West Coast Trail (WCT)

West Coast Trail is a backpacking and wilderness camping adventure located on the west coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. The south trailhead entrance is located near the community of Port Renfrew, BC and the north trailhead entrance is located near Bamfield, B.C. The WCT is a big part of the Pacific Rim National Park.

The 74 kilometre (47 mile) West Coast Trail is one of the most well recognized backpacking trails in Canada. The time planned to backpack the trail is 5-7 days. We have completed the adventure in 4 days and have taken as long as 10 days. The easier approach to the WCT is hiking from the Bamfield side to the Port Renfrew side.

There are opportunities to explore sandstone cliffs, sandy beaches, flat rocks, roaring rivers, rainforest marshlands and wetlands. Backpackers are required to operate cable cars, climb ladders, balance while crossing log bridges, jump surge channels, navigate tide tables and be prepared to confront storms.

It has been mentioned on many top backpacking lists and in many adventure magazines. The WCT is a rough and rugged experience. The weather changes at a moments notice. Conditions can be sunny and hot one minute and then muddy, slippery and wet the next. There are boardwalk sections hiking above the mud and there are sections slogging through the mud.

Wildlife viewing is very possible on the trail. The WCT is home to many species of wildlife. There are black bears, wolves, cougars and many different varieties of marine birds. Time it right and you might see whales, seals and sea lions.

Before the WCT became a famous adventure route it was once home to the many villages of the Nuu-chah-nulth First Nation. The coastline - dotted with reefs, sandy beaches and jagged cliffs - was a transportation route and a hunting ground for the First Nation people.

After the Europeans arrived the same coastline quickly became known as, " The Graveyard of the Pacific." The same rocky reefs, jagged cliffs and fierce west coast storms destroyed many European ships and ended many lives. The survivors of the shipwrecks would swim to the shore of Vancouver Island. Exhausted they would follow the coastline to the nearest pioneer settlement. The trail then, is the West Coast Trail today.

The Pachena Lighthouse was built after, the steamer "Valencia" sank off the coast of Vancouver Island in 1906 and 133 lives were lost. The lost lives prompted the government to construct the "The Dominion Life Saving Trail" with a telegraph line and patrol cabins for the shipwrecked survivors. The Dominion Life Saving Trail" is now the WCT. And in 1973 the West Coast Trail became part of the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve.

Weather conditions on the West Coast Trail are not always predictable. There are days with hot sun and there are more days with moist, wet conditions. The WCT is in a rainforest and it receives over 120 inches of rain a year. Even in May and June there can be big storms rolling in. And during the months of July and August it is not uncommon to be surrounded by a damp ocean mist in the morning.

There are times when the boardwalk trail is washed out, cable cars are not functioning, trails are flooded or storms blow in and slow down your progress. Nothing goes exactly as planned. Be prepared and be aware. There are wilderness campgrounds located along the trail. Each campground has pit toilets and food caches.

The West Coast Trail is open from May 1st to September 30th and requires a Park Permit. The shoulder seasons is between May 1 to June 14th and September 16th to 30th and these dates do not require a reservation. But this could change. The peak season is between June 15th to September 15th. At all times you can show up with your backpacking gear and be put on a waiting list until a cancellation. Waits can be 2-4 days.

All backpackers should be well prepared for all seasons and weather conditions. Drinking water is available at most streams and rivers on the trail. Always collect water upstream and it is recommended to boil it. There is a fee to explore the trail. Last time we checked it was around $120 CDN.

How to Get to West Coast Trail (WCT)

Travel to the community of Port Renfrew, BC on Vancouver Island. The trailhead starting point is 5 kilometres north of Port Renfrew at Gordon River. The northern trailhead entrance is at Pachena Bay. It is 5 kilometres south of Bamfield.