Once your boat or floatplane arrives at the Maquinna Marine Provincial Park dock, you will take a scenic, 1.5-kilometre boardwalk trail to reach the natural pools. The walk takes roughly 30 minutes each way and snakes through a stunning, moss-covered old-growth rainforest. The trail is entirely constructed of cedar boardwalk steps and platforms. While it is beautifully maintained, it does include several sets of stairs and elevated sections, meaning it requires basic mobility and comfortable walking shoes, but it is highly manageable for all ages.

Because Hot Springs Cove is situated in a protected, remote wilderness area, amenities are intentionally kept basic to preserve the environment. There is a clean compost toilet facility and an open-air wooden changing shelter located right at the edge of the rocks where the trail ends. However, there are no secure lockers, running water, or electricity. You will need to pack your belongings in a backpack and keep them on the rocky platforms beside the pools while you soak. We highly recommend leaving precious jewelry, expensive electronics, and unneeded valuables safely back at your Tofino accommodation.

Bringing a dedicated pair of strapped sports sandals (like Tevas or Chacos) is highly recommended. That being said, bare feet is fine if you are comfortable navigating the natural rock pools fed by geothermal water flowing down a rugged cleft. The underwater rocks can be quite pointy and sharp, uneven, and covered in slippery river moss. Standard flip-flops will easily float away or slip off your feet in the moving water. Having secure, grippy footwear allows you to step safely between the changing temperatures of the upper pools down to the cool ocean waves below without risking a cut or a slip.