• There are no park alerts at this time.

Special Notes:

Management Planning:

• Management Planning Information

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

• Location Map

Hesquiat Peninsula is located in the northwestern part of Clayoquot Sound on the west coast of Vancouver Island. The park is situated between Nootka Sound and Hesquiat Harbour and is accessible by boat and float plane from Hot Springs Cove, Tofino, Tahsis and Gold River.

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

• Location Map
• Park Area Map - (133 kb pdf)
• Zoning Map - (included in Purpose Statement and Zoning Plan)
• Brochure - Provincial Parks of Clayoquot Sound area (737 kb pdf)

• History - In 1915, the pioneer settler known as Cougar Annie arrived on the west coast in Hesquiat Harbour and homesteaded on this wilderness property. She bore 8 of her 11 children here, outlasted 4 husbands and carved a magnificent, magical garden out of a thick and foreboding rainforest. The remoteness of the area brought inherent risks to Annie and her family; cougars prowled endlessly nearby, sensing easy prey. Ada Annie Rae-Arthur shot and trapped dozens of the animals and thus emerged the legend of Cougar Annie. This garden is now one of British Columbia's premier heritage gardens. Surrounded by the tall trees of the West Coast rainforest, Cougar Annie's garden is a place of strange and compelling beauty. From this remote location, Annie ran a nursery garden and shipped countless varieties of plants across Canada. For decades she advertised her wares (and occasionally for husbands) in the Western Producer and in the Winnipeg Free Press. The garden consists of a five-acre clearing, criss-crossed with more than two kilometers of meandering pathways and dotted with outbuildings that once housed goats and chickens. Resurrected from a tangle of salal, Scotch broom, and salmonberry, this garden has endured for nearly 100 years. The survival and the continuity of the garden make it an important heritage site. No other pioneer homestead in Clayoquot Sound remains in private hands and no other garden of this scope exists on the West Coast.
• Cultural Heritage - There are many First Nations cultural heritage sites in Hesquiat Peninsula Park, including middens.
• Conservation - This prominent low-elevation peninsula is a significant wilderness area protecting heritage sites, representative old-growth forest stands of Sitka spruce, lodgepole pine, white pine and yellow-cedar and a freshwater lake. The park also encompasses a variety of coastal ecosystems including extensive off-shore reefs, boulder, cobble and sand beaches, sea caves, sheltered bays, kelp beds and mudflats.
• General Wildlife, Marine & Outdoor Ethics Information

• Due to the low elevation of the peninsula and off-shore reefs there are navigational hazards for small boats traveling close to shore. Visitors can arrange to be dropped off by boat from Gold River and picked up from Boat Basin at the head of Hesquiat Harbour. This coastal route is along the beaches and over rocks, crossing creeks along the way – there is no trail and hikers must pass through several Indian Reserves along the way.
• There is an outdoor school offering a variety of educational programs for outdoor adventurers. Click here to view a non-government web link, for additional information.

Visitor Safety Information (park safety, hazards, wildlife safety information, health risks)

There are no designated campsites at this park. For parks that accept reservations or information on the reservation service, click here.

Explore Parks: Fees, park listings, what you should know before you go and other useful links.

	There are no vehicle accessible camping facilities at this park.
	There are no designated campsites at this park, however random wilderness camping is allowed. No facilities are provided and there is no fee. Hesquiat Peninsula is accessible year round; there is no winter camping fee at this time. Please practice Leave No Trace camping ethics.
	There are no group campsites at this park.
	There are no day-use or picnic facilities at this park.
	There are no wheelchair accessible facilities at this park.
	Bring your own drinking water as potable water is not available in the park. All surface water in the park must be boiled, filtered or treated prior to consumption.
	No toilets.
	No showers.
	No sani-station/dump facilities.
	While small fires are allowed, we encourage visitors to conserve the environment by minimizing the use of fire and using stoves instead. If you do have a fire use small pieces of wood that will burn completely. Build your fires below the high tide mark. Never build fires next to or near beach logs. Never leave your fire unattended and practice Leave No Trace camping ethics.
	There are no electrical hook-ups in this park.
	There are no regularly scheduled interpretive programs at this park.
	There are no developed trails at this park, but coastal hiking opportunities do exist, and a number of hardy souls hike from the top of the peninsula (Escalante Point) to Boat Basin every summer. This coastal route is along the beaches and over rocks, crossing creeks along the way. There are also several Indian Reserves to pass through. For your own safety and the preservation of the park keep to designated trails. Shortcutting trails destroys plant life and soil structure.
	This park does not have a playground.
	There is no designated swimming area at this park, however swimming opportunities do exist. There are no lifeguards on duty at provincial parks.
	Kayaking along the shores of the exposed Hesquiat Peninsula is recommended for experienced paddlers only. Most of the kayaking is done within Hesquiat Harbour. Kayakers can launch at the First Street Dock in Tofino. Charter boats can also be hired to transport kayaks to this area. Due to the park’s exposure, canoeing is not recommended.
	This park does not have a boat launch. The nearest boat launch is at the Fourth Street Dock in Tofino.
	The waters of Clayoquot Sound may contain a variety of fish species, including salmon, rockfish, halibut and lingcod. Fishing is permitted as per provincial and federal fishing regulations. All anglers should check the current regulations issued by Fisheries and Oceans Canada prior to fishing. Anyone fishing or angling in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence. Rockfish Conservation Areas occur within this park. Fishing activities are limited in Rockfish Conservation Areas. Before you go fishing please refer to the Rockfish Conservation Area descriptions available from Fisheries and Oceans Canada DFO.
	Cycling is not permitted.
	No horseback riding.
	Pets/domestic animals must be on a leash at all times and are not allowed in beach areas or park buildings. You are responsible for their behaviour and must dispose of their excrement. Backcountry areas are not suitable for dogs or other pets due to wildlife issues and the potential for problems with bears, wolves and cougars.
	No wildlife viewing opportunities.
	No winter recreation opportunities.
	No SCUBA diving or snorkelling opportunities.
	Hesquiat Peninsula Provincial Park is a popular destination for surfers. Tour companies offer surf trips from Tahsis and Tofino.
	No waterskiing opportunities.
	Portions of this park are open to hunting for specific species. Hunters must have valid licences and tags. Please refer to current printed Hunting and Trapping Regulations and Synopsis publication for closures and regulations.
	No climbing or rock climbing opportunities.
	No spelunking or caving opportunities.
	No cabins, yurts or lodges for public use. There is an outdoor school offering a variety of educational programs for outdoor adventurers. Click here to view a non-government web link, for additional information.