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The Village Of Ucluelet |
Ucluelet (pronounced you-clue-let) is a local First Nations word meaning safe harbour. British Columbia’s recorded history began with European explorers searching for the legendary Northwest Passage to the Orient. It was on the west coast of Vancouver Island, just 100 km north of Ucluelet, that Captain James Cook of the British Navy first set foot, in 1778. Captain James Barkley followed in 1787, arriving in Barkley Sound in search of sea otter pelts. But Cook and Barkley were not the first men to perceive this land’s wealth. Archaeological evidence indicates the presence of First Nations along this outer coast for at least 4300 years. In 1870, fur sealers settled in the area. Captain Francis, the owner of several sealing schooners, established a trading post in Ucluelet. Ucluelet began to grow along with the sealing industry and became a bustling little town. In the 1890’s more settlers began arriving on the news of pending road access from Port Alberni. Fishing was excellent and gold was to be found on Florencia Bay. The stories of gold were correct, but it was so fine and in such little quantity that it could not be worked profitably. The Presbyterian Church built a Mission House and school and a doctor was dispatched to the area in 1898. By 1900, more settlers had moved into the area. Development began bringing infrastructure and services of all kinds. The Canadian Pacific Railway operated a small freight boat sailing from Victoria three times a month. In 1903 a whaling station was established in Barkley Sound. In Ucluelet a lighthouse, a government telegraph office, and a lifeboat station were built. As the First World War began, the fishing industry had started. When World War II began the Government of Canada took measures to protect Vancouver Island from potential invasions. The military established a seaplane base in Ucluelet and a land base at Long Beach. The road to Tofino, which had been worked on for thirty years was finally completed. Ucluelet continued to prosper after the war luring more residents hoping for prosperity to the beautiful region. In August 1959, the long awaited road to Port Alberni was finally opened. Ucluelet became incorporated on February 26th, 1952. Its status was changed to a District in 1997 to reflect, in part, the increasing population and increasing importance within the region. |
About Ucluelet |
Climate |
Ucluelet is dominated by its weather. Its location on the Estevan Coastal Plain, wedged between the sea and the mountains, creates a maritime climate unique to Canada. The climate is characteristically mild and humid. Moderate temperatures and high precipitation combine to produce a long growing season. This wet, maritime climate, results in a lush temperate rainforest and freedom from extreme temperature changes so common in other parts of Canada. |
Heritage |
Ucluelet is located 288 kilometres (km) northwest of the British Columbia provincial capital, Victoria, on the magnificent outer West Coast of Vancouver Island. The closest city is Port Alberni approximately 110 km to the east. The District of Tofino is 40 km northwest of Ucluelet. In between Tofino and Ucluelet is the Long Beach Unit of Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. Ucluelet provides easy water access to Barkley Sound; a spectacular marine area that features the Broken Group Islands Unit of Pacific Rim National Reserve. |
Nature is everywhere, from huge expanses of easily accessible sandy beaches, to the intricate marine life in the tide pools, and the giant cedars, hemlocks, and spruces of the coastal rainforest. Watch for Orcas, bald eagles, sea lions, sea otters, black bears, deer and other wildlife which are in abundance on the west coast. In summer, visitors from around the world gather to camp, hike, kayak, fish or go on wilderness excursions. In winter, storm watching is an increasingly popular pastime. Ucluelet is a true haven for the adventurous. Each spring, the locals celebrate the migration of some 20,000 grey whales past the shores of Ucluelet on their journey from Baja, Mexico to Alaska. For an exhilarating view of the magnificent grey whales on their annual migration, board one of the local whale watching charter boats by the Barkley Adventure Station. The local skippers know the waters, the weather and the whales and will provide you with a west coast experience you will never forget. |
Nature |
Marine Ecology |
The shallow waters of the continental shelf around Ucluelet are home to a wide variety of marine life. From the smallest phytoplankton to large whales, each group provides food for the next group higher up on the food chain. The abundant sea life includes shellfish, herring, salmon, seabirds, harbour seals, sea lions, orcas and gray and humpback whales. Undersea landforms, such as the large La Pérouse Bank off Ucluelet, can shift water currents to bring nutrients from the depths to the surface. This has made the waters off Ucluelet a productive area for fishing and an attractive wintering ground for pelagic seabirds such as Sooty Shearwaters and Black-footed Albatross. Low tides along the shore expose a wide variety of sea creatures in tidal pools and beneath the sand. Mussels, limpets, anemones, sea urchins, and starfish cling to the rocky shoreline, and shellfish, such as crabs, clams and oysters, live in the muddy sand. Please be sure to check for red tide locations and harvesting rules before gathering these species for consumption. The springtime migration of 20,000 Gray Whales (Eschschrictius robustus) from Baja California past the west coast of Vancouver Island has spawned a human migration to the Ucluelet area. The yearly Pacific Rim Whale Festival in March is a celebration of the whales and brings many tourists into the region for whale watching. Gray whales are baleen whales and were almost made extinct by hunting in the early 1900’s. Their numbers have recovered since 1947 when hunting was banned. Along with the Gray whales, humpback whales are also seen occasionally and orcas also swim in the area. Many whale watching companies are available from Ucluelet. |
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Toll Free: 1-877-726-2711 |
Phone: (250) 726-2717 |
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Welcome To Harbour Hill Bed & Breakfast |
1350 Helen Rd., PO Box 312 Ucluelet, BC, Vancouver Island V0R 3A0 |
Toll Free: 1-877-726-2711 Phone: (250) 726-2717 Email: info@harbourhill.ca |
A West Coast Harbour Bed And Breakfast - Ucluelet Accomodation On The West Coast Of Vancouver Island, British Columbia |
"Your Bed & Breakfast is beautiful! The Salmon & Halibut fishing was great! We'll be back to visit Ucluelet and the West Coast!" |
"You live in paradise! I never would've thought such a place existed in Canada" |
"Ucluelet is so beautiful with it's long sandy beaches and wildlife! We really enjoyed our stay with you. See you next year!" |
"Surfing out here is world class!" |
"Thanks for cooking our catch, it was delicious! We be back to Harbour Hill next spring." |
"Nice view of the Harbour. Quiet rooms & nice rates. We'll see you soon!" |
"Thanks for the accomodation in your B&B. We had alot of fun! Sad to leave it all..." |
"Wonderful home away from home. Welcome to Saylor. Look foreward to returning!" |
"Thank you for a wonderful place to stay here on the beautiful West Coast!" |
"What a beautiful lifestyle B&B you have on the West Coast!" |