West Coast Trail {WCT}
Vancouver
Island
Canada
North America
By Paxson Woelber under (CC - 2.0)
Official Website
Insurance
Flights
Marker Map
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Vital Statistics
75 kms north from Gordon River to Pachena Bay along the west coast of Vancouver Island off of Vancouver, Canada. It is located in the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. The trip can be done North to South and also started in the middle at Nitinaht Narrows. Starting in the middle gives you the option to do an easier shorter trip
This one is South to North which means you get the hard part out of the way first. Also you won't have to worry about ferry timetables when you finish and transport is easier to arrange.
When
May 1 to September 30 can be booked. May and June are the wettest months. May and September are the least sought after.
Highlights & Scenery
Besthike.com claims it is the best hike in the world
Self operated cable car river crossings, campfires on the beach, crashing waves, a swim at the beautiful Tsusiat falls, hundreds of hand made ladders and bridges, miles of boardwalk, camping on the beach, sunsets, sea caves at Owen Point, the 113m suspension bridge above Logan Creek.
Old growth forest and coastal views and beaches.
Before & After
Unless you're coming from Canada or the US by car you'll probably be flying in via SeaTac or Vancouver. If it's SeaTac you might as well transfer directly to Victoria. If you are flying in and out of Vancouver you might as well have a look around while you're in town. I would suggest doing it before the walk as you may not be too mobile after it.
See the sights
Organise all of your gear and food shopping. Have a few days looking around the place. It might be better to do it before the walk as you won't be so spry when you get back. Leave your main pack at the hotel and only take what is going on the walk.
Spend the day finishing your jobs and have a few quiet ones at the pub. Not too many :-)
Have a day off to sit back and enjoy the scenery before you head back to the rat tace.
Start & Finish
Port Renfrew / Gordon River / Southern Trailhead - Northern Trailhead / Pachena Bay / Bamfield
Fun Facts
1 in a 100 people need to be rescued
Part of your overnight fee covers being rescued
It was originally called the Dominion Life Saving Trail when it was used by shipwreck survivors
38 of the 75 kilometers are on the beach
Transport
Ferry from Vancouver to Victoria takes 1 hour and 35 minutes
Book the buses to and from the trail as early as you can
Bus from Victoria to Port Renfrew Leaves from Capital City Station and takes 2 hours with West Coast Trail Express
Take the ferry across the Gordon River to start the trail
Ferry from Carl's Crab Shack at Nitinaht Narrows
Bus to Victoria from Bamfield takes 5½ hours with WCT
Accommodation
Fortunately you'll be spending most of your nights in a tent because hotel prices in this area are ridiculous. Dormitories are listed for Vancouver and Victoria so if you want something better you'll have to dig deep.
Vancouver
Great location close to restaurants and entertainment, full restaurant and bar, good breakfast included, Laundry, Happy Hour, ATM, adults only
Victoria
Ocean Island Inn / Backpackers / Suites **
Great location in the CBD, breakfast & dinner included, 24 hour desk, bar, laundry, ATM
Port Renfrew
The Hiker Huts at Wild Coast Wilderness Resort
Good location near pub and restaurants,
Bamfield
Owned and operated by the Huu-ay-aht First Nations and next to
Malsit Public House which also is.
Organise
You need to book your reservation for between May 1 and September 30 - reservations open in March
**First find out the date in March it opens and get prepared. (sometimes they open up in January, sometimes in April) Create your Canada Parks Booking Account before this date (see link above). Be online, ready to make your booking as soon as they open at 8 am Pacific Time. Also try to get through on the phone at the same time on 1-877-RESERVE (Canada & US) or 1-519-826-5391 (International).
Only 25 people can leave from Gordon River per day and popular dates get snapped up very quickly. You will need your dates (and some alternatives) full names and emergency contact information for everyone in your group and your credit card.**
Have a look at this page concerning fees and permits
You need to do an orientation session which can be done online - have a look at the PDF from the official website
Packing List - you can rent all of your equipment - see Tips
Share items like tents and cooking gear between the group.
A comfortable pack with hip padding. Fully loaded it shouldn't weigh more than 15 - 20% of your body weight. Use a thick garden bag to line the pack and make it water proof.
Merino wool socks - 4 or 5 pairs
Put your sleeping bag and evening wear in a separate dry bag.
Good quality hiking boots with ankle support and rubber soles. Break them in at least a month before your hike. Many people take 2 pairs of walking shoes as they get wet - even waterproof boots
Tent with a waterproof Fly
Synthetic sleeping bag and sleeping pad
High calorie lightweight food - plus a days worth of emergency rations
Lightweight stove and fuel
Correct clothing - see video on the website
A watch plus tide table
15m of rope to hang your food
First Aid kit
Water container and purification system
Collapsible walking poles
A waterproof fire starter
An emergency signalling device
Lots of toilet paper
Crocs for camp and river crossings
Good LED headlamp
Cell Phone
Bear Spray and an air horn
A big jar of vaseline to rub all over your feet and anywhere that rubs or chafes
Fire lighters
Gaiters
Cigars
Visas
Flights
SeaTac aka Seattle - Tacoma International Airport (SEA) -
Has direct flights to Victoria (Vancouver Island) and 122 other destinations in 19 countries including Asia, Tahiti, Hawaii, USA, Doha and Dubai, Istanbul and Europe. Major connection hubs will be Dubai, Doha, Singapore, Paris, London, Frankfurt and Amsterdam.
Vancouver International Airport (YVR) -
has direct flights to 112 destinations in 23 countries including ones in Australia, New Zealand, Asia, Europe and North America and shouldn't be much problem finding a connecting flight.
Victoria International Airport (YYJ) -
has direct flights to 14 destinations in 3 countries including Canada, USA and Mexico
About
DAY 1 PORT RENFREW ORIENTATE
Check out the Visitor Centre next to Butch's Wharf. You could get the mandatory orientation session out of the way as well as sort out your papaerwork and get the map. They have the sessions at 10 am and 2 pm. Make any last minute adjustments, throw a few things out then go to the pub and relax.
DAY 2 GORDON RIVER to THRASHER COVE 6 Km 4 - 5 Hours
The first ferry leaves at 8.30 and they run every half hour until 3.30 pm. Up early for breakfast and you're off. Not long and you'll be into the ladders. A lot of forest walking today and end up at the beach.
DAY 3 THRASHER COVE to CAMPER BAY 8.8 Km 4 - 5 Hours
This is the hardest day as you will have to clamber over beach boulders among other things. Some of the highlights will be the Owen Point caves and hiking along the beach.
DAY 4 CAMPER BAY to WALBRAN CREEK 9.2 Km 4 - 6 Hours
You will cross the Logan Creek suspension bridge today. Walbran is one of the more beautiful campsites.
DAY 5 WALBRAN CREEK to CRIBBS CREEK 11Km 4 - 6 Hours
A lot of beach hiking today. This was the leg when you would have been stopping at Chez Monique's for a burger and other treats. Sadly it is closed now but there is talk that it may reopen. See Movies below and watch the video. It was around the half way mark of the trail.
DAY 6 CRIBBS CREEK to NITINAHT NARROWS 11 Km 4 - 5 Hours
There are 4 reservable cabins at Nitinaht Narrows
Carl's Crab Shack will be the highlight today and perhaps a cabin if you've booked it. They also have halibut and salmon. There is another ferry ride from here.
DAY 7 NITINAHT NARROWS to TSUSIAT FALLS 7Km 3 - 4 Hours
The very scenic Hole in the Wall is one of the highlights today. Followed by Lots of beach walking today with a swim at the spectacular falls when you arrive. Another beautiful camping spot.
DAY 8 TSUSIAT FALLS to DARLING RIVER 11 Km 4 Hours
See some signs of the shipwrecks that happened along this coast many years ago.
DAY 9 DARLING RIVER to PACHENA BAY 14 Km 6 Hours OVERNIGHT @ BAMFIELD
Check out the Pachena lighthouse. The Rangers will call you a taxi for Bamfield when you come to the northern trail head. Bamfield is a beautiful area and worth spending a little time at before you go rushing back to the big smoke.
Fitness Level
9/10
You will need to climb up and down more than 100 ladders with a heavy pack, trudge through deep mud, wade through hip deep, fast flowing, mountain fed rivers often through the driving wind and rain and a whole lot more.
Tips
Pets, axes, bear bangers and firearms are not allowed
Children under 6 are not allowed and children under 12 are nor recommended
Maximum group size is 10
There is an information centre next to Butch's Wharf where you catch the boat across to the trail head.
You cant rent camping gear from West Coast Gear in Victoria
You will have options to hike the forest or the beach when the tide is right
TAKE SOME CASH FOR THE CRAB SHACK - they sell beer too - plus for ferries, taxis and for unforeseen things
The trail is maked with yellow kilometer markers - heading north you will be counting down from 75
Safety
If you have any medical conditions you should think seriously if this is for you
If you have a fear of heights you will have problems with the ladders
Start a 3 month fitness program before you walk. Concentrating on Cardio and strength. Train walking uphill with your pack and boots.
Write out a trip plan including who is going, how long and when you will be back. Share it with your emergency partner.
Take your time, don't rush and take too much on and expect everything to be slippery.
Hike at the pace of your slowest member.
Stay warm and dry.
Stay hydrated and well fed.
Don't cross flowing rivers that are deeper than your knees.
Store food properly in the bins or hung up - don't camp near your cooking area
Take some bear spray and an air horn
Always have 3 points of contact with the ladder
Eat & Drink
Carl's Crab Shack
Sadly Chez Monique has closed but it may reopen. See the video in Movies below.
Dehydrated Food - proudly local and available in Victoria
Food needs to be light but full of energy. Some dehydrated food will save weight. Things like chocolate and peanut butter will give you energy. Simple cooking methods that turn out delicious and satisfying food. Have some fresh food for the first couple of days. Something simple like kranskys, coleslaw and fresh hotdog buns are easly assembled and really hit the spot when you are starving. Beef Jerky can be used to make a delicious curry on the last night of the trip accompanied with some rice. Carry a few spices with you. You can get coffee and condensed milk mixed in the same tube. Tuna, salad pouches make for a simple lunch with a few crackers.
Water can be collected from most rivers and creeks and the purified. Always collect it upstream.
Take a hip flask of rum.
Flora & Fauna
Giant trees, old forest growth, ferns, rainforest and the tallest tree in Canada a 314 foot Sitka Spruce is over 400 years old and not far from the trail.
Black bears, wolves, cougars, grey whales, sea lions, mink, deer, sturgeon, multiple seal colonies, eagles, herons, otters, orscas, humpback whales, snakes, crabs, humming birds, racoons and a lot of banana slugs.
History
The WCT is part of the ancient trading and travel routes of the first nation people.
A track was cut in 1889 for a telegraph line from Victoria to Bamfield.
Foreign sailing ships started arriving here 200 years ago and there were so many shipwrecks and drownings it became known as "the Graveyard of the Pacific". The track was a route to safety for the survivors.
Pachena Lighthouse was constructed in 1907 after the tragedy of the Valencia going down with over 125 people. Today 7,500 people hike the trail each year.
Books & Movies
Blisters and Bliss - the trail bible
Chez Monique's - a burger on the edge of the world
Official Website
https://parks.canada.ca/pn-np/bc/pacificrim/activ/SCO-WCT
Souvenirs
T - Shirts, hats and more at the Rangers office at the trail heads
The Crab Shack sells WCT T - Shirts
Extra
See Canada and USA in 'Countries', 'Train Trips', 'Hotels' and 'Islands'.
Click here to go to the marker map.
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