The 7 Best Sunset Spots in Tofino, BC (2026 Guide)

Tofino faces west into the Pacific and on a clear evening the sunsets here are hard to beat. The sky turns pink and orange over the water, the surfers are still out in silhouette, and depending on where you are standing you have either an unobstructed horizon or a dramatic headland framing the whole thing. We have watched a lot of sunsets in Tofino across a lot of different visits and different seasons, and this list is everything we have learned about where to go and what to know before you get there.

The spots below are not ranked from best to worst. They are ordered geographically from the spots closest to town all the way out to the furthest, which makes this list useful whether you are deciding where to walk from your accommodation or planning a drive to a specific viewpoint. The right spot for you depends on how much effort you want to put in, what the tide is doing, and how much of a view you want in exchange for the walk. We have covered all of that below.

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Last updated 2026-06-09

1. tin wis Beach

The warm light of the setting sun is reflected in the wet sand at tin wis beach during low tide in Tofino — tin wis beach

tin wis is one of the most accessible sunset spots in Tofino and a great first choice if you want something easy and low-commitment. There is paid parking right at the beach, a short flat path down to the sand, and the beach itself is more sheltered from the wind than the more exposed spots further along the coast, which makes it a comfortable place to sit and wait for the light to drop.

The sunset here is best at a receding tide. As the water pulls back, it leaves a wide stretch of wet sand that reflects the warm light back at you, which makes the whole beach glow in a way that is particularly good for photos and, honestly, just a bit magical. It is not the most dramatic viewpoint on this list, but it is one of the most consistently pleasant, and on a calm evening with the right tide, it holds its own against any of the spots further out.

2. Chesterman Beach

A man walks next to a dog along a flat sandy beach towards a warm glowing sunset — Chesterman Beach Spot

Chesterman is my top pick for a sunset walk, but there is a catch: you can only see the sunset from the north end of the beach. If you park at the south lot and walk the wrong way, you will spend the whole evening staring at a headland with the light disappearing behind it. Park at the north lot, walk the north side of the beach, and if the tide is far enough out, make your way onto the spit that connects to Frank Island. That is the best sunset view on the beach and one of the better sunset views in Tofino in general. Standing on the spit with the light dropping over the open water and the mountains behind you is sure to spark one of those 'should we move here' conversations

At high tide, the spit is underwater, so check the tide times before you go and plan for a low or receding tide if the spit is the goal. The north end of the beach still gives a good view even if the spit is not accessible, but it is worth timing it right if you can.

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3. Pettinger Point

A man stands on a rocky outcrop with a dog next to him facing out to the sun setting over the ocean beneath him — Pettinger Point

Pettinger Point is a rocky headland between Chesterman Beach and Cox Bay that gives you an elevated view of the coast and one of the better sunset angles on the peninsula. Getting there takes a bit more effort than the beach spots on this list, but it is not a hike. It is a short scramble up to a rocky outcrop, nothing technical, though it would be a challenge for anyone with mobility issues.

The most direct way to get there is via the boardwalk at Pacific Sands Resort, which is technically for guests. The sign says as much, but we have seen plenty of non-guests using it without issue. The alternative is climbing up from either Chesterman or Cox Bay, which only works at low tide and requires you to keep an eye on the water so you do not end up stranded at the top with the tide rolling in beneath you.

If the tide is working in your favour and the timing lines up, this is a great option. If it is high tide and you are not a Pacific Sands guest, Cox Bay Beach below gives you a similar view with none of the logistics.

4. Cox Bay Beach

The wet sand reflects the warm sunset light at Cox Bay Beach while the sun sets behind a distant rocky outcrop — Cox Bay Beach

Cox Bay is the easiest of the good sunset spots on this stretch and the one to default to if you do not want to deal with tides, scrambles, or long walks. There is paid parking right off Cox Bay Road with a short flat trail down to the beach, and the view of the sunset is good from everywhere on the sand at every tide level. Pettinger Point frames the horizon to the north, and the bay faces directly southwest, which means the sun drops right into the water in front of you later in the year and right into Pettinger Point closer to the solstice.

On a busy evening in summer, you will have plenty of company out here, which adds to rather than detracts from the atmosphere. Surf culture, campfires where they are permitted, and the general energy of a Tofino beach at golden hour make Cox Bay a great place to be. It is also the starting point for the Cox Bay Lookout hike if you want to take the sunset experience up a level, which is the next entry on this list.

5. Cox Bay Lookout

Rows of gentle waves funnel into a large sheltered bay with forest and mountains beyond — Cox Bay Lookout

This is my personal favourite sunset spot in Tofino, and also the most work to get to. The trail starts right from the south end of Cox Bay Beach and goes uphill immediately, climbing 127 metres through rooty forest to a viewpoint that looks out over the entire bay. The stats make it sound manageable, and it is, but it is harder than the numbers suggest. The root sections are gnarly; there are plenty of unsigned side trails that will have you checking AllTrails constantly, and we came out with shoes that were written off for the rest of the trip from the mud. We also met a woman at the top who did the whole thing barefoot, so take that however you like.

The view from the top is worth all of it. The whole bay spreads out below you, the Pacific stretches to the horizon, and watching the sun drop into the water from that height is one of the best sunset experiences on Vancouver Island. We stayed until the sun was fully set, which was the right call for the view and the wrong call for the walk down. Picking your way over root sections in the dark with a phone flashlight while needing both hands to climb does not work. Bring a headlamp or commit to heading down as soon as the sun dips. Either way, do not skip this one if you have the legs for it.

6. Radar Hill

Warm golden light shines over distant forested mountains and between trees in the foreground that frame the sunset — Radar Hill

Radar Hill is inside Pacific Rim National Park, which means you need a park pass to access it, but it gives you a high westward viewpoint for a fraction of the effort of Cox Bay Lookout. The trick is that the road in does most of the climbing for you. You drive up a steep hill to the parking lot, and then it is a five-minute walk to the first viewpoint, which looks out to the west with a wide, unobstructed view over the Pacific. For the elevation and the quality of the view, the effort-to-reward ratio here is the best on this list.

There is a second viewpoint on the other side of the hill, another five minutes down the same path. It has a decent enough view, but you can see the parking lot from it, which somewhat breaks the spell, and it faces the wrong direction for sunset. Do not stress about the second one. The west-facing viewpoint is the one you came for, and it is the right place to be as the sun goes down.

7. Long Beach

Mist rises over the beach as frothy waves break the shore of Long Beach in Tofino — Long Beach

Long Beach is the furthest from town on this list and also the most accessible once you are there. It is inside Pacific Rim National Park, so the same pass requirement applies, but the parking lots are large and well-organized, and the beach is a short flat walk from the car. The sunset view is good from anywhere on the beach at any tide level, and the sheer scale of the place, 16 kilometres of open Pacific coastline, means you can find your own stretch of sand without too much effort, even on a busy summer evening.

The one condition worth noting is wind. Long Beach is the most exposed shore on this stretch of coast, and when it is blowing hard, it is not a comfortable place to sit and wait for the light. Check the conditions before you make the drive out, and if it is a windy evening, one of the more sheltered spots closer to town will give you a better experience. On a calm, clear evening, though, Long Beach at sunset is hard to beat.

A Few Things Worth Knowing

Misty cone shaped mountains in the distance glow in a pink afterglow of the sunset from Radar Hill in Tofino — Radar Hill

Check the tide before you go. Several of these spots are significantly better at specific tides. Chesterman Spit and Pettinger Point, in particular, require low tide to reach their best versions. A quick check on the Tide Forecast before you leave saves you from arriving at the wrong time.
Bring a layer. The temperature drops fast once the sun goes down on the coast, and the wind picks up at most of these spots in the evening. Even on a warm day, a fleece or a windproof jacket is worth having in the bag.
Bring a headlamp if you are hiking. Cox Bay Lookout, in particular, is a real trail and navigating it back to the beach in the dark with a phone flashlight is not a good time. We learned this the hard way.
The best light is before the sun hits the horizon. The 30 minutes before sunset tend to produce the warmest and most interesting light, especially on the wet sand at tin wis and Chesterman. Do not wait until the last minute to find your spot.

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FAQ

Where is the best place to watch the sunset in Tofino?

It depends on how much effort you want to put in. Cox Bay Lookout is the most spectacular option, a moderate hike above Cox Bay with a sweeping view over the entire bay and the Pacific beyond it. For something easier, Cox Bay Beach gives a similar view from the sand with no hiking required. Chesterman Beach at the north end or out on the spit connecting to Frank Island is the best sunset walk, though the spit requires low tide to access. tin wis Beach is the most sheltered and accessible option and is especially good at a receding tide when the wet sand reflects the warm light.

Can you see the sunset from Long Beach in Tofino?

Yes. Long Beach faces west and the sunset view is good from anywhere on the beach at any tide level. It is inside Pacific Rim National Park so you need a Parks Canada pass to park there, but the lots are large and the beach is a short flat walk from the car. The main thing to watch is the wind. Long Beach is the most exposed beach on this stretch of coast and on a windy evening it is not a comfortable place to sit and wait for the light. On a calm clear evening it is one of the best options on the peninsula.

Does the tide affect sunset viewing in Tofino?

Yes, for some spots more than others. The Chesterman Spit connecting to Frank Island is one of the best sunset viewpoints in Tofino but is only accessible at low tide. Pettinger Point can also be reached from Chesterman or Cox Bay at low tide, though if the tide is high the boardwalk at Pacific Sands Resort is the alternative access point. tin wis Beach is best at a receding tide when the wet sand reflects the light. Cox Bay Beach, Cox Bay Lookout, Radar Hill, and Long Beach are all good at any tide level.

Do you need a Parks Canada pass to watch the sunset in Tofino?

Only for Radar Hill and Long Beach, which are both inside Pacific Rim National Park. A daily adult pass costs $11 and covers both spots. tin wis Beach, Chesterman Beach, Pettinger Point, Cox Bay Beach, and Cox Bay Lookout are all outside the national park and do not require a pass, though Cox Bay Beach and tin wis both have paid parking lots.

How hard is the hike to Cox Bay Lookout?

It is listed as moderate but it is harder than the stats suggest. The trail climbs 127 metres from Cox Bay Beach through rooty, often muddy forest with plenty of unsigned side trails that make it easy to lose the main path. We tripped on the root sections multiple times on the way up and came out with shoes that were done for the rest of the trip. The bigger challenge is the descent in low light, so bring a headlamp if you are planning to stay for the full sunset. The trail takes about 45 minutes to an hour each way and starts directly from Cox Bay Beach.

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