Gale force winds, giant waves crashing on the beach and lively skies—the raw energy of winter storms sculpting the shoreline makes it an exhilarating season to experience the West Coast. Whether you bundle up to join the seabirds dancing in the wind or enjoy the spectacle from the comfort of your perch at the Inn, winter storm watching is an awe-inspiring experience that invigorates the soul.
We were built for this
Storm watching at the Wickaninnish Inn was designated a Canadian Signature Experience by the Canadian Tourism Commission in 2011. However, it has been a memorable destination long before the Inn’s construction. In days past, the McDiarmid family would visit the site from their cabin during storms to observe where the waves broke, how high they surged onto the rocks and into the forest, and where the most spectacular views could be seen. These memories helped inspire the design of the Inn, making it the best storm-watching destination on the coast.
Gear up for the weather
We provide full rain gear in every guest room, and rubber boots are available for exploring the beach and braving the wind and rain. Before heading out, we encourage you to familiarize yourself with how to be Coast Smart in a storm - safety first! After your adventure, warm up by the fireplace in the Shoreline Terrace or at the Driftwood Café, where you can toss your gear into our drying closet while enjoying a hot cocoa.
Storm clouds gathering in Tofino
Stormy weather is most reliable between the beginning of November and the end of February, although it’s not unusual to have an early storm in late October or a late storm in early March. Enjoy this dramatic season with us à la carte, or with our Storm Watching Package.
Great clouds mass overhead, dark and dramatic, swollen with rain. Wind sweeps across the sands of Chesterman Beach, sending cedar and spruce branches tossing wildly. Waves crash onto the rocks below The Pointe Building, racing up the surge channel, spume hurtling into the air. Rain lashes the windows, rat-a-tat-tatting loudly.
- The Wickaninnish Inn Cookbook
