Over the years, there have been a number of deaths on the pacific crest trail. Jul 23, 2010 west coast trail packing list west coast trail day 1. Tsusiat falls to carmanah creek west coast trail day 4. Visitors who currently have a reservation on the west coast trail do not need to cancel their reservation until further decisions are made. Before you decide to make a west coast trail reservation for yourself, learn what you are signing up for and make sure this hike is. Anyone hoping to conquer one of north americas most demanding backcountry trails will need to make a reservation for entrance onto the trail, pay some fees, get overnight camping permits, and go through an orientation before being allowed to depart. The trail season is open between may 1 and september 30th. Cleared in the early 1900s in response to the frequency of shipwrecks along the coast. Hello, i booked the reservation back in january for 3 people, and now we are down to 2. The 77 km 47 mi of beach and forest hiking trail, the west coast trail, starts at port renfrew in the south. 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 feathered friends campsaver.
Itinerary posted by wildandfreckless on august 10, 2016 august 10, 2016 this post will hopefully help you plan for your trip on the west coast trail, through me essentially sharing my journey with you. However if you do choose to cancel, parks canada and the nitinaht entry point bookings, water taxi, comfort camping and nitinaht lake motel will be waiving all reservation fees and all refunds will be paid. West coast trail overnight use permit per trip, per person. All hikers now require a wct overnight user fee and a valid national park entry pass. Exiting or entering via nitinat make shorter wct adventures possible. Oct 06, 2017 i took a break from my long distance hike on the pacific crest trail this year to hike with kyla on british columbias west coast trail. The west coast is a spectacular 75km backpacking route on. Pacific rim national park reserve of canada west coast trail preparation guide 2017.
This section was infamously known as the graveyard of the pacific. My 7day itinerary for the west coast trail bushcraftgear. Reservations for 2019 hiking season will open in november 2018 upon approval of our requested dates by parks canada. Your guide to the west coast trail in british columbia happiest. Introduction to the west coast trail in british columbia. Pachena bay, gordon river and nitinaht village trailheads. As of 2018, all overnight west coast trail spots are reservable. West coast trail reservation for sale clubtread community. If anyone is interested in starting the west coast trail on september 11, 2017, i have a reservation for sale. 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. With the trail s growing popularity, its important that people realize that a pct thruhike does not take place in a controlled environment and that death on the pct is an entirely realistic possibility for the illprepared or even the wellprepared. The northwest point starts at pachena point, 3km 1. The west coast trail is open to hikers from may 1 to september 30 each year.
Cbc vancouver news at 6 host andrew chang snickered when the prehike orientation warned it could take as many as 90 minutes to cover one kilometre of the trail s most difficult section. Jul 19, 2017 the difficulty of the trail, variety of terrain, the views, the campsites and the people i went with, and met along the way made the whole thing worth it. We are home to the new parks canada third entrance to the west coast trail. 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. May 24, 2017 the west coast trail is probably the most famous of all hikes in canada. Jun 16, 2017 tips and advice before hiking the west coast trail jun 16, 2017 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. Drive on gravel logging roads from port alberni 2 hrs or duncan 3 hrs bus from victoria 5. Hike of a lifetime pacific rim national park reserve. Issue the wct overnight use permits and collect fees bring your reservation confirmation information to the orientation. West coast trail south to north british columbia, canada. World north america pacific nw canada west coast trail the best hike in the world is the west coast trail. There is a reservation registration system in place. 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. For general west coast trail guide likewhat and where is it, check out the west coast trail guide.
Reservations for the west coast trail can be made for any date between may 1 and september 30 through the parks canada reservation. Hiking the west coast trail on vancouver island outdoor. The trail is primarily used for hiking, camping, and backpacking and is best used from may until september. Start here for shorter hikes and weekend warrior overnight comfort camping. I had always wanted to do the west coast trail wct ever since i heard of it years and years ago and it had always been on the bucketlist sitting there staring at me. To pachena bay west coast trail information centre, 5 km south of bamfield. 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. This was, and is, the land of the huuayaht, ditidaht, and pacheedaht tribes.
Our courses are located in beautiful scenic parks, providing breathtaking views and an experience in nature that will captivate your spirit and revitalize your soul. The parks canada website isnt full of practical information, so in this blog and in the upcoming ones, i will try to fill in the blanks. For those of you booking your reservation on the west coast trail starting on january 9, our office will not be open for phone calls until january 16. In 2014 a new access point was opened, nitinat narrows. Our mission is to provide a wellorganized, quality event at an affordable price. Registration for the 2018 west coast trail season opens on january 8 2018 at 8am pst. World north america pacific nw canada west coast trail the best hike in the world is the west. West coast trail preparation how to prepare for the hike. Hikers with reservations will be issued a pacific rim national park reserve west coast trail map when they register on the trail.
West coast trail runs is a trail racing company based out of northern california. This will be post 1 of 7 in my west coast trail blog series. Camper bay to thrasher cove west coast trail day 6. It was built in 1907 to facilitate the rescue of shipwrecked survivors along the coast, part of the treacherous graveyard of the pacific. As ship traffic increased in the late 1800s, so did the number of shipwrecks off the treacherous west coast of vancouver island.
List of deaths on the pacific crest trail halfway anywhere. Provide a brief history of the west coast trail and its place in canadas heritage. I am starting with the preparations that im taking to book the trail, get. This cost includes overnight camping fees, reservation fee, gordon river ferry. Aug 16, 2017 getting to the west coast trail is a lot easier than getting onto the west coast trail. Pachena bay to darling river west coast trail day 2. The trail is unsafe to hike the remainder of the year due to heavy storms. Pacific rim national park reserve of canada west coast trail preparation guide 2017 protecting, presenting and preserving parks canada is responsible for ensuring the sustainability and integrity of the natural and cultural resources in its care. Instead of 60 hiking permits day, were now allowed up to 75 day. My friend and i are heading out to the wct on may 1st the day it opens. Unfortunately, i cannot get into detail of many things, but hopefully this will give you some insight of what happens behind the scenes. They really compress very well into the small stuff sack that comes with it. Carmanah creek to camper bay west coast trail day 5. The west coast trail is famous for its beauty, its rugged remoteness, its immense popularity, and for its ladders.
Everyone can help to protect the ecological integrity and cultural heritage of the west coast trail. 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 nitinaht region on the west coast of vancouver island is home to some of the most wondrous natural and cultural sights and experiences all in one beautiful, remarkable untouched place. Aug 04, 2017 my hike of the west coast trail on vancouver island july 19 24. The story of west coast trail begins as an ancient path used for trade and travel by the first nations. With everything said, hopefully well get a chance to see the trail again this season.
Reservations pachena bay, gordon river and nitinaht village trailheads note. They come to see the beauty, experience the challenges, and walk the path of those that came before them. Home forums campfire posttrip reports tips for the west coast trail. The trail bookings for high season book up quickly, but our bus will not fill in the next 2 months. 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. My 7day itinerary for the west coast trail planning for the west coast trail wct can feel fairly daunting as there are lots of moving parts. West coast trail pacific rim national park reserve mb guiding. Today, over 7,500 backpackers hike the west coast trail every year.
Jul 25, 2010 packing list contents for the west coast trail. In this post, i will discuss what the west coast trail is, as a general guide. Welcome to my video series chronicling my preparation and journey along the famous west coast trail on vancouver island. 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. The west coast trail is open may 1 to september 30. Parks canada calls the west coast trail the hike of a lifetime. World north america pacific nw canada west coast trail the best hike in the world is the west coast trail the very best hike in the world. Darling river to tsusiat falls west coast trail day 3. Hiking the west coast trail 5 days, 4 nights and 77kms of difficult terrain through the trees, dodging roots, slugging through the mud, up and down ladders, across cable cars, through the difficult sand and over the rocks the west coast trail certainly challenged me. So many things need to be addressed when considering reopening the west coast trail unit for this season. Ask for details at the west coast trail information centres or the nitinaht visitor centre.