Hot Springs Cove/Tofino/Vancouver Island West Coast

C

cgypsy

New member
I am wondering there are any C-Brats on the West Coast of Vancouver Island near Tofino or anyone who might be interested in going there next summer.

I would like to explore that area and anchor for a couple of days at Hot Springs Cove. http://www.tourismtofino.com/tofino-activites/hot-springs-cove

However, I would prefer to explore with at least one other boat or a group of boats.

Also, I'm not sure of the current condition of the highway. A few years ago it had a significant number of potholes.

Let me know if you are interested or if you live there and can give us some pointers.

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I was there quite a few years ago, but I boated up from the south. The Tofino advertisement says that you can't end up at Hot Springs Cove by chance, but I did, not having known about it until told by a couple cruising the Sound. It is busy during the day with float planes full of tourists landing at the dock and walking out to the hot springs. In the late evening, things calmed down and got naked. There was no dock fee and plenty of space when I was there.

There are a lot of nice anchorages in the Sound, especially the south end, and not much boat traffic inside. I had great conditions and returned south on the outside of Flores Island, going past Cow Bay. The best silver salmon fishing and whale watching that I've ever had.

Last I heard, the road in to Tofino was a cakewalk compared to the road to Moutcha Bay on Nootka Sound, which I did this summer. The roads can be dusty and slow with an occasional unexpected thrill, but they are all doable. I'd be interested in a gathering.

Mark
 
It is busy during the day with float planes full of tourists landing at the dock and walking out to the hot springs. In the late evening, things calmed down
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That is why I want to go there by boat. I can ignore the people during the day by reading a book sitting on my boat, but I would really like to be sitting in the hot springs with the cool waves rushing over just as the water started to get too hot and watching the full moon rise over the horizon.

It is such a special place so I would much rather go when it is less crowded.

I would also like to see the whole Clayquot Sound area. I would definitely trailer my boat because I live on Central Vancouver Island and it just makes sense.
 
My experience was similar to Mark's. Float planes, RIB's with tourists etc. We stayed one night--and went to the springs late in the evening. Too many tourists for our liking. During the day, at anchor there was some "people watching"--but the commotion, seemed to ruin the magic for us. Lots of other great places on the West Coast of Vancouver Island, without the tourists.

We have been to a number of hot springs in the PNE which held much more charm for us....Still the area is gorgeous.
 
cgypsy":3f8mpr2f said:
cool waves rushing over just as the water started to get too hot and watching the full moon rise over the horizon.
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You've got the right idea (if paradise is still there). Take a good headlamp and go on a rising tide. I recall that it is a northern exposure and sits in a little crevice, so I'm no sure about seeing a full moon rising, although I saw plenty of moons. :smileo

Feeling half boiled and then having a cold saltwater swell roll into the pool was memorable. The waves can push you around a little, so more clothing than a bathing suit is really the best policy. Change to dry cloths there and be careful on the walk back.

There's also a "hot springs" near Marktosis. It was a business (100 years ago??), the site is abandoned, but the "pool" is still there. The concrete pool is really small and the water temp is like bath water that's gone just a little too cold. Nobody there but the mosquitoes.

Mark
 
I am a fun believer in the magic of the hot pools. I have been at every one that I know of in Oregon, and multiple others in Washington and BC, but not the West side of Vancouver Island. I know we have talked about Hot Springs Cove as a possibility and I am still interested. At some point, I expect to be on the Island next summer. Trailering makes sense, but from what I have heard of the road, from friends over it this summer, it is still somewhat of a challenge (Pot holes and some steep grades.)

That said, I am interested in what turns up here. Will be watching along.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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Bringing this one back, while sitting at home and it is 30 something outside, and wondering how it would feel to be soaking in a hot pool overlooking the ocean.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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It is time to start making plans for the summer cruising season. Clayoquot Sound and Hot Springs Cove would be great places to explore.
 
hardee":36wv1j4i said:
Bringing this one back, while sitting at home and it is 30 something outside, and wondering how it would feel to be soaking in a hot pool overlooking the ocean.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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Just run Sleepy-C up from Sequim! Pick a good weather day and run fast out the Strait. Stop in Port Angeles or Neah Bay if the weather kicks up. Head to Ucluelet and clear customs. You can be in Barkley Sound in a day.

Barkley Sound is beautiful and has awesome cruising. And from there, it's just 20-25 nm (an hour or two!) around to Clayoquot Sound, where Hot Springs Cove is.

If you go to Hot Springs Cove, plan on soaking in the morning and evening. During the day the springs are overflowing with people who arrive on tour boats and seaplanes.

I'm hoping to return from Alaska on the west side of Vancouver Island, but not sure when I'll be there.
 
Cruising Barkley Sound and Clayquot Sound was wonderful. Great bueatiful anchorages and a lot of fun getting to them. Judy wrote about it here: West Side of Vancouver Island.

We took Journey On over to Vancouver Island on the ferry out of Tsawwassen to Nanimo, which is a trip in itself. Drove out to Port Alberni, launched the boat, checked out Barkley Sound and ended up at Tofino, Clayquot Sound. That's a great cruising ground.

There is a launch site at Tofino. While it's paved it's not the greatest. And by the way, I remember the road as good but winding, several years ago.

Boris
 
Cruising Barkley Sound and Clayquot Sound was wonderful. Great bueatiful anchorages and a lot of fun getting to them. Judy wrote about it here: West Side of Vancouver Island.
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Thanks for the interesting write up. Nootka Sound is also on my list of places I want to go so that was also interesting, but I think the most valuable thing I took from that is the confirmation that I want to drive to Tofino or Grice Bay.

I'm guessing that the area warrants a minimum of 2 weeks to explore.
 
hardee":34nahp4j said:
Bringing this one back, while sitting at home and it is 30 something outside, and wondering how it would feel to be soaking in a hot pool overlooking the ocean.
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Harvey,

It feels great. We have a wood fired water heater connected to a Rubbermaid cattle trough on a little deck on Dewatto Bay. It takes three hours to heat 120 gallons of water to 106 (a big arm load of wood), but then it's good for the weekend with just a few more firings. I was a little surprised to see that the price of the Chofu heater had doubled since I bought one, but I'd pay the new price if I had to. The biggest problem is that the 300' of hose running from our well head can freeze. Still, I'm hoping for snow on NY eve.

Mark

http://www.islandhottub.com/woodhtr.html
 
cgypsy":39cw32us said:
Cruising Barkley Sound and Clayquot Sound was wonderful. Great bueatiful anchorages and a lot of fun getting to them. Judy wrote about it here: West Side of Vancouver Island.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the interesting write up. Nootka Sound is also on my list of places I want to go so that was also interesting, but I think the most valuable thing I took from that is the confirmation that I want to drive to Tofino or Grice Bay.
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We launched at Gold River (many years ago), cruised out through Nootka Sound, and traveled all the inlets up through the southern part of the Brooks Peninsula. It was great! Wanted to do Clayoquot Sound too, but did not have enough time.

Did some research for a subsequent trip on a BC boater web site, and the responses I got from people who have been there done that was: Don't plan to trailer into Tofino and launch during the summer - far too crowded, very tough to find a parking place. Launch somewhere else and visit Clayoquot by boat.

FWIW - this is pretty old advice, and I don't know how correct it is nowadays.
 
Tofino, Pacific Rim National Park and many of the other National Parks will be very busy this year as Canada will be celebrating it's 150th birthday in 2017. As a gift to Canadians and visitors alike, entrance will be free to all National Parks and Historic Sites. Its a great year to come to Canada with the lower dollar, but it will be busy. Be sure to go somewhere for the Fireworks on Canada Day, July 1.

I have never been to Hot Springs Cove by boat, but I did fly in there once in November and we had the springs all to ourselves.
 
Summer of 2015, C-Gypsy and SleepyC launched in Port Alberni and went down the Alberni Inlet to Bamfield, spent some time in the Deer Island group. We did get north into Barkley for a bit but it was kind of rough.

I found a guy out there, paddling an 18 foot skiff, "trying to stay off the rocks until the tide changes", who was couple of miles from his home station. His outboard had quit and he had one oar. No PFD on, no VHF, and no cell phone service. He did accept a tow back to the home 40. Might have been a long day for him.

There is a pretty neat place tucked into the cove behind Robbers Passage, and we spent a night there at Port Alberni Yacht Club outpost there. Launching at Port Alberni could work, and a nice day trip to the PAYC outpost, then going north up into Barkley Sound and the Broken Group where there are lots of anchorage spots for a stop over on the way up to Ucluelet, Tofino or Ahousat before Hot Springs Cove. That would make about 25 miles of open Pacific (outside) waters to travel. That could be an easy one day hop from the west end of Alberni Canal to Tofino, weather depending, of course.

Lots of possibilities.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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I would echo Hardee's endorsement of Barkley Sound as an alternate access for Clayoquot Sound, if the run outside from Amhphitrite Point (Eucluelet) to Tofino does not intimidate you. I agree there are some good anchorages in the Deer Group, with tying off at the PAYC float in Robbers Passage a very convenient pause drop for a shower, free water, and good company.

However, the run from Port Alberni to/from the Deer Group (or the Broken Group) is sometimes a hellish wind tunnel ahead or behind a system, and may not be a "nice" day trip. When good weather prevails, an early morning run ahead of the afternoon inflow winds is the way to go. Afternoons, the inlet can be very rough. Not unsafe, by any means, but certainly taxing.

Perusal of the chart may suggest either Bamfield or the native ramp on the N shore of Barkley Sound as alternatives. Both demand some rough logging road access, however.

YMMV applies literally, here!
 
Dave, You are SOOOO right about the Alberni Canal in the afternoons. We had the great fortune of caching some flat water in the middle of 3 foot chop by following a log barge up the canal. I contacted him on the VHF to request permission to follow him in. He advised us that he had a drag line and float aft of the barge, and just to stay behind that. Outside the chop was 3 foot with white caps, behind the barge, it was 4 inches at most, and he was making about 8 knots. Worked perfect.

I know you can't count on that kind of luck every day, but I have good guardian angles, (and I could see him coming, from way back, on the AIS.)

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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My wife and I hope to celebrate our 30th anniversary on the island next summer. We are looking at a place near Esquimalt Lagoon(Victoria area).

Would like to get up to the Tofino hot springs. Any suggestions of places/things to do in the Victoria area are welcome.

We will be on the hard though, driving a rental. Preliminary plans are looking at June 10 to 24.

Will be keeping a lookout for Cdory's.

Regards, Rob
 
If you don't want to launch at Port Alberni, the best site to launch is in Uculelet. They have a good paved road into the town and a great small craft harbour. I don't remember potholes, but curves; just go slow. I'd avoid those dirt roads.

A good thing about Port Alberni is that when you launch at the Harbour Quay Marina (off Hwy 4, kinda north) is that there is/was an empty lot across from the launch site where we left the truck for a couple of weeks. Hope it's still there, empty.

Boris
 
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