The trail eventually becomes less muddy as you find yourself walking through a section of rugged, coastal trees. Our destination is an RCAF Canso Bomber that crashed in February 1945. I’m Susan, originally Scottish now living in Calgary, AB. There is no parking allowed along the highway, so the closest parking is at the Radar Hill turnoff a few hundred meters from the highway. October 1, 2017 by Nicole Yi. When you are close, there is a very small drawing of a plane on the telephone pole. Walk along the hard shoulder, being careful of oncoming traffic. First section was easy walking, though we climbed over a couple of fallen trees. Reviewed May 12, 2013 . Start counting the telegraph poles … This hike provides an opportunity to visit the site of a Royal Canadian Air Force Canso 11007 that crashed shortly after takeoff on February 12, 1945. All content, photos and gps data are © 2020 Tofinohiking.com. There is no parking allowed along the highway, so the closest parking is at the Radar Hill turnoff a few hundred meters from the highway. Walk up the stairs and inside the building as the graffiti, ripped walls, and dangling wires come across as very creepy. On board were four bombs, fuel and twelve crew members. View from the tail of the Canso Bomber crash. It's really dark in there, Kev used the flash. From the lower parking lot at Radar Hill, walk back along the road towards the Highway and turn right, walking alongside of the highway heading south. (Note: we found our way ok but some don't. Dare you enter? Hike to Canso Bomber crash site. Close-up of some fuselage damage. Once you have parked in the lower Radar Hill parking lot, walk back towards the highway and walk south, counting the number of telephone poles until #15. The trail to the Canso Plane Crash Site is located exactly 15 telephone poles south of the turnoff to Radar Hill. Canso Bomber crash site, Tofino BC, Canada. Then it was beach time! This one is super cool, and once again, has some interesting history to it. All 12 crew members survived thanks to the pilot. The old WW II Canso Bomber crash is the pot of gold at the end of the trail. The fuel spilled out and lit the wreck on fire where it had come to rest in the trees. Canso Plane Crash Hike, Tofino: See 2 reviews, articles, and 16 photos of Canso Plane Crash Hike, ranked No.33 on Tripadvisor among 40 attractions in Tofino. We parked at Radar Hill and followed the highway until we spotted the pole. The crash has been … Avoid taking any side trails or hiking uphill past the plane. It's a bit of a walk up the highway to telephone pole … Trapped inside the sinking hulk of the Consolidated PBY-5A Canso, it would only take five minutes for the men inside to be taken to their watery grave at the bottom of the Ottawa River. Sartorius turned 90 this September and is the only known remaining survivor of the crash. The plane still remains on the side of a hill and is surprisingly fairly intact despite the damage sustained from the crash. Canso’s last flight. Approximate Distance (one way): 2.6 km Elevation Gain: 44 m Zone: Central Vancouver Island SubZone: Tofino Type: Half-day hike Description: It took us approximately 1 hour to reach the bomber site. During the earlier spring, you can expect the mud to be knee high in sections so be prepared to return with extremely muddy shoes, pants, and legs. This hike was definitely a random adventure that turned out to be a lot of fun. We weren't really sure where exactly to go but knew it was somewhere at the end of … The quick thinking of the pilot saved the lives of all onboard and the entire crew was reduced 11 hours later. Aufgrund der Steigung und Distanz ist die Strecke als moderat einzustufen. This pond is actually a crater that was created when the rescuers removed the bombs from the plane and, instead of trying to move them out through the difficult terrain, decided to detonate them near the wreckage. Surprisingly, the bomb did not explode and all 12 passengers survived. During the late, drier summer months, there are still sections of mud that cover your shoes. Canso Plane Crash Hike: Plane Crash site - See 2 traveler reviews, 16 candid photos, and great deals for Tofino, Canada, at Tripadvisor. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/canada/british-columbia/canso-crash-site-trail Parked at Radar Hill Roar parking lot, just off hwy, walked south along newly paved trail, right along Canso Trail. Starting near Radar Hill, you walk through some dense West Coast rain forest, a genuine muddy bog, an absolute maze of tree roots, and around a crater lake left by bomb detonations after the crash. Interior structure of the bomber. This plane has been here, exactly where it landed, for 75 years. Recently I went on my annual trip up to Tofino, B.C. There are several different coloured markers and the string on the trees marks the boundaries of the trail area, all lead in the same general direction. Here is a picture that is … After you have spent time at the wreckage, carefully climb back down to the bottom of the hill and walk back along the trail, passing the pond. The first section of the trail is very easy as the wide trail heads into the forest and quickly away from the noise of the cars along the highway. The trail to the site is located just south of Radar Hill and it passes through a bog that is extremely muddy, even during the late summer months. The plane still remains on the side of a hill and is surprisingly fairly intact despite the damage sustained from the crash. Parked at Radar Hill... Just did the hike March 12th 2020 and since I last did it years ago... Nov 11/2019 - Update. Within 1km, you reach an old, abandoned building. Canso Crash Site Trail ist ein 3.2 Meilen langer, stark besuchter Hin- und Rückweg in der Nähe von Alberni-Clayoquot C, British Columbia, Kanada. The remains of one of the engines under a wing. We had a thorough exploration then a break on a nearby log before heading back. Begin counting the telephone poles as you make sure to stay off the road and away from the passing cars. We missed the circular explosion pond, not sure if that's off the trail a bit. Within minutes, the trail begins to climb gradually but is still not that difficult. Tofino Canso bomber crash. Canso Bomber Crash – Tofino. Visiting the crash site of a WWII bomber. It’s well worth actually reading up on this one. The inside has experienced years of vandalism but the plane is still amazingly in good condition for its age. Okay guys, just after I finished my first post, Jessica and I headed out to the Canso plane crash site in Tofino. Any trail that starts with directions to count telegraph poles along the road then look for the 'little plane' sounds appealing to me. Review of Radar Hill. There is a trail round the side, but it's not as much fun. The Consolidated PBY Catalina is a flying boat and amphibious aircraft that was produced in the 1930s and 1940s. More information Canso Bomber Crash Site – Tofino, Canada - Atlas Obscura