Vancouver Island/West Coast Trail

Getting There

Access trailheads are  Pachena Bay at the trail's north end, Gordon River at the trail's south end, and Nitinaht Village at the trail's mid-point.

On the Trail

The West Coast Trail is one of the iconic coastal routes, located on the west coast of Vancouver island. Some sections of the trail are on sandy beaches. Other sections are on rocky beaches, around headlands. Overland sections of the trail may experience deep mud. There are around a hundred ladders to ascend or descend. In places there are creeks or rivers that must be forded. Trips are typically 3 to 8 days. 

Suggested Itinerary

• Day 1: Hike 7.2 mi from Pachena Bay to Michigan Creek.
• Day 2: Hike 7.7 mi to Tsusiat Falls.
• Day 3: Hike 10.6 mi to Cribs Creek. 
• Day 4: Hike 7.12 mi to Walbran Creek. 
• Day 5: Hike 5.79 mi to Camper Bay.
• Day 6: Hike 4.66 mi to Thrashers Cove. 
• Day 7: Hike 3.32 mi to Gordon River.

Permits

• The trip requires reservations/permits through the Parks Canada Reservation System. Reservations are typicality allowed from May through September. Reservations per person are expensive. In additional to the fees paid at reservation time, each participant needs a National Park Entry pass, Pacific Rim Annual Pass, or National Discovery Pass. 
• There is a mandatory orientation session at the start of  a trip, where they stress safety, environmental impact, provide current trail info, and provide some history of the trail.
• Learn more and get up-to-date info on Parks Canada's West Coast Trail web page.

Notes

• The trail is in the territories of the Huu-ay-aht, Ditidaht and Pacheedaht First Nations.

Information for Leaders

• Considerations for travel to Canada

  • Start by reviewing the latest regulations. Look for information on border crossing and travel to Canada on these websites:
    
    • U.S. Customs and Border Protection
    • U.S. Department of Homeland Security
    • WSDOT (Washington State Department of Transportation)
    • Government of Canada
  • Everyone must have a passport or other valid ID like a NEXUS card.
  • NEXUS cards can save a lot of time but only work if everyone in the car has one.
  • Make sure your vehicle insurance is valid for Canada.
  • Make sure your health insurance is valid for Canada.
  • Border crossing regulations are strict in both directions. Know what you’re allowed to take and declare everything to avoid problems.
  • You may be able to save time by checking alternate border crossings.
  • See the Travel Industry Council of Ontario's 9 Travel Tips for Crossing the Canadian/U.S. Land Border blog post for some good tips on traveling to Canada.

• Suitable Activities: Backpacking
• Seasons: May, June, July, August, September
• Weather: View weather forecast

• Difficulty: Strenuous
• Length: 50.0 mi
• Elevation Gain: 10,000 ft
• High Point: 450 ft

• Land Manager: Pacific Rim National Park Reserve
• Parking Permit Required: None
• Recommended Party Size: 10
• Maximum Party Size: 10
• Maximum Route/Place Capacity: 10