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TAKE A HIKE: Wildside
By Natural Freedom & Bryanna Bradley
Take a Hike: WILDSIDE by Natural Freedom
Join us for our second annual overnight hiking trip, led by underwater photographer and through-hiker Bryanna Bradley, on August 23rd & 24th! Sponsored by: MEC with goodies by KEEN, Kula Cloth and Sunbum!!
Event Summary:
Explore the stunning Wildside Trail, starting in the First Nations village of Ahousaht on Flores Island. This 11km trail is perfect for beginners, with minimal elevation gain and some fun, rooty, and muddy sections. We'll start the hike with a boat ride from Tofino at 9:30am on August 23rd and return by the evening of August 24th. This event is a great way to experience overnight hiking and is designed to be accessible and enjoyable, with fun gear, dehydrated meals, and packing support provided. Bryanna will share her amazing hiking experiences, including her journey on the Continental Divide Trail, making this an educational and fun trip for all!
Dates: August 23rd + 24th
Location: The Wildside Trail, Ahousaht, Flores Island, Clayoquot Sound (departing from Tofino)
Hike Details:
- Distance: 11km one way from Ahousaht to Cow Bay Beach
- Elevation Gain: Never more than 10-15m above sea level
- Difficulty: Easy (flat but rooty and muddy inland sections)
- Hiking Time: 3-4 hours one way
Schedule
Saturday, August 23rd:
- 8:30am: Meet to collect goodies and go over packs.
- 9:30am: Depart sharply from Tofino (boat access only - 30-minute boat ride).
- 10:00am: Arrive in Ahousaht.
- 10:30am - 11:00am: Make your way to the trailhead and participate in a welcoming ceremony.
- 11:30am - 12:00pm: Begin the 3-4 hour hike.
- Afternoon: Arrive at camp and set up for the evening.
- Evening: Enjoy dinner, games, relaxing, swimming and guided stretch + meditation by Jess Leblanc.
Sunday, August 24th:
- Morning: Relax around camp and slowly make your way back to Ahousaht.
- 5:00pm: Boat pick-up from Ahousaht.
- 6:00pm: Arrive back in Tofino.
What's Included
- A guide on the Wildside trail.
- Boat transportation to and from Tofino to the Wildside Trail.
- Camp chair by MEC.
- Shared tent rental option, thanks to MEC.
- A pair of hiking shoes of your choice from KEEN Canada to keep.
- A pee cloth from Kula Cloth.
- Sunscreen stick by Sunbum.
- Dehydrated dinner and breakfast.
- A custom Natural Freedom Nalgene.
Cost: $300
Purpose: To equip participants with the knowledge and preparation needed for confident overnight hiking
After signing up, you'll fill out a Google form to help with planning. This event is open to women and non-binary folks, and spots are very limited. We are beyond excited for this adventure for the second year in a row!
Take a Hike Lonecone
Honouring Indigenous Peoples Day
The sound of connection in the forest— Last weekend we got to honour and celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21st by hiking the Lone Cone Trail on Meares Island (Wah-nuh-jus – Hilth-hoo-is) in partnership with @ahous_adventures @mhss_stewardship, this was such a special day.
The Lonecone trail is raw and rugged and each branch feels like it was made to support you along the steep way up. Life isn’t always about the view but rather about the journey. Searching for/ finding peace and acceptance in all moments. Although we didn’t get the view we were hoping for we got to enjoy amazing company, embrace the feeling of being immersed in lush forests and celebrate the beauty of the land.
Thank you to everyone who joined and huge special thank you to Anna @naas_imyis_axa for leading the group and sharing beautiful stories along the way 🧡
Thank you @merrellcanada for supporting this event with hiking shoe donations.
Thank you @asalahyoussef for these incredibly beautiful images!
Lonecone photos by Asalah Youssef
Take a Hike: Intro to Overnight Hiking
Highlights from our first-ever overnight Take a Hike event!
15 amazing women from Vancouver, Vancouver Island, and the Ahousaht First Nation embarked on this incredible journey. Our adventure began with a scenic boat ride from Tofino to Ahousaht territory, where a warm welcome awaited us.
The hike itself was a breathtaking 11km journey through the wilderness along the Wildside Trail on Flores Island. Huge thanks to MHSS Stewardship and Anna for their support in organizing this event!
Sunny skies and good company made for a fun and memorable hike. We enjoyed plenty of breaks, delicious snacks, and lots of laughter along the way.
The evening was truly magical. We gathered around a cozy "fire" of tea lights (thanks to Speaking of the Weather's tidal candles) and shared delicious dehydrated meals. Laughter and heartfelt conversations deepened our connections.
But the magic didn't stop there! We were treated to a stunning display of bioluminescence in the ocean, followed by a breathtaking meteor shower and even northern lights. Talk about unforgettable!
A huge thank you to the incredible team who made this event possible:
Leaders: Bryanna Bradley Photography, Mirae Campbell, and Ken Rae Dorsey
Brand support:
- Keen Canada: provided hiking shoes for everyone
- Mountain Hardwear: donated backpacks, sleeping bags, and tents
- Rumpl: provided cozy packable blankets
- Kula Cloth: created custom pee cloths for the ladies
- MTWaddington's: hooked us up with Happy Yak dehydrated meals
- My Human Essentials: provided deodorants
- Made With Local: donated granola bars
This event held special significance for us. It all started two years ago with the very first Natural Freedom "Take a Hike" event on Blackcomb Mountain in Whistler. The energy from that day continues to inspire us to create amazing outdoor experiences for women. This overnight hike was a dream come true, and we can't wait for the next adventure!
See more amazing photos by Mirae Campbell.
Intro to Overnight Hiking Photos by Mirae Campbell
Take a Hike Series by Natural Freedom
The Take a Hike events hosted by Natural Freedom is where our events have rooted from. It can be intimating going hiking and we aim to bridge that gap by creating a safe and fun experience for people to get outside and enjoy the beautiful landscapes. offering participants unforgettable outdoor experiences and opportunities to connect with nature and like-minded individuals.
Here is the list of previous Take a Hikes by Natural Freedom:
High Note Trail (August 28th 2023):
- Over 25 participants gathered at the Whistler Gondola for an intermediate 9.5km hike along the High Note Trail. The day began with a warm-up session led by Greta Dopp followed by pit stops for lunch and a restorative standing stretch. Each hiker received a NF tote bag, a special item from My Human Essentials and a custom bracelet handmade by one of the hikers!
Grouse Grind Trail (July 6th 2023):
- A group of 20 embarked on the challenging Grouse Grind Trail, reaching the summit of Grouse Mountain. After the hike, participants enjoyed restorative yoga led by Greta Dopp before descending via gondola.
Decker Loop (August 15th 2022):
- Participants gathered at the Blackcomb Gondola for a stretch/meditation session led by Bianca Europe before tackling the intermediate 9km Overlord, Lakeside & Decker Loop hike. The event provided an opportunity for connection and exploration in the alpine of Garibaldi. This was our first ever Natural Freedom event!
Overall, the Take a Hike series has provided a platform for individuals to push their limits, unwind in nature, and forge lasting connections.
Photo from our Whistler Mountain Edition by Kiara Swartz.
Take a Hike High Note Trail 2023 photos by Kiara Swartz
Take a Hike Grouse Mountain 2023 photos by Mirae Campbell
Take a Hike Whistler Blackcomb 2022 photos by Mirae Campbell
