Canso Crash Site Trail

Hiking along the Canso Crash Site Trail is a fun—if muddy—way to get out and enjoy the natural beauty of the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve while combining it with a unique aspect of local history. The trail heads through the forest and ends up at the site of a plane crash on February 12, 1945. On this spot, a Royal Canadian Air Force Canso 11007 plane crashed into the forest shortly after takeoff and remains largely intact as a unique historical site. The trail itself passes through some muddy terrain, and while there are some stretches of the wooden boardwalk, it’s almost certain that your feet will get muddy along the route. Make sure to wear proper hiking footwear to keep yourself as dry as possible on the trail.

The route initially sets out from the parking lot and heads back toward the highway, where hikers will need to make their way south alongside it to reach the trailhead leading into the forest. From there, the route snakes through the forest and climbs uphill to an old radio building before descending slightly towards the crash site.

On the approach to the wrecked plane, the trail passes through a boggy area that will likely be the muddiest part of the hike. Soon enough, you will reach the remnants of the old plane and can explore the forest landscape around the wreckage. After inspecting the nearly-intact and graffiti-covered plane, head back along the same route and try to avoid getting stuck in the mud as you make your way back to the parking area.