2026 note: Park admission at Long Beach is free from June 19 to September 7, 2026, under the federal Canada Strong Pass program. Outside that window, a valid Pacific Rim National Park Reserve pass is required as usual.
Long Beach, known in Nuu-chah-nulth as Yaaqsis, is the classic Tofino beach day: a roughly 4-kilometre stretch of sand in Pacific Rim National Park Reserve between Incinerator Rock and Green Point Campground, set between Tofino and Ucluelet on Vancouver Island’s west coast.
Surfers catch year-round waves here, storm watchers come for the power of the Pacific in winter, and families spread out for an easy day at the beach with heated washrooms and paid parking right next to the sand.
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What to Expect at Long Beach
Access and parking: Two main parking areas directly off the Pacific Rim Highway at Incinerator Rock and Long Beach, both with beach access just steps from the lot, no hike required. Cyclists can also reach the beach via ʔapsčiik t̓ašii, the paved multi-use pathway running the length of the park.
Facilities: Both lots have heated washrooms with flush toilets, outdoor change rooms, an open shower, a water bottle filling station and bike racks. There are no lockers, so bring valuables with you. RV parking spaces are available at the main Long Beach lot.
Conditions: Cool ocean water year round, strong surf and changing tides, with boundary currents near Lovekin Rock. Great for getting your feet wet and playing at the edge of the water, but currents and waves can make it hard to swim.
Fees and passes: There are no gates, but a valid Pacific Rim National Park Entry Pass is required any time you stop in the park, and that pass is your parking fee, with no separate charge on top of it. For a shorter visit, a cheaper Beach Walk pass is also available, valid up to four hours at the Long Beach, Incinerator Rock, Kwisitis and Wickaninnish lots specifically. Check parks.canada.ca for current pricing.
Surfing at Long Beach Tofino
The weather in Tofino is cool but consistent. You’ll see many more tourists, surfers, and families enjoying the sun during the summer months, while the air cools off a bit in winter and the ocean stays consistently chilly, typically around 6-7°C year-round.
For the hardcore, winter storms bring in more rain and bigger surf, and you’ll see surfboards and thick wetsuits out in Tofino waters no matter the time of year.
Strong boundary currents form near Lovekin Rock, known in Nuu-chah-nulth as Čaw̓inʔis, one of the large rocks marking the surf break at Long Beach, so avoid surfing or swimming directly in front of it.
Parking
Pacific Rim National Park Reserve is a national park, but it does not have gates. There is still a charge for each visitor in the park, and a valid park pass covers your parking at the Long Beach lots.
The Long Beach parking lots are located on the Pacific Rim Highway headed to Tofino. At each lot, you will find automated pass machines where you can purchase day passes.
Incinerator Rock Parking
This is the smaller of the two parking lots, located right on the beach with no walk needed to reach the sand, next to the rock formation known in Nuu-chah-nulth as Ćašiiwa (tsa-shii-wa), meaning “the voice of the ocean.” You’ll find a clean heated washroom with flush toilets, outdoor change rooms, an open shower, a water bottle filling station and bike racks, though there are no lockers.
For RV parking, head to the Long Beach Parking lot instead.
Long Beach Parking
This is the larger of the two lots, with beach access just steps away and no hike required. A giant LED screen near the entrance shows current surf conditions and essential local information, and posted safety signs at the beach entrances flag rip current hazards and closures.
There are four trail access points along the lot so you can reach the beach no matter where you park. Facilities here include a washroom building with flush toilets, outdoor change rooms, an open shower, a water bottle filling station and bike racks, plus picnic tables, a visitor information building and RV parking, and there are no lockers at either lot, so bring valuables with you.
Access by Bike
Long Beach is also reachable by bike via ʔapsčiik t̓ašii (pronounced ups-cheek ta-shee), a paved 25-kilometre multi-use pathway that runs the length of the Long Beach Unit from its southern to northern boundary. The path crosses the traditional territories of the Tla-o-qui-aht and Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ First Nations, passing through coastal rainforest and alongside several beaches on its way from Tofino to the Ucluelet district.
Cyclists share the pathway with walkers and must yield to all other users, so keep to the right and pass with care.
Tides and surf can change conditions quickly at Long Beach, so keep an eye on posted warnings and drifting logs, and check tide times before you head out on a long walk.
There are many worthwhile stops along the coast between Tofino and Ucluelet, but Long Beach’s mix of size, surf and services makes it the one to prioritize if you only have a few hours.
Vancouver Island’s coastline changes character by region: the rocky shoreline of the south island, the shallow swim beaches of the east coast, and the big-wave, rainforest-backed surf beaches of Tofino. Long Beach is the best introduction to that last one, and the Vancouver Island beaches map is a good next stop if you want to compare the rest.
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