05 May Avatar Grove In Port Renfrew

When T.J. Watt of the Ancient Forest Alliance was scouring Vancouver Island several years ago in search of undiscovered old-growth trees, the last place he expected to find them was 15 minutes outside of an old logging town like Port Renfrew – but that’s precisely what happened. The remarkable old-growth red cedar and Douglas fir trees that he found are not only ancient, but visually striking as well, possessing large contorted burls and grey candelabra tops.

Not long after Mr. Watt’s discovery, he and his colleagues in the Ancient Forest Alliance launched a public campaign to officially protect this unique area from logging or development, naming it Avatar Grove in honour of the lush forest world featured in the blockbuster science fiction film Avatar. The provincial government agreed, and shortly thereafter the first tourists began showing up, kicking off a new eco-tourism industry in Port Renfrew. The Ancient Forest Alliance has even joined forces with the Port Renfrew Chamber of Commerce to construct a boardwalk through Avatar Grove, allowing visitors to admire its incredible trees without damaging their intricate root structures. Once again, B.C. is leading the way in combining ecological conservation with economic growth.

If you’d like to see the wonders of Avatar Grove for yourself, you can do so with an easy day-trip out of Victoria. Simply drive up to Port Renfrew via Highway 14, and pull over on the right side of the road after crossing the small Baird Creek Bridge. A pink ribbon will mark the pathway towards Avatar Grove. The hike in is relatively short, but there is some moderately difficult terrain to navigate, so come prepared. And don’t forget the most important thing of all: enjoy yourself! Remember, you’re in the presence of trees that have stood for centuries – this trip can be fun, as well as enlightening.