Lone Cone Mountain (Tofino, BC)

The Lone Cone hike is by far my favourite hike on Vancouver Island. The trail usually has very little people on it and the views are like no other. You actually feel like you are on a tropical island when you get to the lookout point because of the archipelago of islands below.The lookout has amazing views of  the Clayoquat Sound region including Tofino, Long Beach, Strathcona Park,  and the Broken Group Islands.

The view at the summit makes me grateful to live on Vancouver Island because you just really take in what the west coast has to offer. We saw eagles soar by, float planes heading out to the hot springs, snow capped mountains in the distance, and beautiful coastlines and beaches below.

Info

• 6.6km round trip
• 730 meter elevation gain
• 3-6 hours
• difficult
• dogs allowed

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Meares Island

Lone Cone Mountain is on a little island off the coast of Tofino called Meares Island  When you are in Tofino you can see Lone Cone when you look east across the water. Meares Island is also home to the indigenous village of Opitsat. This First Nations tribe also own and operate an awesome hostel and campground site at the base of Lone Cone.

To get to Meares Island you have to hop on a water taxi, which takes approximately 15 minutes or so. There are several cool hiking trails on the island, and a lake that you can swim in if freshwater is your thing. Otherwise, Meares offers several really nice beach  spots and makes for an amazing vacation spot.

The Trail

This hike was pretty challenging, for the first section was super muddy and then it was just really steep. It took us about 1.5 hours to ascent to the top and about the same amount of time to hike down. The first kilometer of the trail is fairly flat, but it is really muddy! You are essentially hiking through a bog, so foot placement is super important. There are stumps and logs strategically placed so that you don’t fall in, but it does get slippery so good shoes are essential.

The last 2 kilometers of the hike are a quick upward ascent through the forest, with very steep sections and a lot of areas where you have to cross over logs. I did not have a trekking pole, but it would probably be advantageous.

The hike is very well marked with little pink ribbons, so it is almost impossible to get lost. They are placed about 10-20m apart and you can see them in most of the trail pictures. There are also elevation signs along the way which mark every 100m as you head up.

Meares Island is home to the biggest cedar trees in the world, aging 800-1500 years, so the trail itself is quite astonishing. It is definitely a west coast trail with a soft forest floor, towering trees, and greenery all the way to the top.

There are barely any lookout spots along the trail, but once you get to the top there are unobstructed views of Tofino and the surrounding area. There are several little flat rock areas where you can sit, eat lunch and enjoy the scenery.

Getting There

To get out to Meares Island you have to take a water taxi from Tofino. There are several companies that provide this service, but I would recommend going with the Lone Cone water taxi because it is operated by the First Nations on the island who run the campground there. This short 15 minute ride will you bring you to a small dock on Meares and from here it is only about a 5 minute walk to the trail head.

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The water taxi is a 30$ round trip and the trail itself costs 10$ to hike which goes to the local First Nations who maintain the trail. However, if you stay over night at the Lone Cone Hostel and Campground the water taxi and trail is included in the price of your stay. Check out the link for accommodation.

Lone Cone Campground and Hostel

I have stayed at the hostel two times now and I absolutely loved my stay. The staff are incredibly helpful and nice, the place is clean, and the grounds are beautiful. The hostel is located 5 minutes from the water taxi dock, and it is equipped with everything you need. The Lone Cone hike is 2 minutes down a paved path, the lake is off a path on the far end of the campsite, and a beautiful sandy coved beach is right in front of the hostel. There are 3 different campfire spots, a dozen or so campsites (including a large area for group camping), and they offer dorms and private rooms in the hostel.

There is a sand volleyball court in the front, and the common room features a pool table, TV area, and wood stove. A brand new hot tub outside in the front is also available for the hostel guests to use. The kitchen is super big and nice and is stocked with everything you need including spices, cooking oils, teas, coffee, 2 full fridges, ovens, and even 2 bbqs outside. It is absolutely one of the best hostels I have stayed in.

The first time we stayed at Lone Cone we were there in August, and it was really neat because there was phosphorescence in the water. The beach literally glowed in the dark that night, and when we walked out into the low tide the water illuminated with every foot step and splash we made. Most nights the hosts also put on a big beach bonfire too, so the atmosphere is really fun.

Additionally, you can rent stand up paddle boards and kayaks at the hostel, or just chill out on the hammock or on the beach. I have attached the contact link for accommodation, prices and more info. Lone Cone Campground and Hostel