West Coast Trail

The West Coast Trail ‎is a particularly fine hike through pristine (overused word but it applies here) wilderness on Vancouver Island's south-western coast.

Enjoy gorgeous coastal landscape: huge empty beaches washed by grand swells and breakers, coves and caves, and geologically fascinating cliffs and rocks. Several waterfalls crash down the coastal cliffs. You will with luck see whales and sea lions as well as a multitude of birds. And you should get some marvellous dawns and sunsets.

Inland, you will be walking through magnificent ancient redwood forests. ‎You may meet bears (come prepared!), cougars, mink. Wolves inhabit the forests, too.

There are occasional signs of humanity: some melancholy remains of shipwrecks, and other signs of the past: indeed, the trail began as a sailors' rescue route.

The route, which is superbly planned and managed, is 75km between the towns of Port Renfrew ‎ and Bamfield. You can walk either way. It can be done in 5 days, but 7 are recommended to get the best out of the trail.

The "season" is 1 May to 30 Sept. Numbers allowed on the trail are limited, so book early.  The booking system is somewhat complex (and can require telephoning at exact hours on set days), so get prepared early. (It can be hard to walk the whole route outside this period.)

This is a demanding walk in remote wilderness, on which you will have to be self-sufficient. Come prepared. Be prepared for likely bad (sometimes terrible) weather. 6 inches of rain have been known to fall in 12 hours. The trail is often slippery as a result of the rainfall, so take care and expect to fall at some point.‎ ‎You need to climb a lot of long ladders, so need a head for heights.

Understanding sea levels is important in planning: high water can be a dangerous obstacle, so you will need to get to some crossings at low tide. Beware rogue waves and surge channels.

You will need to carry your own heavy pack, to include a good tent.

There are several good guidebooks, which should be read well ahead of time. Bliss and Blisters by David Foster and Wayne Aitken is Best Hike's favourite. Find relevant books on Amazon.

See more information on the excellent Besthike.

You can make a guided expedition if you want. 

ANYONE GOT ANY GOOD PHOTOS? WE WOULD BE DELIGHTED TO POST THEM!