The trail is primarily used for hiking, nature trips, and backpacking. This will be post 1 of 7 in my west coast trail blog series the parks canada website isnt full of practical information, so in this blog and in the upcoming ones, i will try to fill in the blanks i will also be telling the story from a first timer. The topography of the region features natural wonders like the holeinthewall, a natural. West coast trail includes accommodation as well as an expert guide, meals, transport and more. There is an optional reservation system in place to hike the west coast trail and a mandatory trail use permit is required. Maps of the west coast trail map of campsites on the west coast trail location map of the west coast trail. The national geographic maps series of 11 pacific crest trail map booklets are convenient, detailed, uptodate and designed for use on the trail. The west coast trail is a strenuous 75 km multiday beach and forest hiking trail on the coast of vancouver island in british columbia, canada.
Maps and brochures pacific rim national park reserve. Visitor information at pacific rim national park reserve of canada. It is somewhat water resistant, but we recommend you put it in a waterproof ziploc bag. The complete guide to hike the west coast trail canada stingy.
We are home to the new parks canada third entrance to the west coast trail. It was built in 1907 to facilitate the rescue of survivors of shipwrecks along the coast, part of the treacherous graveyard of the pacific. The west coast trail wct is one of three units of pacific. West coast shuttle bus to the west coast trail vancouver bc. It is a part of the pacific rim national park and is considered to be one of the worlds top hiking trails. The west coast trail information centers are open daily, from 9am to. Soaring with the eagles on canadas west coast trail al brawn. West coast trail vancouver island news, events, travel. World north america pacific nw canada west coast trail the best hike in the world is the west coast trail. Valerie burton is the administrator of the west coast trail, beautiful british columbia facebook page. Vancouver island outdoors online guide to the trail points of interest. Instead of 60 hiking permits day, were now allowed up to 75 day. In 2014 a new access point was opened, nitinat narrows. Apr 03, 2020 valerie burton is the administrator of the west coast trail, beautiful british columbia facebook page.
The pacific crest trail spans 2,650 miles 4,265 kilometers from mexico to canada through california, oregon, and washington. The management and operation of the west coast trail is the responsibility of pacific rim national park reserve, a component of canada s national park system. Situated at the midpoint of the world famous hiking trail in pacific rim national park, west coast trail comfort camping offers ecofriendly rustic luxury to hikers in need of a nights rest, as well as outdoor adventurers visiting via nitinaht lake. The west coast trail is a 75km pointtopoint trail along the southwestern coast of vancouver island in british columbia. At the end of each day youll enjoy the legendary hospitality of the newfoundlanders. This interactive map is the next best thing to hiking the 2,650mile pacific crest trail. Vancouver island and i are on a collision course for a rematch. Shot with our homemade glidecam, you will see the trail. Rim national park reserve prnpr, administered by parks. The pacific crest trail, officially designated as the pacific crest national scenic trail pct is a longdistance hiking and equestrian trail closely aligned with the highest portion of the cascade and sierra nevada mountain ranges, which lie 100 to 150 miles 160 to 240 km east of the u. We west coast trail ed in august and it was incredible.
Hikers with reservations will be issued a waterproof pacific rim national park reserve west coast trail map when they register on the trail. Which can be a pain if you dont have a car, trust me. The gordon river info centre is located in port renfrew at the south end of the trail. Bring your reservation confirmation information to the orientation. Find walking maps and guidebooks, self guided walking holidays and hiking tours. In this post, i will discuss what the west coast trail is, as a general guide. The west coast trail is a large backpacking hiking adventure that takes the hikers to a 75km walk along the southeastern edge of vancouver island.
The map below shows a closer view of the fairview section of the sct. A west coast trail guided tour is one of the best hikes in bc. Two guidebooks to the trail are west coast trail and the nitinat lakes and blisters and bliss. Every hiker gets the free canmap west coast trail 1. The management and operation of the west coast trail is the responsibility of pacific rim national park reserve, a component of canadas national park system. Ok, once your parks canada paperwork is done, you have to figure out how to get to the west coast trail. West coast trail map day 1 gordon river to thrasher cove. Introduction to the west coast trail in british columbia. West coast trail british columbia travel and adventure. The main east west trail of the san dieguito river park, the trail follows the san dieguito river from the ocean to the rivers source. Sunshine coast trail maps powell river, bc, canada. Hiking the west coast trail on vancouver island is one of the biggest and best experiences a hiker can have in canada.
If you call afterhours, it should be for an emergency only. Once the only land link between these communities, you can look out for shipwrecks, whales, icebergs, and atlantic canada s tallest lighthouse. The story of west coast trail begins as an ancient path used for trade and travel by the first nations. The west coast trail wct is a 75 km 47 mile long backpacking trail following the southwestern edge of vancouver island in british columbia. We west coast trailed in august and it was incredible. West coast trail preparation how to prepare for the hike. This was, and is, the land of the huuayaht, ditidaht, and pacheedaht tribes. Some of the tallest and largest trees in canada are known to be on or in the vicinity of the west coast trail. The great trail, also known as the trans canada trail, is currently 20,770km long and 87 per cent connected. And this is my very honest account of 7 days on the west coast trail.
Built in 1907, the west coast trail, which meanders for 47 miles along the southwestern edge of vancouver island in british columbia, canada, is widely agreed to be one of the worlds most difficult hiking routes. Our west coast trail guide was borne out of our experiences with helping people on the trail. West coast trail victoria capital regional district all. From the trail you can observe whales, puffins, moose and even icebergs. Its an amazing trail that requires attention to detail, training, and the right gear. West coast trail victoria capital regional district 2020. Toll free number 18449287433 1844wctride cell 250 710 4679.
Park reserve, protected as a treasured piece of canadas pacific coast. The west coast trail is a 5 to 7 day backpacking route that winds through. She said some hikers with reservations for may 1 have cancelled their flights to the coast. Provide a brief history of the west coast trail and its place in canada s history. Longdistance trails in the united states wikipedia. This is either mailed or handed to you at orientation. Hike canada s top coastal destination on the east coast trail in newfoundland. Waterproof and tearresistant, they include information on water sources, resupply. West coast trail hiking vancouver island guided adventure. A thruhike on this system of trails requires almost a year to complete. The trail is car free and designed to be a destination for canadians to enjoy the.
West coast trail north to south british columbia, canada alltrails. It reveals the beauty of the desert, unfolds the glaciated expanses of the sierra nevada, travels deep forests, and provides commanding vistas of volcanic peaks in the cascade range. If you to decide to go hike the west coast trail then you can download my free guide with itineraries for 6, 7 and 8 days. Exiting or entering via nitinat make shorter wct adventures possible. The west coast trail is a multiday day beach and forest hike on vancouver. This 65kilometre coastal trail combines a series of traditional walking paths along the shore of the labrador strait, running between lanseauclair and pinware. As ship traffic increased in the late 1800s, so did the number of shipwrecks off the treacherous west coast of vancouver island. Discover the trail pacific crest trail association. Rollcharts include easytouse stepbystep navigation for clockwise travel, while maps provide additional details including a birdseye view of the trail and information about stops along the way like dining, lodging, vehicle maintenance, and more. The best map of the west coast trail is the one published by parks canada. The complete guide to hike the west coast trail canada. Newfoundland famous east coast trail great canadian trails. West coast trail pacific rim national park reserve mb guiding.
It consists of rough trails in the forest, boardwalk sections, ladders in and out of deep gorges, and coastal walking on sand, gravel, boulders and smooth sandstone shelf. The west coast trail, pacific rim national park reserve, parks canada logo hikers enjoying the trail narrator the west coast trail is a multiday backcountry hike along the west shoreline of vancouver island. If you are planning on hiking the west coast trail, consider a warm up on another bc hike, the nootka island trail as well. This trail offers up a taste of the rooty, technical trails found on the west coast. It is available in paper format at tourism powell river. The west coast trail travels the west coast of southern vancouver island between the towns of port renfrew and bamfield. The park is assisted in wct operations through a partnership with quuas west coast trail group. For detailed information about the route, and other useful information, consider purchasing one or both of these books. At the end, you will be able to decide if you want to go the trail on your own, fully prepared, or take a guided tour from a company that sets it all up for you. A trail map of the west coast trail is an invaluable tool and only available at pacific rim national park ranger stations. Hiking the west coast trail, british columbia canada trails.
This map, created in 2012, accurately depicts the sunshine coast trail, and the placement of the hutscamping spots along the trail. The trail s southern terminus is just south of campo, california by the u. Although the west coast trail and the broken group islands are remote and wild, the long beach unit is readily accessible by road and much more welcoming to visitors. Hike of a lifetime pacific rim national park reserve. With amazing views of the pacific rim national park, its no wonder the wct is one of the best hikes in bc. The west coast trail was originally built to provide access to shipwreck. The west coast trail wct is one of the three units of pacific rim national park reserve prnpr, administered by parks canada. The west coast trail, originally called the dominion lifesaving trail, is a 75 km 47 mi backpacking trail following the southwestern edge of vancouver island in british columbia, canada.
May, 2020 west coast trail has the reputation of being on of the most excutiating treks in north america, rewarding you with stunning backdrops in a cultural and historical landscape. The west coast trail is a thruhike, so arranging your transportation to and from the entry and exit points must be carefully planned in advance. If youre thinking about doing the trail and want detailed information about logistics, gear, fees, wildlife, etc. It was built in 1907 to facilitate the rescue of shipwrecked survivors along the coast, part of the treacherous graveyard of the pacific. Hiker sits on log consulting map with backpack on ground beside her and. The west coast trail rescue is serious process, just as the trail itself is. The west coast tail is not recommended for children under 12. It is now part of the pacific rim national park and is often rated by. Nobody wants to get medevaced, i can only imagine it is the most heartbreaking thing.
Cbc vancouver news at 6 host andrew chang snickered when the prehike orientation warned it could take as many as 90 minutes to cover one kilometre of the trail s most difficult section. Your guide to the west coast trail in british columbia happiest. Heres a story about my recent trials on a west coast trail backpacking trip. Parks canada will not issue a west coast trail overnight permit to children under 6 years old. West coast trail stunning video with diy glidecam youtube. West coast trail in the pacific rim national park reserve and the carmanah valley in the carmanah walbran provincial park on the western coast of vancouver island at 1. Top 10 places to visit on the west coast of british columbia. Parks canada publishes a new west coast trail map every so often. The transamerica trail can be navigated using either a combination of maps and rollcharts or gps tracks. A large part of the trail is spent hiking on miles of extensive, white sandy beaches separated by spectacular indigenous forest. West coast trail mountain biking trail edmonton, ab. What you need to know to hike the west coast trail hike.
The trail is primarily used for hiking, camping, and backpacking and is best used from may until september. Some of the tallest and largest trees in canada grow along the west coast trail and in the adjacent carmanah walbran provincial park. We did an 8day, south to north route, just the two of us husband and i. West coast trail pro guide prepare for your west coast.
Map of the pacific rim west coast vancouver island. Tide tables and maps are issued by parks canada staff to all hikers prior to starting the trek. It was created in 1907 to help rescue shipwrecked survivors along the coast and is now one of provinces most popular longdistance trails. The eastern continental trail ect is a combination of north american longdistance hiking trails, from key west, florida to belle isle newfoundland and labrador a distance of 5,400 miles 8,700 km, not including the newfoundland section. The west coast trail is a 75 km 47 mi long backpacking trail following the southwestern edge of vancouver island in british columbia, canada. The west coast trail is a 5 to 7 day backpacking route that winds through temperate rainforests along beaches, cliffs and sandstone. West coast trail north to south british columbia, canada. Your guide to the west coast trail in british columbia. The west coast trail is one of the most popular trails in canada. Permits and passes can be purchased at the parks canada west coast trail information centres at either end of the trail. All access to the west coast trail requires a park entry pass on the parks canada reservations system. The rugged west coast of vancouver island offers some of the most spectacular and storied hiking in the pacific northwest. Best multiday hikes in canada the west coast trail bc. If you are hiking vancouver island, find your bliss on a guided hiking adventure in canada s premiere wilderness areas.
It was great to get the tougher stuff done first, so that we could really kick back and enjoy. Home to the worldfamous west coast trail, once a lifeline for marooned sailors and still among the most breathtaking yet demanding hikes on the continent, the islands western shores also feature lesserknown coastal trails for all abilities. Pachena bay bamfield, gordon river port renfrew and nitinat village. The land of the west coast trail unit is temperate coastal rainforest dominated by oldgrowth spruce, hemlock and cedar. There is the west coast trail express bus that makes things convenient, taking hikers from victoria and nanaimo to either entry point, plus the midway entry, nitinat junction, daily. The west coast trail bus picks up and drops off passengers at victoria, sooke, port renfrew, gordon river, mesachie lake, honeymoon bay. If you would like more information than what this map provides, further history and details can be found in the regularly updated guidebook, blisters and bliss.
West coast trail is in limbo land because of covid19. West coast trail victoria capital regional district. Canadas coasttocoast 24,000km cycling trail canadian. Come along with us on this astounding backpacking trip to the west coast trail on vancouver island, british columbia 20. Go with a positive mental attitude and youll have a great time. When cancelling a reservation 21 days or more prior to the departure date, the west coast trail overnight use fee and the ferry fees are fully refundable.