A guide to hiking the west coast trail howstuffworks. Hikers exploring this coastal wilderness trail are rewarded with incredible views of spring icebergs, summer whales, and much more. The west coast trail on vancouver island is a spectacular 75km backpacking route along potentially hazardous terrain. If you are hiking vancouver island, find your bliss on a guided hiking adventure in canadas premiere wilderness areas. Breathe the emerald forest air of the ditidaht people, feel the salt spray on your skin, be captivated by the vistas of endlessly crashing waves, all while relaxing on your private patio at west coast trail comfort camping. All logistical details have been updated as of january, 2018. West coast way eves trail an accredited green flag trail, the theme of this trail is walking in the footsteps of eve to experience what life would have been like here at the very beginning. The west coast trail, which traverses 50 miles of gorgeous northwest canadian coastline, has been dubbed the graveyard of the pacific, having claimed 60 ships since 1854. Hiking in the west coast national park, south africa. West coast trail pro guide prepare for your west coast. All persons planning to hike the west coast trail must read and understand the. Hiking the west coast trail doesnt require an athletes physic but increasing your physical fitness, strength and endurance can really increase your enjoyment of the west coast trail.
You either hike from port renfrew up to bamfield, or vice versa. This is the beginning of the west coast trail season, with may 1st being the first day of 2016 you could hike the trail, in either direction. West coast trail hiking vancouver island mini tour. After tossing around a few different vacation ideas, we settled on hiking the west coast trail a 75 km trek along vancouver islands beautiful coastline. A trail map of the west coast trail is an invaluable tool and only available at pacific rim national park ranger stations. Its a hard one but a great one, i did it and was known as the girl scouts with my group as we were a group of 6 girls, i also got to meet the author of blisters and bliss on the trail. Hiking in the west coast national park has many different sides to the experience, but it goes without saying that the flowers in august and september make for something extra special.
Hike of a lifetime pacific rim national park reserve. The trail is primarily used for hiking, camping, and backpacking and is best used from may until september. When you are here, you are in one of canadas special placespacific rim national park reserve, protected as a treasured piece of canadas pacific coast. Its a wild trail that takes 57 days to hike and has nearly 70 ladders, bridges and four cable cars.
The trail, popular with experienced hikers, is 75 km long, and the average time to hike it is anywhere from 58 days. Camper bay to thrasher cove west coast trail day 6. The main eastwest trail of the san dieguito river park, the trail follows the san dieguito river from the ocean to the rivers source. Darling river to tsusiat falls west coast trail day 3. In 2014 a new access point was opened, nitinat narrows. Jun 06, 2015 hiking the west coast trail for robs birthday and his one and only week off between school semesters we wanted to do something kind of epic. 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. Your guide to the west coast trail in british columbia happiest. The noncampers guide to hiking the west coast trail if you are also like me and will never camp again, borrow as much as you can from friends, keep an eye on craigslist, and watch for sales at mec and atmosphere and rei for my american readers because hiking the. Mud and dozens of ladders may make it seem like military training but that does not deter the hundreds of hikers from tackling it each year. Hiking the west coast trail british columbia, canada.
The trail passes through the rugged coastal territory, climbing up several ladder systems and crosses some of the pacific northwests most striking beaches. Tim leadem, whos hiked it many times, shows readers how to make the most of this demanding trail. Feb 06, 2018 the west coast trail is a 75 km trail between bamfield and port renfrew on british columbias, vancouver island, canada. A place where the sun sets rather than rises over the water. Once a necessity to rescue isolated shipwreck survivors 100 years ago, has evolved into a recreational trail that many have called the best hike in the world. Bannon took me with him as his friend, gordy, and he prepare and then make the famous 47 mile long wilderness trail on victory island in canada.
Big trees, big waves, big rocks, and big wildlife are all expected sights on the trail. The west coast trail is a 5 to 7 day backpacking route that winds through temperate rainforests along beaches, cliffs and sandstone. Hiking the west coast of vancouver island greystone books ltd. Mar 29, 2012 strayed became a novelist of some note in her late 30s.
I had my heavy sleeping bag, bought in nepal, and was glad i had it. And this is my very honest account of 7 days on the west coast trail. Our pace allows time to adjust to the demands of the trail and. 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. This post is part of a series called west coast trail journal. The west coast trail is a grueling weeklong trek on a 75 km wilderness trail along beaches and cliffs and through rainforest. The trail can be hiked north or south, and takes approximately 57 days to. The west coast trail is a worldfamous coastal backpacking trip in pacific rim national park. A west coast trail guided tour is one of the best hikes in bc. Its an amazing trail that requires attention to detail, training, and the right gear.
Maps of the west coast trail map of campsites on the west coast trail location map of the west coast trail. Just 60 people can start the west coast trail hike each day 30 from the north and 30 from the south. 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. Back in 1995, however, she was a rootless 26yearold waitress about to embark on her first backpacking trip. But you must book both van shuttle san josef andor water taxi shushartie in advance. Youll gain over 11,000 feet over 6 miles but the view. 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. Sep 16, 2015 my eyelids are half shut as i sit here compiling my notes from the west coast trail, which i just returned home from this afternoon. This is the west coast, you will get wet, and despite it being summer, it does cool off at night. The rugged west coast of vancouver island offers some of the most spectacular and storied hiking in the pacific northwest. Californias lost coast trail, a 53 mile hike along one of the worlds most beautiful coastlines. Park your car at one end, and book a trip on the west coast trail express bus that will take you to the other end of the trail.
Our west coast trail itinerary includes stops to see historic and scenic wonders unknown to many hikers. A 50foot long ladder, which was then followed by another 50foot long ladder, and then like 4 more. West coast trail graveyard of the pacific backpacking. New for this edition are the wild and challenging north coast trail and the rarely visited tatchu coastal hike on the rugged peninsula. The lost coast trail backpacking guide the hiking life. West coast trail highly recommended west coast trail. Youre climbing over a lot of massive root systems and logs, through major mud bogs. Even if you have hiked before, by preparing your body for the challenge of the west coast trail through building up your physical abilities a few months. One step at a time by robert bannon is one of the best nonfiction book ive ever read. West coast trail pacific rim national park reserve mb. Getting to west coast comfort camping via the west coast trail. The west coast trail wct is a 75 km 47 mile footpath that cuts through some of the most stunning coastal territory in north america. The west coast trail is a 75 km trail between bamfield and port renfrew on british columbias, vancouver island, canada.
Home forums campfire posttrip reports tips for the west coast trail. The noncampers guide to hiking the west coast trail. Francis and bay bulls, check out the individual trail pages on this blog. If you are planning on hiking the west coast trail, consider a warm up on mini west coast trail as well. West coast trail pacific rim national park reserve mb guiding. Pacific rim national park reserve of canada west coast trail preparation guide 2020. Coastwalk california is a volunteer organization that advocates for completion of the trail. Our members invite you to get out and enjoy the trail and to get involved in our cause. To enjoy it fully, do your research, check the forecast, take wet weather gear and be prepared for emergencies. Dec 18, 2019 west coast trail express provides shuttle bus service may 1 to september 30 from victoria and nanaimo to the trail heads and between the trail heads of the west coast trail. The word trail is one that should be used loosely in certain parts, like for all of day 5, 6, and 7. 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. About one out of one hundred hikers dont make it, they need to be rescued. Prepare for your west coast trail hike west coast trail.
For general west coast trail guide likewhat and where is it, check out the west coast trail guide. The california coastal trail cct is a network of public trails for walkers, bikers, equestrians, wheelchair riders and others along the 1200mile california coastline. If you are planning on hiking the west coast trail, consider a warm up on another bc hike, the nootka island trail as well. To get a good price you need a number of hikers taking that transport at the same time. The west coast trail was originally built to provide access to shipwreck. The trail season is open between may 1 and september 30th. What you need to know to hike the west coast trail hike. Tsusiat falls to carmanah creek west coast trail day 4. Sep 18, 2012 no reservations are needed to hike the north coast trail. To obtain guaranteed hiking dates, hikers may reserve ahead starting april 1.
Parks canada pacific rim national park reserve of canada brochures. Hiking the west coast trail on vancouver island is one of the biggest and best experiences a hiker can have in canada. 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. There was very little signal on the trail to blog, so im bombarding you with a rundown of the entire trip in one long simplified regurgitation of the events that took place over the four days my friend steve and i were on the trail. Viewing 21 posts 1 through 21 of 21 total forums are supported by our merchant partners disclosure rei coupons zpacks hyperlite patagonia arcteryx rbtr drop backcountry. Strayed became a novelist of some note in her late 30s. Author cheryl strayed hikes the pacific crest trail in. A mini west coast trail guided tour is one of the best hikes in bc. Go with a positive mental attitude and youll have a great time. Hiking the west coast trail for robs birthday and his one and only week off between school semesters we wanted to do something kind of epic. When you start hiking the west coast trail, and you leave pachena bay, you immediately hit a ladder. Instead of 60 hiking permits day, were now allowed up to 75 day. Author cheryl strayed hikes the pacific crest trail in wild.
West coast trail south to north british columbia, canada. Registration for the 2018 west coast trail season opens on january 8 2018 at 8am pst. Carmanah creek to camper bay west coast trail day 5. The noncampers guide to hiking the west coast trail if you are also like me and will never camp again, borrow as much as you can from friends, keep an eye on craigslist, and watch for sales at mec and atmosphere and rei for my american readers because hiking the trail can get pretty expensive, awfully quickly. It would be impossible to keep a book like this 100% current but anyone preparing to hike the west coast trail needs to be aware of changes. For basic maps, simple trail descriptions, and illustrated stories about the 128 km stretch of east coast trail between cape st. Exploring washingtons wild olympic coast by david hooper and. This company can store your excess luggage until you finish the hike.
If you are hiking vancouver island, find your bliss on a mini guided hiking adventure in canadas premiere wilderness areas. Nestled in those distant mountains is the gorgeous mt. Hikers that want to plan their hikes themselves will want to dive into the 24 trails chapter, which offers 840 pages of detailed trail descriptions and beautifully illustrated trail maps of all the trails that make up the east coast trail from cape st. West coast trail express provides shuttle bus service may 1 to september 30 from victoria and nanaimo to the trail heads and between the trail heads of the west coast trail. My eyelids are half shut as i sit here compiling my notes from the west coast trail, which i just returned home from this afternoon. As of 2015, 45 of the planned 70 miles of trail have been completed. West coast trail journal west coast trail planning west coast trail packing list west coast trail day 1. The trail can be hiked north or south, and takes approximately 5. Top hiking trails in west coast, sweden tripadvisor. After tossing around a few different vacation ideas, we settled on hiking the west coast trail a 75 km. The west coast trail bus picks up and drops off passengers at victoria, sooke, port renfrew, gordon river, mesachie lake, honeymoon bay, nanaimo, nitinat junction.
It was built in 1907 to facilitate the rescue of shipwrecked survivors along the coast, part of the treacherous graveyard of the pacific. Two guidebooks to the trail are west coast trail and the nitinat lakes and blisters and bliss. Francis to cappahayden the guides most striking feature, however, is its photography every single chapter is filled to the brim with. Jul 23, 2010 west coast trail packing list west coast trail day 1. Hiking the west coast trail, british columbia canada trails.
The west coast trail offers sandy beaches, rugged cliffs, blowholes, caverns, caves, waterfalls, bogs, rainforest, lighthouses, abandoned settlements, shipwreck relics, native culture, whales, sea lions, eagles, and giant trees. 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. World north america pacific nw canada west coast trail the best hike in the world is the west coast trail. The second unit, the broken islands, is only accessible by kayak and boat. West coast trail hiking vancouver island guided adventure. I am starting the hike at pachena bay and unfortunately this book only has directions and commentary for the opposite direction hiking the trail from southeast to. West coast trail preparation how to prepare for the hike. The third is the west coast trail, which is only accessible by foot from may 1 september 30. Our west coast trail guide was borne out of our experiences with helping people on the trail. The east coast trail is an absolutely unique hiking destination that follows the rugged shoreline of the atlantic ocean. Pachena bay to darling river west coast trail day 2. West coast trail day 1 pachena bay to darling river campsite. For day trippers, theres the wild pacific trail, a northern extension of the west coast trail that begins in ucluelet and heads north over headlands and white sand beaches toward long beach and tofino.
Exiting or entering via nitinat make shorter wct adventures possible. The trail is actually 2,650 miles long, but heavy snows blocked strayed. 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. The west coast trail is one of the bestknown hiking trails in canada. The west coast trail is definitely not for the faint of heart, nor for the person looking for an easy day hike. 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. The campsite is located at kilometre 30 of the west coast trail, which is a 30 km hike from the north trailhead at pachena beach, and a 45 km hike and ferry from the south trailhead at gordon river. Longdistance trails in the united states wikipedia. With amazing views of the pacific rim national park, its no wonder the wct is one of the best hikes in bc. It is now part of the pacific rim national park and is often rated by.
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