MacKenzie Beach

Close to Tofino on Vancouver Island, MacKenzi Beach (also spelt Mackenzie or MacKenzie Beach) has surprisingly calm sheltered waters making it popular with families.MacKenzi Beach’s main claim to fame is that the remake of the movie The Fog was filmed there.

Protected from high winds and wave action by rock formations and the offshore island, Mackenzi Beach is a good choice for swimming, standup paddleboarding and learning to surf away from the big breaks further south. The sand is edged by rocks for scrambling over and there’s a small campground and many windswept trees. Bring a picnic, relax and sunbathe, read a book, build sandcastles, take a cooling dip and stay for sunset when the sky views are amazing.

The beach is popular in winter for storm watching. Many of the trees overlooking the beach have been bent out of shape by the forceful winds over time.

A walk along the golden sand is a great opportunity for beachcombing and picking up seashells, fossils and bleached driftwood. MacKenzi Beach is also good for scenic walks, ball games, beach volleyball and Frisbee. Beach fires are allowed as long as you dig a pit.

To get to Mackenzie Follow signs from the main road off Pacific Rim Hwy and then follow the dirt trails. There is no car park and parking can be difficult to find on sunny weekends when the beach is a peak attraction. However, there is some street parking on Hellesden Drive.