2012
As the sun comes through the mountain peaks, and you hear the birds chirping you know it’s time for a stretch, have a yawn and get out of bed because the day awaits you.
First order of the day is visiting and feeding the gorgeous animals that we are fortunate enough to call ours here at Clayoquot Wilderness Resort. 30 horses in total will need feeding before you can lumber up to the kitchen to grab your own grub. Toss down a few bales of hay to scatter around for them, all the while trying to have them not eat out of your arms! Hungry little buggers in the morning they are!
After finding out what the day will entail – maybe a ride up the Urses River on a full day outing? Maybe a morning ride to Guppy’s Cabin? All is told from the Cowboy himself, John Caton, at the morning guide meeting. As the morning progresses, the guests are met and briefed. Time to suit up!
On the hook of the coral are the trusty well-worn chaps that have been around the trail a few times. A good worn in blanket for the horse and a beautiful comfortable leather saddle are put into place and it’s time to ride.
We set off through the camp and head on up the trail. As the sun cascades through the trees, the horses are at peace. The thighs start to burn, but it’s that good kind of burn; that kind that feels like you have been in a saddle all day.
The horses want to run so we open ‘er up and let ‘er go! The wind is in the hair, the cheeks go rosy with the sun, the hooves pound the earth and the smile could light up a room! Everyone is out of breath and it’s time for a watering hole stop. When done, the journey home begins. The afternoon has worn on, and it’s time to get the guests home cause you know that the stomachs are itching for some of Chef Orr’s culinary delights and maybe a cool drink prepared by Sommelier, Tereza!
As camp draws closer and the trail dips into the distance, you breathe a sigh and smile and hope that maybe you will get to do it all again tomorrow!
For those of you that have been to the west coast before will understand this term. For those that haven’t, let me explain a little.
Growing up in Ontario we had the Muskoka area filled with lakes and beautiful trees. I grew up skiing at Blue Mountain and the Beaches in downtown Toronto were my safe haven.
After moving to British Columbia 6 years ago, I quickly realised that although Muskoka will always be beautiful and will always have a place in my heart, Vancouver Island has some of the same scenery if not more. Blue Mountain has turned into a mole hill compared to the beauties we have out here and well, the Beaches…besides being a great place to live in Toronto and a beautiful community; nothing could ever beat Long Beach or Chesterman Beach here in Tofino.
‘Wildside’ is a meaning that can truly be used only for the west coast of Canada and even more so, the west coast of Vancouver Island. It is here where you get the dramatic landscapes, the driftwood rolling up on beaches, sand stretching for miles with waves hitting the shores. Surfers taking the plunge in world class surf. Jagged snow-capped mountain peaks, adventure trails in your own back yard and whales as your neighbours.
Just one of your amazing vistas that you will see on the private beaches at Flores Island.
The term ‘Wildside’ doesn’t just explain the amazing adventures that you will encounter here on Vancouver Island, it also defines a trailthat has been used by the Ahousaht people for thousands of years here in Clayoquot Sound. This 11km trail is an escape into the remote wilderness through a trail that will take you deep into the rainforest and out onto beaches alongside the Pacific Ocean and is one of our amazing activities.
Your lap of luxury in the wild!
When you join us at Clayoquot Wilderness Resort this wild landscape is all around you. When you wake up in one of our tents with nature calling just outside (the birds, not the other nature calling) you know that you are in a true camping if not “glamping” experience.
Close your eyes and picture this…
Soft candle light fills your tent through the twinkle of tea lights and the sparkle of a lantern or two.
The table is decorated with fresh sprigs of cedar and pine.
Your Ridel glass swirls with a BC vintage that tantalizes your taste buds.
A plate is placed before you with a culinary creation that encapsulates the true meaning of the words – modern natural cuisine.
The person that means the most to you is at your side and slips a smile and a wink as laughter fills the air around you.
You are at Clayoquot Wilderness Resort and you are in love.
In love with the food.
In love with the wine.
In love with the wilderness
In love with life!
As you wander back to your Prospector tent that sits over our estuary, you link arms and sigh. Another day filled with adventure and activities and you know that after a snug night’s sleep, you will awake and do it all over again in the morning.
Experience Clayoquot and its beautiful surroundings before you arrive. From the Bedwell River, to Flores Island and back!
Pair this beauty with our new activity this year for heli-hiking or take a trip to a remote lake for some heli-fishing. The ideas are endless when you are soaring like an eagle!
Our 2012 season has started and we are underway and we still have some spots available. Book your dates now as we are filling up those dates fast. Email us to see about your vacation this summer! [email protected]
Trip Advisor
We were awarded the Certificate of Excellence – thank you to everyone that has written about their stay here. It is because of you that we are who we are.
If you have taken the time, thank you! If not, we really do love to see what you have to say and so do our future guests. Take a moment and write a review.
- Write a review of Clayoquot Wilderness Resort
Our latest and greatest activity!
Have you ever wanted the thrill of hitting the river in a raft?
Well now you can! Our guides spent the first week of June upgrading their swift water certification to bring you white water rafting! A fabulous activity for kids of all ages!
Wine
Tereza Roux, Sommelier, is back for another year and is bringing a whole bunch of goodness with her. Having spent much of the past summers focusing on our local British Columbia wines for their delicious taste and backyard fabulousness, Tereza is keen to get her focus onto more old world wines and stepping up our already fabulous cellar. New to the cellar this year is Bellbird Sauvignon Blanc, NZ. After meeting the wine maker at a round table session at Vancouver hot spot, West, everyone ‘sparkled’ about how elegant this wine was and with their sustainable reputation, perfect for Clayoquot!
Don’t you worry though, that sensational wine that you tasted the last time you were here will still be in the pouring, maybe a different vintage but same great BC winery, as we are true to our roots. One new BC wine that has Tereza going over the moon for is ‘Sparkling Muscato from Orifino’ one of BC’s fabulous boutique wineries.Clayoquot Wilderness Resort is very active in the preservation of our local rivers and salmon stocks. This is one of our most important advocacies and passions here at the Resort for the reason that salmon is one of the most important keystone species in the ocean.
Wild salmon provide food for our ecosystem and it’s animals i.e.: bears, eagles and wolves. Each of these animals feed on the salmon that run up river. Once completed, they drag the carcass’ into the forest which in turn breaks down and creates the largest natural fertilizer in the world. It is through this breakdown that we are able to have such healthy forests.
When you visit us here at Clayoquot Wilderness Resort you will have an opportunity to walk in the woods, ride up to old growth forest and to see the result of the circle of life that the salmon help to generate. Read this great article about the life cycle of salmon: www.salmoncity.net
Camille MacIntosh, Office Manager and Environmental Monitor, was able to attend a meeting in Tofino recently where the protection of our local wild Chinook Salmon was being discussed. Attendees included; the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Doug Palfry who works with Tofino Hatchery, Berry Cortecito who works with Ecosystem Management, Friends of Clayoquot Sound and Carol Schmidt from Omega Pacific Hatchery as well as stakeholders from the local native communities were all present for this important meeting.
We care about the ocean, the forest, the wildlife and all living things and want to see it be here for the next generation. Please consider not buying farmed salmon and you will be personally helping to preserve this very delicate life cycle.
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