Schooner Cove is a hidden gem just north of Long Beach, where beach-goers can escape the crowds and enjoy a 1-kilometer walk through an incredibly beautiful rainforest down to a secluded bay. It’s no secret that the rainforest hikes of Pacific Rim National Park are all pretty spectacular, and this trail is certainly no exception as the narrow boardwalk weaves its way down through lush greenery on the forest floor, passing by giant cedars and hemlocks as well as shorepine and the iconic Sitka spruce before exiting onto the white sand of the cove. While the beach here is much smaller than Long Beach and slightly less accessible, Schooner’s Cove is still 2 kilometers wide, and the 15-minute walk down to the beach seems to deter a lot of tourists during the busy summer weekends.
It is sometimes possible to surf here when the swell is coming in from the south, but it is not one of the more popular surf spots in the area due to the length of the trail. For those surfers who don’t mind a short walk and enjoy a bit of solitude while out on the water, this could be the perfect spot.
There is a good chance for visitors to see some wildlife here. It's particularly good for birds, but seals and sea lions are common, and there potential for the occasional whale sighting. At low tide it's possible to walk out to boxer island, where you'll find tide pools full of marine life.
Note that there will be free entry to all Canadian National Parks for the entirety of 2017 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Canadian Confederation.
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