Keeha and Talpatos Bay with the Island Mountain Ramblers – May 23-25, 2025
These gems are located a short distance from Bamfield, at the end of a now completely paved road, cutting off 1/2 hour of travel time. Just north of the storied West Coast Trail, and part of the Pacific Rim National Park.
We certainly didn’t set any speed records on this hike, and when you see the photos you’ll see why!
Yes, you certainly can’t say that the “trails” are in good condition, but, you know, I hope Parks Canada leaves it that way. You certainly wouldn’t want hordes of people crowding these beautiful beaches. I do hope, though, that they will maintain the boardwalk and remove any bigger trees that fall. A toilet at Talpatos would be welcome, too.
The trails have many trees to maneuver over and under
And boardwalk in various kinds of condition
And planks across some muddy sections
Some quagmires require careful footwork!
The floating bridge on the way to Keeha
Keeha Bay
Carol brushing her teeth at the water’s edge
Sea Caves at the south end of the beach
Thankfully little garbage on the beach
How did this fluorescent light bulb remain intact?!
Ascending the tsunami dune near the beach
The dune was likely left by a huge earthquake (8.7-9.2) that hit the west coast in 1700 A.D.
Tapaltos Beach
Aah, it feels good to kick back and relax!
No bear cache here, so we raised our food into the tree
A great water source here, not far from where we camped
Cape Beale Lighthouse
Built in 1958, rising 60 m. above the ocean, it has been designated a Heritage Lighthouse
But it was getting to the lighthouse that was the highlight of the trip. First, we crossed the mudflats, accessible only at tides of less than 1.8m, and headed to the left, south, from there.
Then we headed up a gully and were treated to spectacular views
Jaimie captured this shot of us on the land bridge
Indian Paintbrush on the Rocks
We started off at 9 a.m. on Sunday with a bushy start
Still no rain!
And by 11 a.m., we were all done
Comparing our battle scars!
I think I won the mudfest. What so you think?
What a wonderful trip! We’re so lucky, or are we just smart?!
