You can reach the Caves at Owen Point by hiking the West Coast Trail(WCT), which is located on the southern west coast of Vancouver Island, BC Canada. According to the official West Coast Trail Map it stretches 75 km from Port Renfrew on the south end to Bamfield on the north end. The West Coast Trail is one of three units of Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, administered by Parks Canada. Permit is needed for entering the West Coast Trail. Also, an orientation presented by the staff at the entrance point is required. Do not hike the trail without the permit. You will need to show your permit when you cross the two rivers by boat during your hike! The WCT is closed from October 1 to April 30 due to heavy wind, strong winds, large waves and short days! It may be closed at any other time to address public safety.
The West Coast Trail is described as one of the most beautiful and adventurous hiking trail of the world because of its history and its amazing natural scenery. At the beginning the WCT was a trading trail owned by the First Nations. Later a telegraph line was built to make communication more easy along the West Coast. It was opened by the government to become a live saving trail after many sailors lost their live due to the hazardous waters along the west coast. Sailors called it the “Graveyard of the Pacific”. More information about the trail you can find in the preparation guide.

The Owen Point sea cave, “a hole through under the rocks”, can be visited by hiking from the south end (approximately in the second day of your hike) or north end (approximately in the fifth day of your hike). The sea cave can be seen only at low tide and is passable at tides below 6ft/ 1.8 m. Sea caves are formed primarily due to the erosion along the coast and also known as littoral cave. Over the last thousands of years, the water hit the coastline and formed this unique landform. At the Owen Point we can find different rock layers at the sea level, which you can see here:

Some are stronger and some are weaker. The water, the wind and the temperature erode the weaker rock faster than the stronger. Firstly, an overhang will be formed, which might turn into a cave over the years if the surrounded rock is stable enough and the erosion is focused to a main area. All these conditions we can meet at the Owen Point. That's why we can see the most beautiful sea cave along the West Coast Trail. Another natural force that helps build this cave are heavy storms that hit the coast every winter. Huge waves created by these storms are much bigger than those average one. They are more powerful and able to break away large chunks of rocks from the shore. Depending on where this happens the cave dimensions increase, or it might happen that the cave becomes smaller.
The whole shoreline is facing a never stopping change. It is slow and not really visible; however, in future generations, the sea cave at Owen Point will be changed too. Nobody can say how it will change. Maybe it increases. If the sea level rises it may become an underwater cave. Or only a Sea Stack would be left.

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