Cathedral Grove

Cathedral Grove, inside MacMillan Provincial Park, is the classic quick stop for old-growth Douglas fir on the road to Port Alberni and Tofino. The paths are short, but the trees are enormous enough to slow almost everyone down.

It is also a fragile and crowded place. Parking sits directly on Highway 4, so cross carefully, stay on the boardwalks, and do not treat the grove as a picnic ground.

things to do forest nature
A story
Some trees here are several centuries old, and the grove survived partly because it became famous early. Its popularity is now the problem: roots, soil, and roadside safety all suffer when visitors spill off the paths.