Going to Tofino, BC ...where should I camp?

Question

I am planning for a group of my friends to go to Tofino, BC this summer. We are poor starving students who like to have a good time in the wilderness. We are cheap, require no campground set up, but would like to be in a reasonable travelling distance to Tofino/Uclulet for surfing etc. We are not fans of curfews, and feel out of place in 'family-oriented' campsites...

I have search on for Recreation Sites on Forestry land...but cannot seem to find many near Tofino...

Does anyone have a great place or any helpful ideas??

Answer 1

You aren't finding many because there aren't many. The only one I've been to is Toquart Bay which is probably the closest. I know there's one at Kennedy Lake but haven't been there so can't tell you anything about it. Toquart Bay is okay, great to take off from in a kayak but you're probably going to find it's pretty 'family-oriented' too. When I was there it was wall to wall fishermen with RVs, and generators to run the freezers for the fish. We got a free salmon from a guy whose freezer was full. It was good! The road in is okay for passenger cars, at least when I was there.

You could check out a book called "Camp Free in BC", it might have something for you.

The trouble with finding a space around Tofino is that it's all park in the beach area, and everybody wants to go there so things are regulated more than in a lot of places. There used to be a walk-in camp area at Schooner Cove but you can't camp there any more, I've heard. It was really nice, you just found yourself a spot on the beach and there you were. At higher tides you have to wade through water to get at it and at some tides, forget it.

Answer 2

We stayed at the junction campground last summer. I think that was what it was called. It was closer to Uclulet but not far from long beach. When we stayed there there were quite a few groups of young people.I don't remember there being a curfew. There were hours to be quiet like 11pm to 7 am but that is common courtesey.