Flores Island Marine Provincial Park

Wolf advisory for Flores Island Provincial Park

There has been incidents involving wolves killing dogs in this park. BC Parks is strongly advising park visitors to not bring their dogs to the park, and if a village dog follows to be stern and do your best to send it home.

Please report any wildlife - human interactions where public safety is at risk by dialling the 24 hour hotline 1-877-952-7277.

It is common for the Flores Island wolves to feeding on seal and sea lion carcasses that have washed up on the shores of the island. To allow natural feeding, BC Parks is asking hikers and kayakers to avoid camping at locations where a seal or sea lion carcass has washed ashore. BC Parks is also advising park visitors to not bring their dogs to the park and is encouraging campers to take the following necessary precautions to avoid wolf encounters:

Avoiding Encounters with Wolves
It is extremely important to discourage wolves from approaching.

• Do not allow children to play away from camp.
• Keep them close to adults at all times.
• Do not bring pets into the park. 
• Keep a clean and orderly camp. Cook and store food away from sleeping areas. Suspend food, toiletries, garbage and other loose objects on a rope between trees, in secured kayak hatches, or in provided food caches, out of reach of wildlife.
• Do not bury garbage. If you pack it in - pack it out!
• Wash dishes in a container and dispose of grey water at sea, away from your camping area. 

Remember, you are a guest in this environment. This is home to the animals that live here.

If a wolf appears and acts unafraid or aggressive, take the following action as soon as you notice the animal:

• Raise your arms and wave them in the air to make yourself appear larger. 
• When in a group, act in unison to send a clear message to the wolves they are not welcome. 
• Back away slowly, do not turn your back on the wolf. 
• Make noise, throw sticks, rocks and sand at the wolf. 
• Use pepper spray if you have it and know how to safely use it.

The wolf needs to know that you may be a threat to them.
Please report wolf sighting to BC Parks staff; and report any wildlife - human interactions where public safety is at risk by dialling 24 hour hotline 1-877-952-7277.

Please report wolf sightings to BC Parks staff, or phone BC Parks at 250-725-2149 or 250-954-4618.

Fees

There are no BC Parks fees that apply to hike or camp in Flores Island or Gibson's Marine Parks, however, Ahousaht First Nations are collecting a trail access & maintenance fee that visitors should be prepared to pay. The fee is $25 per person and can be paid at the Ahousaht Wildside Trail Office located in the white housing building across from the new eight-plex development, in Ahousaht. To contact the Wildside Trail Office please call 250-913-0022 or hail them on VHF channel 68.

Guiding in Parks

In Provincial Parks, any person acting as a guide or offering guiding services, including vessel drop offs, must hold a valid Park Use Permit (Park, Conservancy and Recreation Area Regulation, Section 4). Please ensure the company you hire is legally operating in the park.

About This Park

This area was identified for protection in the Clayoquot Sound Land-Use Decision.

Flores Island is one of the most popular destinations in Clayoquot Sound. Here, visitors can enjoy hiking, whale watching, fishing, kayaking, beach camping and more. This vast, untamed wilderness area protects undisturbed watersheds with old-growth forest stands of Sitka spruce, as well as representative coastal and marine ecosystems, including excellent spawning conditions for coho salmon, exposed rocky coasts, sandstone reefs, beaches, sheltered channels and bays, fast narrows, mudflats and shallow banks.

One of the main attractions of Flores Island is the “Walk the Wild Side Trail”, a route that extends 10 km from the village of Ahousat to Cow Bay. First Nation peoples have used this route for centuries to reach the wild beaches on the west side of the island, and this vital circuit can now be explored by park visitors. Most of the route follows sandy beaches, and trails cut across headlands to join with the next beach. Muddy and slippery sections are present on this route, at this time.

The park offers excellent opportunities to see Gray whales, who pass by the Island in their annual migration from Baja California to Alaska. Seasonally resident Gray whales also use the bays for feeding during the summer. Visitors come from around the world to see the whales and kayak the waters in Clayoquot Sound, and a trip to the area would not be complete without discovering all that beautiful Flores Island has to offer.

Park Size: 7,113 hectares (4,144 ha upland, 2,969 ha foreshore)

Stay Safe:

• Wolves on Vargas and Flores Islands - Please ensure that all food and items smelling of food, as well as any loose objects, are stored out of reach of wildlife. At no time should food be offered or made available to wildlife - to do so is in violation of the Park Act. Click here for more information on wolves.
• Bring your own drinking water as potable water is not available in the park. There are 2 fresh water creek in the park, but all surface water must be boiled, filtered or treated prior to consumption.

Access to Park

The trail is best accessed from the village of Ahousaht. Water taxis to Ahousaht generally depart numerous times a day, from the 1st Street dock in Tofino.

Location and Maps

• Location Map

Flores Island is located in the central portion of Clayoquot Sound, north of Tofino on the West Coast of Vancouver Island. This park includes the western and southern parts of Flores Island, and is accessible only by boat from Tofino. Boaters can reference marine chart #3674 and #3673 for more information on this area. Water taxis from Tofino and Hot Springs Village offeraccess to the park via the Village of Ahousaht. Nearby communities include: Tofino, Ahousat and Hotsprings Village.

Maps and Brochures

Any maps listed are for information only - they may not represent legal boundaries and should not be used for navigation.

• Park Area Map [PDF 132KB]
• Clayquot Area Brochure and Map [PDF 2.23MB]

Nature and Culture

• Cultural Heritage - The park lies in the traditional territory of the Ahoushat First Nations. Flores Island Park contains many Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations heritage sites, including middens and Culturally Modified Trees (CMTs).
• Conservation - The park protects undisturbed watersheds with old-growth forest stands of Sitka spruce as well as representative coastal and marine ecosystems, including excellent spawning conditions for coho salmon, exposed rocky coasts, sandstone reefs, beaches, sheltered channels and bays, fast narrows, mudflats and shallow banks. Gray whales migrate through the off-shore waters and seasonally resident Gray whales use the bays for feeding during the summer.

Management Planning

Management Planning Information

• The approved Purpose Statement and Zoning Plan is available in pdf format.

Activities Available at this Park

Canoeing

Fishing

Hiking

Hunting

Pets on Leash

Swimming

Wildlife Viewing

Facilities Available at this Park

Campfires

Pit or Flush Toilets

Walk-In/Wilderness Camping

Winter Camping