grove was important to local First Nations both for its productive salmon stream and for plant collecting.
Twenty minutes after Cathedral Grove is Port Alberni. Stop here for gas or facilities because it's a long, twisty road from here to the coast.
After Port Alberni the road becomes narrow and winding as you pass through spectacular coastal watersheds which show a long history of industrial logging. As you approach Kennedy Lake, you enter the proposed Ha'uukmin Tribal Park of the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation. The park contains the Kennedy watershed, with its productive salmon runs and a long history of logging and the Clayoquot watershed, one of the remaining unlogged watersheds of Clayoquot Sound. For more information about the Tribal Park, see http://wildernesscommittee.org/publication/edu_report/hauukmin_tribal_park_tofino_clayoquot_sound
After Kennedy Lake you'll come to a T-intersection where Ucluelet is to the left (south) and Tofino is to the right (north). Tofino is about 1/2 hour drive from here. Shortly after you turn right there, you will be entering Pacific Rim National Park. There are several places where you can access the beautiful west coast beaches. Do it!