Ucluelet, BC, is located on the west edge of Vancouver Island. It’s an end-of-the-road town that provides the perfect home base for outdoor endeavours, including paddling, hiking, wildlife viewing and surfing. The town is perched on a peninsula and completely surrounded by water. Its location and proximity to world-renowned sea kayaking destinations, such as the Broken Group Islands, make it a great place to launch a paddling adventure.
Ucluelet’s name comes from the Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ people (Ucluelet First Nations) and their local dialect of the Nuu-chah-nulth language. It means “people of the safe harbour.” As such, the Ucluelet Inlet remains a sheltered and often calm place to paddle. The protected harbour allows paddlers to explore islands, tidal creeks, a variety of wildlife, mudflats, the fishery industry at work and forested shorelines without venturing into the open ocean.
Wildlife is a major draw to paddling the Ucluelet Inlet. Seals, sea lions, bald eagles and shorebirds make a regular appearance, and depending on the season, you might see black bears patrolling the shoreline.
If you have a little experience, safety gear and your own boat, you can do a DIY paddle in the Ucluelet Harbour. This guide will share the information you need to plan your trip, what you can expect to see and a little about the deep Indigenous history of this very special place.
Where to Launch Your Canoe or Kayak
There are a few formal and informal places to launch a boat in Ucluelet. For this trip, we recommend launching from the Pat Leslie Boat Launch (115 Seaplane Base Rd, Ucluelet), which provides good access to the most sheltered parts of the harbour.
This public boat launch features a concrete ramp and a 120-foot dock. It has space for 10 vehicles with trailers, plus more single-vehicle parking spots along Seaplane Base Road. This spot gives you access to the Ucluelet Inlet and is usually not busy.
Before You Launch:
- Check the marine weather, wind and tide times.
- Remember that marine weather conditions can change quickly, even in sheltered water.
- Bring layers and rain gear, even on a sunny day.
- Wear a properly fitted PFD.
- Bring a floating throw rope, whistle, water pump or bailing pail.
- Remember to watch for commercial fishing boats, floatplanes and other marine traffic.
- Stay within your comfort level. If you’re uncomfortable, turn back.
- Don’t assume that just because it’s sheltered in the inlet, it will be sheltered in the open ocean. Stay in the harbour.
When is the Best Time to Paddle the Ucluelet Inlet?
Late spring to early fall is the best time to paddle the Ucluelet Inlet. Though there are calm days in the winter, this area is known for intense coastal storms and high winds. In the summer, northwest winds tend to build later in the day, so we find morning is the best time to get out on the water.
However, depending on what you want to see, here are the preferred times to head out. Keep in mind, this is a general pattern based on tides and typical weather, but conditions are never guaranteed.
| What you want to see | Best timing |
| Calm paddling conditions | Early morning |
| Bald eagles and shore birds | Morning / quieter periods |
| Black bears | Late summer into fall, particularly around salmon-bearing Thornton Creek |
| Salmon | Fall |
| Tidal flats and mudflats | Around appropriate low tides |
| Exploring creeks | Higher tide |
| Less wind | Early morning |
| Longer daylight | May through August |
Ucluelet Inlet Paddle Route
If you are planning a day on the Ucluelet Inlet, here is a good paddle route:
Pat Leslie Boat Launch → Lyche Island → Port Albion → Kvarno Island → Thornton Creek → head of inlet → return
You don’t have to follow that exact route, but it should give you an idea of your options. You can shorten or lengthen your paddle depending on the wind, tide, boat traffic and experience or comfort level.
Stop 1: Caapiith (Lyche Island)
Lyche Island is front and centre from Ucluelet’s downtown waterfront. The traditional Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ name is Caapiith, meaning “middle of the bay.” In 1934, the island was renamed after Norwegian settler August Lyche, who arrived in Ucluelet in the early 1890s and was a prominent member of the early settler community.
The rocky shoreline of the island makes it a good spot to see resting harbour seals, starfish, and tidepool life at low tide, as well as marine birds overhead. Sea lions are also commonly seen in the Ucluelet Harbour, especially in high-traffic areas near the docks where fishers might drop something overboard. There is a lot of working harbour activity in this area of the inlet, so be mindful of the traffic and give passing boats plenty of room.
Stop 2: Shores of Port Albion
Behind Caapiith (Lyche Island), and directly across the inlet from Ucluelet is Port Albion. Here, you can see old waterfront structures that are historic traces of Ucluelet’s earlier fishing and logging industries. Port Albion remains a working fishing wharf, and you might see some activity from commercial fishing boats. Again, it’s important to give any vessels space while exploring this area.
As you move north up the shoreline, look carefully on the beach and in the trees for black bears. They can be seen in this area looking for shellfish at low tide, and we have seen bear cubs practicing their tree-climbing skills here. In the late summer and fall, black bears are attracted to the salmon run up Thornton Creek. This is your next stop!
Stop 3: Thornton Creek
If you want to paddle a little bit up Thornton Creek, you’ll have to arrive at high tide. Just up the creek from the inlet is the Thornton Creek Enhancement Society Hatchery, which has played a vital role in the region’s salmon enhancement since the early 1980s. Approximately 100,000 salmon fry are released here each spring, with adult fish returning in the fall to spawn. As such, it is a hub for wildlife activity.
You can paddle a little up the forested creek mouth. Keep your eyes open for shorebirds, bald eagles and black bears. In the fall, you might even see some salmon swimming by. If you arrive at high tide, you can paddle a little further up the creek to see the small waterfall.
Responsible Wildlife Viewing
Remember to keep your distance from wildlife, especially bears, and observe them from a respectable distance. Never approach a bear, and do not paddle towards them to get a photo. Do not feed wildlife and, if you’re there during the spawn, give salmon and the area plenty of space so you don’t interfere.
Stop 3: Kvarno Island
Kvarno Island is at the head of the Ucluelet Inlet. Circumnavigating the island allows you to view wildlife on its rocky shoreline, towering old-growth trees, and peaceful moments in its quiet coves. On the north side, you can see Millstream, a quiet and semi-rural waterfront community.
We were unable to find the island’s original Indigenous name, but learned that it was named after a Norwegian settler, John Kvarno. He came in the 1890s with August Lyche.
Kvarno Island is subdivided into 14 homestead lots, and each is privately owned. From the shore, you can see some of the off-grid homes and docks. Visitors are not permitted to land. Respect the residents and private property by viewing it from the water.
After Kvarno Island, make your way up the west side of the Ucluelet Inlet, enjoying its coves and rocky outcrops, until you arrive back at the Pat Leslie Boat Launch.
Optional Detour – Spring Cove
If the wind is calm and you have the energy, consider paddling to Spring Cove. It is closer to the mouth of the Inlet, so wind and waves can pick up on the way. However, it gives a whole new perspective on paddling the Ucluelet Inlet.
Tucked behind Hyphocus Island, the cove showcases tidal mudflats and small marine life in that intertidal zone. It is also the prime habitat for eelgrass, which is a flowering plant that grows submerged in shallow coastal waters. Please do not paddle directly in the flats or try to land your canoe or kayak here, as it will disrupt the ecosystem.
If you want to see the mudflat and intertidal ecosystem, aim to be in Spring Cove at low tide. If you want to paddle further into shallow areas and see more of the shoreline, aim to paddle there at high tide. Either way, there are interesting things to see at all tidal stages.
History of Spring Cove
Spring Cove is known traditionally as Hinapiss in Nuu-Chal-Nuth, which means “behind it” or “behind the island.” It served as a landing and shelter place for local Indigenous people long before European contact. Later, it was renamed after Captain William Spring, a fur and seal trader who established a trading station and post in the area in the late 1860s.
In the early 1900s, Spring Cove became one of six Japanese Canadian settlements established around Ucluelet Inlet. The Japanese Canadian fishers and families dominated the local salmon fishing industry here until World War II. Sadly, following the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbour, Canada’s government removed these people from the coast and drastically altered Spring Cove and Ucluelet’s demographics and community. Some families returned and remain prominent members of the community.
Indigenous History and Respect on the Water
The Ucluelet Peninsula is the traditional territory of the Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ, also known as the Ucluelet First Nation. Toquat Nation also had a summer village at the mouth of the Ucluelet Inlet. The Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ and Toquat have lived in the area for thousands of years and have a longstanding cultural, social and economic connection to the land and water.
When you’re paddling the Ucluelet Inlet, consider that you’re moving through a cultural landscape and not an untouched wilderness. Imagine the past, when there were traditional villages throughout the region as well as places of cultural and spiritual importance. As we paddle canoes and kayaks, the local Indigenous people used cedar canoes to travel around the inlet and the coast.
We are fortunate to explore these waters and learn about the land’s cultural and natural history. With that in mind, visit with respect.
- Do not land on restricted or sensitive sites
- Don’t land on the shore of the Ucluelet First Nation community on the east shore of the inlet
- Don’t remove rocks, shells, plants or any found artifacts
- Observe wildlife and habitat respectfully and at a distance
- Do not paddle or land in the shallow mudflats
- Follow posted restrictions and local guidance
The Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ and Toquaht Nation have been marine stewards along the west coast for over 10,000 years. We respectfully acknowledge that and are grateful for the opportunity to explore and care for these lands and waters, too.
The Wild Side of the Ucluelet Inlet
Paddling Ucluelet Inlet can be done in a few hours and is a great option for people who want to get out on the water and see Ucluelet from a new perspective. From the water, you can immerse yourself in nature, observe wildlife and take in the scenic beauty of the West Coast.
It is also an opportunity to experience a landscape shaped by thousands of years of Indigenous history, as well as generations of fishing, logging and other coastal industries. Taking the time to learn about the places you paddle through adds another layer to the experience. This is a living cultural landscape.
Remember to check the weather and tides, respect wildlife and culturally significant places, and let the conditions guide your route. All that’s left to do is launch, explore and appreciate what the wild coast has to offer.
