Nature lovers won't want to miss this tour that follows a nature trail through an old-growth rainforest, stopping along the way as your guide describes the importance and uses of the various plants.
Travel by bus from the pier to the nearby Butze Rainforest for an interpretative guided walk. The variety of flora and fauna is remarkable because the forest supports both coastal and temperate ecosystems.
Walking along the trail, you'll pass through an old-growth forest, with many of the trees as old as 500 years. You'll notice towering cedars, hemlocks and spruces. In spots, the sunlight can penetrate the patchy, multi-layered canopy, encouraging a dense understory and the growth of many moss and fern species. Elsewhere, you will cross peat bogs carpeted with sphagnum moss. The landscape is so verdant and unspoiled it looks almost primeval.
To sate your curiosity about the diversity of the plant life, your guide will stop periodically to describe a particularly interesting specimen. Many of the plants have medicinal properties used by the First Nations people while others provide food for the wildlife. Of course, there are some that are just simply beautiful. Your turnaround point on the hike is the Butze Rapids viewing platform, where you can watch the water roar to life if the tide happens to be falling or rising.
Following a 30-minute break at the viewing platform, you will retrace your steps, re-join your bus and drive back to the pier.
Please note: This tour includes approximately 2-hours (2.8 miles) of moderate to strenuous walking that includes some steep inclines. The tour is not available to wheelchair guests or those with mobility concerns. Participants should be in good physical condition and able to sustain a moderate pace throughout the duration of the hike. Sturdy, flat hiking or walking shoes; warm layered clothing and waterproof outerwear are recommended as you will be exposed to the elements.