Avatar Grove in Port Renfrew - an old growth forest of EPIC proportions!

If you live on Vancouver Island, or plan to visit anytime soon, be sure to check out Avatar Grove. This ancient-growth forest is just a 20 minute drive from Port Renfrew (a two-hour drive from Victoria), and it is well worth it!

Avatar is one of the most breathtaking forests of old-growth Red Cedars and Douglas Firs on the Island. Named after the blockbuster movie in an effort to help save it, it truly lives up to the name.

This beautiful forest is particularly precious because it is endangered. According to the Ancient Forest Alliance, "A small portion of the Grove is protected within an Old-Growth Management Area, but most of the largest trees have been surveyed and flagged for logging. So far the Ministry of Forests and Range has not issued any cutting permits for Avatar Grove, but that could change quickly."

The Grove is easily accessed from the road, but the hike is quite rugged and not for the faint of heart! There's no official trail and ropes are provided for climbing up/down steep inclines. The overall distance is about 3 km, and can take anywhere from 1-3 hours to complete, depending on how long you want to stay with some of these amazing trees. Be sure to wear sturdy footwear, layer your clothing, and be prepared for some very large mosquitoes! This is the Wild West Coast in its purest form, and one of the best adventures we've been on here so far!

Visit while you can, enjoy your trip, and be sure to take lots of pictures!

For more photos visit our Facebook Page. For more info on Avatar Grove - and for directions, please visit the AFA Website.