Pacific Rim National Park Reserve is the traditional territory of the Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations. It is located on the Western fringe of Vancouver Island. The campground is nestled between the coastal communities of Ucluelet and Tofino in British Columbia.
Getting to Pacific Rim
Getting to Pacific Rim is a journey. First you have to get to Vancouver Island and this requires a ferry. BC Ferries operate ferries from multiple ports along the west coast of British Columbia. Most people will come via the city of Vancouver. Getting to Vancouver is entirely dependent on your starting point but once in Vancouver you will use the Horsehoe Bay or the Tsawwassen terminal to transport you to Vancouver Island. You will want to arrive in one of the Nanaimo ports (Departure Bay if you are coming from Horsehoe Bay, or Duke Point if you are coming from Tsawwassen). There are ferries that will take you to Swartz Bay (Victoria) and while yes you will be on Vancouver Island, it means you will still have to drive to Nanaimo which is a 1½ to 2 hour drive.
From Nanaimo- travel Highway 19 north for about 35km and turn onto Highway 4 (Pacific Rim Highway) at the intersection around Parksville. Just follow the signs from there.
Catherdral Grove
Highway 4 is scenic and IF you can find a parking spot (this is no easy task, especially in the summer) a stop at Cathedral Grove will reward you with a beautiful forest walk. There is a network of trails under the shadow of towering ancient Douglas Fir trees, some more than 800 years old.
As you get closer to Pacific Rim, particularly around the Kennedy Lake area, the drive while beautiful, becomes challenging. The road has steep grades with little room for passing and you may find some traffic congestion. Big rigs like Class A motorhomes and fifth wheels may not find this a fun drive. It will take you at least 3 hours to travel from Nanaimo but you should allow extra time for congestion and road conditions. The highway is the primary (only) route and is generally well-maintained but because it is only a 2-lane road it has the potential for significant traffic delays. Any accidents will close the road for hours.
Site Review:
Green Point is the only campground in the Long Beach area of Pacific Rim National Park. It offers 94 RV accessible drive-in sites nestled among the cedars and the Sitka pines of a coastal forest.
Sites offer electric service only. Water taps are located throughout the campground. There is a trailer dump station at the entrance of the campground
All sites have picnic tables and fire rings. Campfire wood can be purchased near the gatehouse at the campground entrance during the posted hours.
Comfort Stations at Pacific Rim:
The comfort stations are modern and have flush toilets and free hot showers.
They also have have outdoor sinks available to use for kitchen and cooking clean-up.
Activities:
Pacific Ocean Beaches:
There are several kilometres of sand beach along the shore edge of Pacific Rim. There are parking lots at many of the trail heads that link to the beach.
Incinerator Rock:
There is a parking lot with limited spaces for cars (no trailers or RVs) that has direct beach access. There is also a comfort station with flush toilets, drinking water and an outdoor shower. This beach is popular with surfers.
Long Beach:
The parking lot for Long Beach is about 500m from Incinerator Rock. The parking lot is large. There are 4 beach access points from the parking lot.
Long Beach is the most popular beach destination and the top spot for surfing and boogie boarding. However, it tends to be the chilliest place in the national park. So, if you wish to sunbathe, this might not be your best choice.
Combers Beach:
There is a parking lot at Combers Beach where you can access the trail that will take you down to the beach. Access here is more strenuous as the trail is steep. There are boardwalks in place, the trail is dirt and gravel.
Dogs are not permitted at Combers Beach. This is the only place at Pacific Rim where they are restricted and it is to protect migratory shorebirds during their migration season. Leashed dogs are allowed at all other outdoor locations.
Wickaninnish Beach
Wicki Beach, as it’s known locally, is located near Pacific Rim National Park’s Kwisitis Visitor Centre. It’s a great place for beach combing, picnicking, and surfing. It is also a little more sheltered than Long Beach, so it is a much better place for catching some warm summer rays. A sign near the parking lot entrance gives you updates on the day’s wave action.
Green Point Beach:
Green Point Beach. is a nice stretch of beach that is accessible only to the campers at the Green Point campground. Two steep trails from the campground lead down to this private section of the coast.
South Beach:
This beach features interesting grey rock formations and is ideal for watching the waves surge and spray.
This one is a bit of a 
hidden gem! It is best enjoyed at low tide. (Note: the eroding bluffs at the shore edge offer no exit should you become caught at high tide, so be mindful of that if you are taking a beach walk)
South Beach offers excellent opportunities to check out the tide pools located in the rocks.
Surfing:
Surfing is an activity that draws enthusiasts from all over the world. Nearby Tofino is considered the surfing capital of Canada. There are outfitters you can contact for information about lessons and renting equipment.
Hiking:
Rainforest Trail:
Two 1 km loops explore an old growth rainforest.
Shorepine Bog Trail:
A 0.8 km loop through the shorepine bog ecosystem. Stunted Bonsai-like shore pines grow only a couple metres over hundreds of years. The trail is entirely a boardwalk. Some visitors may find the uneven boardwalk and the overall ruggedness of the trail unexpected, especially if they are used to trails in more maintained environments. Many others however, find the rugged condition of the trail to be part of its charm.
Radar Hill:
There is a paved hilltop trail that takes you to the foundations of what were installations that supported the Cold war. While there are only some cement pads located there now, you will be rewarded with some excellent views.
For those familiar with the red chairs at Canadian National Parks, you know that they are usually situated in a unique and beautiful location affording a relaxing and inspiring view. When we went to Riding Mountain National Park in Manitoba, the chairs overlook the lake from a nice shady spot. At Forillion National Park in Quebec the red chairs are near the lighthouse overlooking the ocean and at Grasslands National Park in Saskatchewan, the chairs overlook the badlands toward a beautiful sunset…you get the idea.
At Pacific Rim you will find a pair of the red chairs on the Radar Hill trail and they might be in the worst location I have ever seen for the chairs. The view from the chairs overlooks the parking lot.
Believe me there are much better and more picturesque spots at Pacific Rim to put the chairs instead of here.
Canso Plane Crash:
In 1941, during WW2, an airfield was established in Tofino. The Radar Hill station was constructed at the same time. The areas were set up to keep a feared Japanese invasion at bay. On the night of February 10, 1945, a Canso bomber plane was flying out to do a routine duty at 11 pm. There was a crew of 12 on board. The plane malfunctioned shortly after takeoff. Despite the plane crashing, the quick thinking of the pilot saved the lives of all onboard and the entire crew was rescued 11 hours later. The plane is still at the site of the crash more than 80 years later.
The trail to the site is through a bog and very muddy. While it is an unofficial trail, Parks Canada has marked it to try and limit the number of hikers who get lost trying to find the site and need rescuing themselves!
Kwisitis Visitor Centre
Kwisitis, or the “other end of the beach” in the Nuu-chah-nulth language, is a fitting name for this iconic west coast building perched at the south end of Wickaninnish Beach.
This interpretive centre features interactive exhibits, murals and videos explaining the natural and cultural history of the area.
Naturalist Programs and Guided Hikes:
Guided hikes can be enjoyed starting from the Kwisitis Centre and presentations of various kinds can be found at the theatre in the Green Point campground. You can find a schedule of events at the gatehouse.
Biking:
There is a well maintained paved trail that runs parallel to the highway. It goes the entire length of the park and connects to trails in Ucluelet and Tofino. It is a multi-use trail suitable for hiking and biking.
You can access all of the parks areas of interest via the trail.
Tofino and Ucluelet:
The villages of Tofino and Ucluelet are located at either end of Pacific Rim National Park and Reserve.
Tofino:
Tofino is the more well known and more developed of the two villages. It has shops and cafes along the main street that cater to tourists. There are also outfitters for surfing and tour operators for fishing and whale watching. 
Ucluelet:
Ucluelet is a charming village with not as many of the amenities of Tofino. It does boast the Wild Pacific Trail which is an easy gravel trail. The Lighthouse loop is a 2.6km circle with cliffside views.
Kayaking at Pacific Rim
Grise Bay Road accesses Grise Bay. This is a country road favoured by cyclists that leads to a a boat launch for kayaks and powerboats.
I put my kayak in here and I meandered along the shore. A seal quickIy spotted me, he kept his distance but was an interesting travel buddy. I also saw a couple of mink, not otters (though I thought so at first because I first tracked them while they were in the water). Mink are semiaquatic. They are smaller, have a different shaped head and a lighter brown coat than an otter. They are part of the family Mustelidae, which also includes weasels, otters, and ferrets.
It was a unique sighting for me, when I first saw them I thought it was the bulb end of the bull kelp floating with part of the stem attached. However, it was moving quickly and not with the current, I quickly noticed that it was an animal and it wasn’t until it got to shore and turned around to look at me that I realized it was a mink.
Things to Know:
- Green Point campground is the only campground within Pacific Rim National Park Reserve with sites suitable for RVs and trailers.
- Sites are supplied with electric service only. Potable water is available from faucets throughout the campground and at the sanitation dump station located at the entrance to the campground.
- There is an additional charge per person/per day on top of the camping fee. Some Canadian National Parks charge this day-use fee. Depending on the length of your stay it might be cheaper to buy the annual pass.
- The interpretive hikes and theatre presentations are free.
- The park does not have a store. You will have to go to Tofino or Ucluelet for any forgotten items.
IMO:
I love the Canadian National Parks. We have been to several of them across the country. All feature some beautiful piece of the Canadian landscape, whether it is the Rockies in Banff, the red rocks in Prince Edward Island, or the Saskatchewan Badlands at Grasslands, Canadian National Parks always deliver a special experience and Pacific Rim also does not disappoint. The beautiful, thunderous and exciting Pacific Ocean coast, the rainforests, and the relative calmness of Clayoquot Sound combine for a truly immersive west coast adventure.
However, I did find some of the amenities in need of upgrading such as: the Kwisitis Visitor Centre and the boardwalk trail around the Shorepine Bog. On the other hand, the Multi-Use path (MUP), the campsites, and the directional signage were all excellent. I love the remoteness of Pacific Rim. The camper section of the beach that is accessed from the campground exclusively for registered campers is a nice feature. The beach along the coast is vast, so a little section just for campers doesn’t impact anyone else’s experience and it did allow for some spectacular sunset photos where there was not another soul in sight.
I would definitely recommend Pacific Rim National Park Reserve as an RV Place to Go!