
Welcome to ʔapsčiik t̓ašii (pronounced ups-cheek ta-shee)
ʔapsčiik t̓ašii (pronounced ups-cheek ta-shee) is the new multi-use pathway, located in the ḥaḥuułi — the traditional territories and homelands — of the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation and Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ. It extends approximately 25 km from the southern to the northern boundary of the Long Beach Unit of Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. The pathway is paved along its entirety and provides access to numerous points of interest found in the national park reserve. Although the pathway is fairly flat, there are a few short, steep hills and curves along the way.
Please respect the following advisories:
- Stay on the path: Respect the privacy of the communities of Esowista and Ty-Histanis by not entering or cutting through them without permission. By staying on the path, you can also protect sensitive ecological areas.
- Road safety: Use extreme caution at the uncontrolled crossings near Radar Hill and on Wick Road.
- Respect workers: Expect to encounter construction crews at any point along the pathway. Please be patient and only pass when they indicate it is safe to do so.
Trail Etiquette
- Share the pathway:
- Always keep to the right.
- Announce “on your left” and pass with care.
- Travel at a reasonable and controlled speed.
- Move off the paved pathway to take a break.
- Cyclists must yield to all other users.
- Keep pets on a leash, under control and on the designated path at all times. Please keep pets on the same side of the pathway as you.
- Pick up after your pet.
- Do not litter or leave anything behind. Pack it in, pack it out.
- Harvesting of any object, artifact or natural resource is prohibited.
Your Safety
Before you set out:
Parks Canada makes every effort to ensure visitor safety, however all outdoor activities involve some degree of risk. Please remember that your safety is your personal responsibility. Be well prepared for your chosen activity and wear appropriate safety equipment related to your activity.
- Stay alert and be aware of your surroundings.
- Cell phone coverage is not always reliable. Let someone know your plans before heading out.
- Weather may change at any time. Check the forecast and bring appropriate clothing/gear.
- Wind events can leave large debris on the pathway. Use caution and avoid travelling through the forest during a wind event.
- The pathway surface may be slippery in icy or wet conditions.
- Bridges and boardwalks are often slippery, but especially in wet or icy conditions.
- In winter, daylight hours are limited, so plan enough time to return safely.
Protecting Wildlife
When you visit Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, you are visiting an area that is home to a diverse array of wildlife. Your behaviour can have an impact on the safety of wildlife, yourself, and other visitors.
Wildlife respect and safety
- Always stay on designated pathways.
- Keep pets on a leash and under control at all times.
- Keep a safe distance from wildlife.
- Freshwater fishing is prohibited.
- ‘Do not feed wildlife. Human food kills animals.
In case of emergency, contact: or
Report all wolf, cougar, and bear sightings to Parks Canada at
In the case of immediate conflict, if you encounter or are approached by wildlife:
- Act big
- Make noise
- Don’t run
Video Gallery
Building ʔapsčiik t̓ašii - Part 1: Creating a Pathway Together
Transcript
[Music]
<
in our language it has two meanings
ʔapsčiik is going the right way on the path.
You know, also, ʔapsčiik means to
make sure you speak the truth.
That was a very important teaching for
our people to speak the truth.
<
multi-use
path that is 25 kilometres within the
homelands of the
Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation, the Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ First
Nation
and within Long Beach Unit of Pacific
Rim National Park Reserve.
So it's 25 kilometres connecting
every community within the region from
Tofino to Tla-o-qui-aht to
Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ lands, into the Ucluelet
district.
So, it's providing that route and that
artery
for this region that allows people
to experience what this area has from
land
to sea. It's a wonderful path that's
going to connect
everybody.
[Music]
<
not an easy thing.
It's not like building your standard
highway or building your standard trail—
there's so many things to take in
consideration.
We're working with First Nation
partners, we're looking at environmental
consequences,
we're looking at invasive species and
amphibians and archaeological sites. So
when you're looking at
moving the trail slightly two meters
away from the highway or closer to the
highway
you really have to take into account all
these different elements and think ahead
about those things and plan with them
and talk to your experts.
<
visitors to the originators of this
area who still reside today and have
been working with us from
day one on the ʔapsčiik t̓ašii to really
help us understand
the appropriate route to take that not
only is environmentally sensitive
and culturally protecting the area but
also that
really connects the visitor to what they
experienced in their homelands and
that's what the ʔapsčiik t̓ašii was meant
to do,
was to help visitors really see and
understand
the First Nation context that is within
this area.
<
like
roots that we can munch on and the beach
is
very generous with seafood. You know, you
could survive out there all day without
bringing lunch from home and we want it
to stay that way.
We want everything in that area to stay
as natural as possible.
<
in 25 years is going to change the
landscape to this area
but is also going to really bring
Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, First
Nations,
and districts together to really
look at how we welcome our visitors to
this region
and how we protect it because that's
what it has done—
it has allowed us to really
embrace the one team, the one voice and
the one vision
with different parties, not just Parks
Canada.
<
something that many people are going to
enjoy for years to come...be able to use
to connect destinations, to connect
communities.
<
benefits
the economic opportunities for
Indigenous partners,
but it's also just the benefit of
something new to the area.
<
National Park coming together and
working together and acknowledging the
land
I felt like, "ʔapsčiik t̓ašii"—we are going
the right way, like you know. We're coming
together and
walking together and turning together
in a good way.