209 Clayoquot/Pacific Rim National Park Exploration Map

About South Clayoquot Sound: The paved highway to the West Coast ends at Tofino, a town with a unique mix of accessibility and wild geography which has helped it evolve from a sleepy fishing village into a West Coast cultural centre, surfing mecca and resort destination. That is all just window dressing, of course, for the natural beauty of Clayoquot Sound, the backdrop for any visit to this funky but busy little village. With numerous islands and passages to explore, it is a natural for on-water exploration by paddle of all skill levels. Turn to the outer coast to find sandy beaches, wild coastal islands and some challenging water. Head east and negotiate tidal passages and long, meandering rainforest fjords where you will find the quintessential images of West Coast ecology – ocean, water, forest, moss, rock and fog, all mixing brilliantly to portray an iconic ecology inherently wet but strikingly beautiful.

Less wet is the outer coast, which lies mostly outside the raincover created by the Clayoquot mountains and is characterized by sprawling sandy beaches where wolves still roam free in numbers. Watch for prints! 

About this mapsheet: This mapsheet packages the inner waters of Clayoquot Sound including Tofino Inlet and routes to circumnavigate Meares Island, as well as routes to the beaches of Vargas Island and the islands and islets north to Whitesand Cove on Flores Island. Those venturing to Cow Bay and points north along Flores Island including Hot Springs Cove will want to have mapsheet #207 North Clayoquot Sound as well.

The mapsheet layout: The layout is a regional overview on the full page of one side, and on the other side a detailed closer-perspective view of the complex waterways around Tofino to Vargas Island. Also included are planning details such as expected water conditions, what to see and do, the First Nations context, launching information and background on Vargas Island Provincial Park.

The mapsheet construction: The mapsheet is created by Wild Coast Publishing using some of the latest technology available to provide a high-quality printed image on waterproof/durable synthetic polymer stock. The stock is picked as the best for the purpose, and is significantly thicker than most papers at 10 mil weight. 

About the Clayoquot mapsheet series: Three mapsheets detail Clayoquot Sound from the south tip of Nootka Sound through Hesquiat Peninsula, past Flores and Vargas islands to Tofino. Each map is designed to complement one another with enough overlap to be useful on the water yet each providing oversight of a distinct section of the Clayoquot coast. 

New! All 200-series mapsheets now include UTM grid lines. Learn to understand and make the most of them.

Don't forget the guide book: The perfect companion to the mapsheet is the BC Coast Explorer Vol. 1, which goes into much greater details about the features, attractions travel logistics and history. 

About the Wild Coast map series: In 2019, Wild Coast Publishing began embarking on an ambitious program to provide an unbroken series of mapsheets covering the entire BC coastline. The series begins with mapsheet #201 Brooks Peninsula and extends in order down the outer Vancouver Island and up the southern BC coast then finally north through the Inside Passage. You can view the currently available list of mapsheets here. The maps are designed for paddlers and boaters, right down to the size -- a handy 24x18", slightly smaller than a traditional street map and so easy to manage when on the water. Use it as a "deck topper" for easy visualization as you travel on the water, use it around the campfire or your anchorage at night to plan your next day's route, and at home for research when your journey is still in the dream stage.