Long Beach Lodge Resort is paradise for both humans and dogs alike. For the month of February, we’re waiving our pet fees and donating them to the local CARE Network.
This will sound like a trick question, but what’s the worst part about going on vacation? Well if you’re a dog owner, the worst part is leaving your pet at home. Even just the way they stare at you when you’re packing your bags can take away from the excitement of your trip.
The good news is that out here at Long Beach Lodge, we know that dogs are like family and we’ve set up our resort so that you can bring your pet with you. With 20 pet-friendly units to choose from you, you can spare yourself the guilt (and cost) of leaving your dog behind. And with endless beaches and trails to explore, your dog might even have a better vacation than you do.
For the entire month of February, Long Beach Lodge Resort is waiving our pet fees and donating that revenue to the local CARE Network. So there’s nothing stopping you from bringing your four-legged family member along for the ride.
With that in mind, we’ve assembled a non-exhaustive list of our favourite dog walks, some of which start right at the Lodge.
Keep in mind that there are no designated off-leash areas anywhere out here on the coast, so make sure your dog is leashed and under control at all times. Give the shorebirds plenty of distance and watch out for bears, cougars and wolves. Keep a vigilant eye on the surf and be mindful of the tides.
Cox Bay
Let’s start with the walk that begins the moment you walk out of the lodge. Our resort sits towards the north end of Cox Bay, which is a 1.5-kilometre stretch of pristine sandy beach hemmed in by rainforest and rocky headlands. In other words, we’re situated on one of the best dog walks in BC.
If you head towards the south end of the beach, it might just be you, your dog and the massive logs that the storms have brought up. Be wary of the labyrinthine network of unmarked “trails” that start when the sand stops and the forested headland begins. Things can get a little spicy in there!
The north end of the beach tends to be a little busier, but there’s still plenty of room to roam, especially at low tide, which makes the beach extra spacious and uncovers a multicolour network of tide pools. Either way, don’t forget to check out our Stick Library on your way to the beach…
Canso Bomber Ruins Trail
Ok, so this is more of a hike than a walk, but the trail is dog-friendly as long as your pup is on a leash. Return distance is about 8km with minimal climbing (less than 300m) and it gives you a cool insight into Tofino’s history as a Royal Canadian Airforce Base during the second World War.
The hike finishes at the wreckage of an old WW2 Bomber that crashed shortly after take-off in 1945 and passes by an abandoned transmission station along the way. Neither of those spots is particularly good for dogs unto themselves, with rusty old detritus that could cut your pooch’s paws. But the trail itself, which is a combination of pavement, crushed gravel, and boardwalks, is great for pups (and their humans too).
The route gets quite muddy, especially after it rains, so make sure you have the right footwear and a towel waiting at the car for your dog. The hike starts in a parking lot just beside the highway at Radar Hill, in Pacific Rim National Park, then makes its way along the paved MUP before connecting with a trail that takes you to the abandoned transmission station and carrying on through a bog towards the wreckage.
Find more detailed directions here.
North and South Chesterman
Not everyone wants to brave the muds of the Canadian Jungle with their dog, so both North and South Chesterman are great options for low-stress beach cruising. The two beaches are connected by a spit (also called a tombolo) which is exposed at low tide and leads to Frank Island.
If you walk from the end of South Chesterman to the end of North Chesterman, it’s almost three kilometres of beautiful white sandy beach. You can drive there from the lodge and pay to park on South Chesterman or Lynn Road. Or you could take an extra 30-40 minutes to walk there on the MUP, which is the Multi-Use Path that runs parallel to the road from Downtown Tofino all the way to Ucluelet. The MUP can be a good dog walk unto itself, but the beaches are nicer!
Tonquin Connector
The Tonquin Connector is one of the best dog walks that the Tofino area has to offer. It’s a moderately-graded gravel path that makes its way through the forest from The Tofino Community Hall to Tonquin Beach, and carries on through the forest on a bluff above the ocean towards Middle Beach.
From the Community Hall, you can also connect to the Industrial Park (and therefore the Tofino Brewery, which has a dog-friendly patio). Keep in mind that the connector is not a loop, so you generally have to come back the same way that you went in.
Long Beach
Whoever named Long Beach may not have been all that creative, but at least they were accurate. The pristine beach stretches over 16 kilometres of untamed, undeveloped wilderness.
Its’ in the Pacific Rim National Park and there’s plenty of wildlife, so be sure your dog is leashed at all times. And Combers Beach, which is technically part of Long Beach, is off-limits to dogs year-round in order to protect the shorebirds.
But if you park at the north end at one of the two public lots at the North end of Long Beach, you’re well away from Combers.
Enjoy!
Like we said, this list is non-exhaustive and there are quite a few dog walks that we didn’t mention. Either way, Long Beach Lodge Resort looks forward to welcoming both you, your family and your four-legged friends!