The Multi-Use Path (MUP) Art Walk begins with the č̓iinuł (totem pole), Tiičswina, We Survived! on the front lawn of Tin Wis Best Western Plus Resort. There is some limited paid parking at the foot of nearby Hellesen Drive, but you’re also welcome to walk, bike, scoot or skateboard. In summer, you can take the Tofino Shuttle Bus to the bus stop at Live to Surf plaza, and walk back a block to Hellesen Drive,

Following the MUP to the crosswalk at Hellesen, you will head down towards MacKenzie Beach. Overlooking the oceanfront at Tin Wis Best Western Plus Resort, the č̓iinuł, Tiičswina, We Survived! was raised on March 29, 2013 for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission commemoration celebration. In the near future, you may also take the footpath from the Tin Wis parking lot to the campground next door, to visit Tsawaak Visitor Centre and enjoy artwork by Tla-o-qui-aht and Nuu-chah-nulth artists.

Once you return to the MUP, you’ll head back past Live to Surf Plaza towards Lynn Road. At the crosswalk at Lynn Road, you’ll travel towards to the North Chesterman Beach entrance. Please be sure to pause here for a moment here where Deanna Lankin will tell you about her Waves IV bin wrapper, just one of many works commissioned by District of Tofino and featured throughout town. You may already have seen some of Lankin’s work at the Mark Hobson Gallery on the Downtown Art Walk.

As you enter the footpath to the beach, pay close attention to Jan Janzen’s handcrafted driftwood bulletin board. You’ll find another example at the South Chesterman entrance. Driftwood artist and builder, Jan Janzen talks about his unique craft and you can learn more about his driftwood sculptures and buildings around town.

Then walk north across the beach towards the Wickanninish Inn.

Just before you reach the Inn, to your right, you can visit Henry Nolla’s historic Carving Shed. You’ll meet the carvers who work there today, including “Feather George” Yearsley, who learned about carving and life from Nolla, and Christen Dock Smit,h who specializes in Viking Carving with a west coast influence.

The Wickaninnish Inn has an incredible public art collection including Dan Law’s Driftwood Ravens and Lyman Whitaker’s kinetic sculpture activated by the ocean breeze, as well as an onsite gallery, The Henry Nolla Gallery, next to the Driftwood Café. The inn’s owner, Charles McDiarmid, also shares fond memories of Nolla.

You can return to the MUP via Lynn Road and continue the 2.7 kms to Tofino’s Visitor Information Centre. Or if you feel like a stroll along Chesterman Beach you can continue to the exit on South Chesterman and follow Chesterman Road back up. Keep a sharp lookout at the row of private beachfront yards to spot another Float’em by Pete Clarkson as well as Charlotte’s Gazebo by Jan Janzen.

Back on the MUP, you’ll arrive at the Tofino Visitor Information Centre. Inside is a traditional Nuu-chah-nulth dugout canoe carved by Tla-o-qui-aht master carver Joe Martin: a canoe whose design, as he points out, has remained virtually unchanged over time. Here, on display is also a surfboard painted with a marinescape by Mark Hobson and Marion Syme. It was part of Tofino Arts Council’s “Tofino Boardwalk” which included 20 surfboards designed by fine artists. Other featured work by local artists is often on display.

For the MUP Art Walk, we would encourage you to walk or bike, skateboard or even rollerblade. Pack a picnic to enjoy at Chesterman or MacKenzie Beach, or continue across the street from the Tofino Visitor Information Centre to enjoy Cox Bay. Limited public parking is available at each of the beaches and the Tofino Visitor Information Centre.

During summer, Tofino Free Shuttle follows much of the same route. For a map with a complete list of stops and schedule, please visit www.tofinotourism.com.