Vancouver Island's Legendary West Coast Trail

An unforgettable - and rightly famous - 75km trek on the spectacular West Coast of Vancouver Island.

Nick Keenan

Images

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Pachena Beach

by Nick Keenan

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Darling River Campground

by Nick Keenan

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Forest Trail

by Nick Keenan

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Tsusiat Falls

by Nick Keenan

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Leaving Camp

by Nick Keenan

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Beach Route

by Nick Keenan

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The best beach on the WCT

by Nick Keenan

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Nitinat ferry Crossing

by Nick Keenan

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Boardwalk through the forest

by Nick Keenan

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Sunset at Cribs Creek

by Nick Keenan

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Beach Hike

by Nick Keenan

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Lighthouse

by Nick Keenan

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Lone Tree

by Nick Keenan

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Ladders down to beach

by Nick Keenan

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Logan Creek Suspension Bridge

by Nick Keenan

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Logan Creek

by Nick Keenan

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Wetlands

by Nick Keenan

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Boardwalk

by Nick Keenan

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Owen Pt

by Nick Keenan

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Boulder Field

by Nick Keenan

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Camper Bay

by Nick Keenan

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Ferry over Gorden River

by Nick Keenan

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Port San Juan

by Nick Keenan

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Thrasher Cove

by Nick Keenan

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Description

The West Coast Trail (WCT) is one of the most iconic and historic backpacking routes in Canada. This remote trail was originally established over 100 years ago as a means to rescue stranded sailors as the number of shipwrecks in the area increased.

The 75km trek through Pacific Rim National Park offers a great mix of terrain, from pristine sandy beaches to large rugged headlands; there’s never a dull moment on this trail. You will travel along some of the best beaches on Vancouver Island, climb lots of ladders, pull yourself over rivers on cable cars and hike through plenty of old growth forest.

It’s not just the landscape you get to enjoy on this trail, there is an abundance of wildlife that you could potentially see on trail too, such as black bears, cougars, whales and sea lions to name just a few.

You will spend the entire week camping on the beach in some awesome locations - there really isn’t a bad campground on this trail. They all have great views, especially if you stay up to watch the spectacular sunsets, which are well worth waiting for. If you happen to stay up a little longer you might even see the Milky Way shining overhead on a clear night.

The WCT is a must-do hike for anyone visiting Vancouver Island and you will struggle to find another 75km trail that offers such a memorable experience, whilst also being so accessible and well maintained. Make sure you take some dollars on the trail to fully enjoy the Crab shack at Nitnat Narrows, this is a fantastic luxury to have on a backcountry trip and not something you want to miss out on.

Adventures

West Coast Trail Day 2

The day that has everything, beaches, ladders, cable cars & waterfalls; you see it all on this part of the trail.

West Coast Trail Day 3

A long day with beautiful beaches and the opportunity to get some awesome food at the Crab shack.

West Coast Trail Day 5

A challenging day negotiating a muddy inland route, but there are great views to be had along the way.

West Coast Trail Day 6

A fun day with great views, but some challenging boulders to test your scrambling skills.

West Coast Trail Day 7

The home straight on a long inland trail, before the ferry returns you to civilisation & post hike celebrations.