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The West Coast Trail: World-Class Adventure Hiking Awaits You!
If your next adventure is to hike the West Coast Trail on Vancouver Island, prepare for an unforgettable experience! And if you're a returning hiker, you're back to experience one of the most popular hikes in the world. The West Coast Trail is the most famous (and expensive) hike in Canada. It's also one of the most dangerous and isolated. Only experienced and fit hikers should hike it. NOT A HIKE FOR KIDS OR THE FAMILY DOG. This is one hike that Graeme and I haven't yet tried, due to the time it takes. But we've known a handful of locals that have had the time to hike it, and we've seen some outstanding scenic pictures of this trail. Plus, we've done our research! We've talked to the folks from the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve extensively about the West Coast Trail, so our information is as up-to-date as you can get! And now we're passing all this on to you.
What Is The West Coast Trail Like?The 75 km (47 mile) trail lies along the western side of Vancouver Island, open from May 1 to September 30. It'll take about 5-7 days to hike the entire length.Although the Island's got a mild and temperate climate, the West Coast dampness can chill you right to the bone - mostly at night. But if you're looking for a rugged hiking vacation that tests you to the limits, then this is one adventure waiting for you! Be prepared for some serious diversity! Climb over ocean boulders and wade through mud bogs. Ride cable cars, haul yourself up rocky cliffs on pull ropes, climb ladders and bounce your way over a suspension bridge!
Beaches, caves, cliffs and waterfalls is part of the scenery, and watch for fascinating tidal pools too. You'll be dwarfed by old-growth trees in the coastal rainforest, and in awe of the morning mist rising from the forest floor.
The camping, we've been told, is incredible out here. But we've found out that it's critical to have a good quality sleeping bag, as the nights can get damp and cold. Who Should Hike The Trail?This is a really serious adventure that'll require some major preparation and planning on your part. Hikers should be in good physical condition, with proper gear and wilderness camping experience.Hiking the West Coast Trail is not without risk: it's a difficult and physically challenging trail, and many have been injured. What it boils down to is this: You should be an experienced hiker who's going to be prepared to have a rugged, wilderness experience. We've read in several local guide books that roughly 8,000 people hike the Trail every year. Of those, around 99% actually walk out early (it's THAT rugged!) Now at this point if you're having doubts about handling the intensity and length of the West Coast Trail, we'd probably recommend the East Sooke Regional Park (Coast Trail) hike instead. You can still have a challenging hike on this trail, but it's only a one-day adventure. We think this would be a good second choice. Making Your ReservationYes - you have to pay to hike the West Coast Trail, and you'll also have to make a reservation before you come.Reservations to hike the trail have recently changed. Open May 1 to September 30, you must reserve your hike 90 days ahead of the day you are calling. Reservations are available 7 days a week by calling the Discover BC reservation service between 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM (PST). Here are the numbers to call:
HERE'S THE COST: The cost for the hike is $110.00. There's also a $25.00 registration fee when you call to book. Add $28 more for the two required ferry crossings across Gordon River and Nitinat Narrows. You can pay for the whole thing by phone with your credit card. TIP: It's recommended that you bring some cash with you to the West Coast Trail (never know when you might need it...) How To Get To The TrailWe'd recommend that you get to know the regional layout of southern Vancouver Island before you start planning your starting location at one of the trailheads: Port Renfrew (southern trailhead) or Bamfield (northern trailhead). That'll give you a good geographical idea of where you'll be going (always helpful!)The best way to get within easy reach of the trail is to arrive in the City of Victoria (at the southern tip of Vancouver Island). At this point, it's relatively easy to access the south end of the trail (Port Renfrew) from Victoria, by car. If you have your own vehicle, you'll need to arrange transportation back to the other trailhead where you've parked. If you don't have a set of wheels, you should try to get transportation to the Port Renfrew trailhead. Again, visit the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve website to get helpful details on ways to get to the trail. Hiking Safety Tips For The West Coast TrailA few things to keep in mind when you're hiking out here:
Last But Not Least...There are just SO MANY details about the West Coast Trail that we simply can't fit here (we'd need a whole web site just for this!). So we're going to recommend a couple of good guidebooks before you make the hike:Buy Blisters and Bliss by David Foster and Wayne Aitken. We love their fun, readable format. Be sure to get the most recent 5th edition (2003) which adds trail descriptions from both directions (north end and south end). If you're going to starting the hike at the south end of the Trail (in Port Renfrew), buy Hiking The West Coast of Vancouver Island by Tim Leadem. Another really good book.
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