Ministry of Environment - Maquinna Marine Provincial Park

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Attention Visitors - Important Notice!

During winter high tides, the pools fill with cold sea water. Rough water and floating wood debris may cause bodily harm to bathers. Plan your visits to the hot springs to avoid times of high tides. To avoid arriving at the hot springs at high tide, check with the tour operator, air carrier or water taxi before you start your trip.
Please also note the following:
- alcoholic beverages are not permitted in the park.
- No fresh water is available at the day use area of park, please bring your own drinking water.
- Due to the public safety concerns regarding the likelihood of breakage, glass containers are not to be used in and around the pools.
- To protect the sensitive environment, soap, shampoo and other cleaning materials may not to used in or near the pools.
- Camping is not allowed in the hotsprings portion of the park at any time. Please use the private campground located to the north of the park.
- Dogs are not permitted on the boardwalk or in and around the pools
There is a user fee of $3.00 per person per day.
Please report any damage, disturbance or irregularities in the park to:
R.L.C. Enterprize Ltd. 250-474-1336

Park Info:

Visitors from around the world flock to Maquinna Marine Provincial Park in Clayoquot Sound to soak in the natural hot mineral spring pools. These geothermal hot springs cascade down a waterfall into half a dozen rocky pools. The delightful hot pools flow from one level to the next, gradually becoming cooler as the fresh spring water is cooled by ocean swells.

The park, located northwest of Tofino on the west coast of Vancouver Island, also encompasses a significant wilderness area known for coastal hiking, wilderness camping, sea kayaking and wildlife viewing.

Numerous tourism companies in Tofino and Ucluelet offer tours to Hot Springs Cove, which is only accessible by boat. A pleasant half-hour along a boardwalk trail through old-growth rainforest leads to the hot pools, which remain at an average temperature of approximately 50 degrees Celsius.

Special Features: The natural hot spring pools at this park are a very unique feature. The geothermal hot springs cascade down a waterfall into half a dozen rocky pools. These pools flow from one level to the next becoming gradually cooler as the fresh spring water is cooled by ocean swells..

Park Size:

2,667 hectares (1,269 ha upland, 1,398 ha foreshore).

Special Notes:

NO CAMPING and NO FIRES allowed in the hot springs area at the southern part of Openit Peninsula in the park. Use the private campground located to the north of the park.
DOGS or PETS are not permitted on the boardwalk or in and around the pools.
Alcoholic beverages are not permitted in the park.
Glass containers are not permitted in and around the pools.
Soap, shampoo and other cleaning materials are not permitted in or near the pools.
Clothing in this public park is not optional. Visitors must wear appropriate bathing apparel such as bathing suits/shorts.
During winter high tides, the pools fill with cold sea water. Rough water and floating wood debris may cause bodily harm to bathers. Plan your visits to the springs to avoid times of high tides.

Management Planning:

Management Planning Information

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

Location:

Location Map

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

Map/Brochure:

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

Location Map
Park Map - (51 kb pdf )
Zoning Map - (included in Purpose Statement and Zoning Plan)
Brochure - Provincial Parks of Clayoquot Sound area (737 kb pdf)

Nature & Culture:

Cultural Heritage - Many Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations cultural heritage sites are contained in Maquinna Provincial Marine Park..
Conservation - Well known for its natural hot springs, Maquinna Marine Park also includes an extensive coastal area with 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

Visitor Safety:

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

Reservations:For parks that accept reservations, all vehicle accessible campsites (with the exception of
group sites) must be reserved through Discover Camping.

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

Contact Information:

R.L.C. Enterprize Ltd.
E-mail address: office@rlcenterprize.com
Phone: (250) 474-1336

	There are no vehicle accessible camping facilities at this park.
	There are no designated campsites at this park, however random wilderness camping is allowed in most of the park. No facilities are provided. Please practice Leave No Trace camping ethics. Camping is NOT PERMITTED on the Openit Peninsula portion of the park where the hot springs are located. A private campground, operated by the Hesquiat First Nation, is located just north of the government dock.
	This park is accessible year round; there is no winter camping fee at this time. Camping is not permitted on the Openit Peninsula portion of the park where the hot springs are located at any time of the year. There are no group campsites at this park.
	There are no designated picnic facilities; however a large grassy area at the head of the dock is a nice place to picnic. An information shelter and composting toilet can be found in this area, which is also the start of a 2-km boardwalk leading to the hot springs. Another composting toilet and a change house are located at the springs. There is a user fee of $3.00 per person per day.
	There are no wheelchair accessible facilities at this park.
	A cold water pump is located at the head of the dock next to the information shelter. Water must be boiled, filtered or treated prior to consumption.
	This park has two composting toilets – one at the start of the boardwalk and another at the end near the hot springs.
	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. Campfires are NOT PERMITTED on the Openit Peninsula portion of the park where the hot springs are located.
	There are no electrical hook-ups in this park.
	There are no regularly scheduled interpretive programs at this park. Some interpretive signage along the boardwalk to the hot springs offers information about the geology and thermal features of the park.
	A 2-km boardwalk trail leads from the head of the dock to the hot springs. Two viewing platforms are located along the trail, offering views of Hot Springs Cove and the hot spring itself. Visitors should be aware that the boardwalk may be slippery due to frost or rotting leaves in the fall and winter. For your own safety and the preservation of the park, obey posted signs and keep to designated trails. Shortcutting trails destroys plant life and soil structure.
	This park does not have a playground.
	Visitors from around the world flock to Maquinna Park to soak in the natural hot spring pools. The temperature of these pools is approximately 50 degrees Celsius. Pregnant women, people with heart conditions and small children should limit their exposure to the hot water. During winter high tides, use of the pools should be avoided because of wave action and presence of large woody debris. There are no lifeguards on duty at provincial parks.
	There are kayaking opportunities throughout this park. Canoeing is not recommended. Kayakers can access the hot springs via a rudimentary trail from the Sydney Inlet side of the peninsula.
	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.
	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, cougars and wolves. Pets are not permitted in the hot springs area of the park.
	Two viewing platforms located along the boardwalk trail that leads from the head of the dock to the hot springs offer lovely views of Hot Springs Cove and the hot spring itself.
	No winter recreation opportunities.
	No SCUBA diving or snorkelling opportunities.
	No windsurfing opportunities.
	No waterskiing opportunities.
	There is no hunting allowed in this park.
	No climbing or rock climbing opportunities.
	No spelunking or caving opportunities.
	Hot Springs Lodge in Hot Springs Cove village adjacent to the park offers accommodation. A floating bed and breakfast is also located in the Cove.