Vargas Island Provincial Park is a popular hiking, camping and kayaking destination due to its great location close to Tofino. It has wonderful, wilderness camping for free and a beautiful feeling of remoteness from the world. And if you are lucky you might see whales pass in the distance from Ahous Bay. The flat and very overgrown old trail from the Tofino side of Vargas Island to Ahous Bay is just 3.6 kilometres long. Making this an easy dayhike from Tofino, at just over 7 kilometres roundtrip, trailhead to trailhead.
Far quieter than mainland beachesBeach faces the open Pacific Campfire under the stars is wonderfulNice & huge beach backed by forestBoat access is via taxi is funDeep forest trail across the islandMany campsite options along the beachMain beach extends to more beachesFeels like a perfect west coast beach
Fresh water is very hard to find 
The Big Tree Trail 
Hot Springs Cove 
Lone Cone Nuu Chah Nulth Radar Beach Radar Hill Vargas Island 
Virgin Falls Wild Pacific Trail
Avatar Grove Bear Hill East Sooke Park 
Elk/Beaver Lake Esquimalt Lagoon 
Fort Rodd Hill Francis/King Galloping Goose Goldstream Park Gowlland Tod Grass Lake John Dean Park Juan de Fuca Trail Lone Tree Hill Mill Hill Mount Douglas Mount Tolmie Sooke Potholes Spectacle Lake Thetis Lake Witty's Lagoon
Victoria Attractions Attractions Easy Hiking Trails Moderate Trails Challenging Trails
Vargas Island's, Ahous Bay has many characteristics that make it incredible. First, its location. Separated from the mainland, Vargas Island is visited by a tiny fraction of the hordes of visitors that descend on Pacific Rim National Park. If you visit Ahous Bay on a typical sunny day in June, you may have the entire beach to yourself. During busier days of summer, you will still only encounter a couple dozen visitors.. and these are spread out over several kilometres and multiple beaches. Another wonderful feature of Vargas Island's, Ahous Bay is its perfect west-facing beach. Facing straight out at the Pacific Ocean, with nothing but the blue ocean facing you. North America at your back and Pacific Ocean laid out in front of you, gives you a wonderful sense of perspective. When the sun goes down, you are entirely free of humanity and artificial lights of any kind. The lack of usage fee of Vargas Island Provincial Park is yet another great feature of the park. No park usage fees or hefty "trail upkeep" fees like you encounter at Flores Island and the Big Tree Trail on Meares Island. These lack of fees translate into a lack of amenities and upkeep in the park which you will notice immediately along the crumbling trail. The ancient boardwalk is disintigrating and the campsite area at Ahous Bay hosts only one pit toilet. This lack of amenities is arguably a good thing. The beach is free of artificial constructions that detract from the natural beauty. No giant signs, just a couple small park signs at the trailhead and campsite at Ahous Bay.
The old trail takes on a real, authentic historical feel with its lack of modern additions and upkeep. This makes the trail tricky to navigate at times as you will fall on your face at least once as you dance across loose and slippery wooden sections of the trail. Most of the western and most beautiful side of Vargas Island is within the Vargas Island Provincial Park. The massive and beautiful Ahous Bay is the camping destination for most on Vargas. You can camp anywhere on the beautiful beaches in the park for free, and there is one little pit toilet hidden in the forest at the south end of the bay.
Though it is a popular kayaking destination, Vargas Island is so close to Tofino that many simply canoe across to it. You never lose sight of land and are in sheltered water the entire way. You can stash your canoe in the vicinity of the Vargas Island Inn and you will see the Telegraph Trail to Ahous Bay next to the Inn. Remember to ask permission at the Inn to keep your canoe on their property before doing so. The Telegraph Trail is an easy and well used 3 kilometre trail that has little elevation gain though an amazingly varied plant life. Remember to bring lots of water as Ahous Bay has very little convenient drinkable water. Taking a boat taxi from Tofino is an excellent option as it is convenient, quick and cheap to the Telegraph Trail trailhead. Tofino Taxi will take you there and back for about $40 and you can phone them to arrange pickup anytime. They can even drop you at Ahous Bay, though it is a bit more expensive.
The Big Tree Trail Hot Springs Cove Lone Cone Nuu Chah Nulth Radar Beach Radar Hill Vargas Island Virgin Falls Wild Pacific Trail
Avatar Grove Bear Hill East Sooke Park Elk/Beaver Lake Esquimalt Lagoon Fort Rodd Hill Francis/King Galloping Goose Goldstream Park Gowlland Tod Grass Lake John Dean Park Juan de Fuca Trail Lone Tree Hill Mill Hill Mount Douglas Mount Tolmie Sooke Potholes Spectacle Lake Thetis Lake Witty's Lagoon
Victoria Attractions Attractions Easy Hiking Trails Moderate Trails Challenging Trails
