West Coast Trail
Also known as: WCT
The wild west-coast Vancouver Island shoreline - sea stacks, tide pools, waterfalls, shipwreck history
The route
The line through Pacific Rim NP, Vancouver Island, Canada - waypoints, elevation and the day-by-day shape of the walk.
Waypoints
- 1Pachena Bay (Bamfield)Trailhead
North terminus; orientation
- 2Michigan CreekCamp
First beach camp
- 3Tsusiat FallsCamp
Iconic waterfall camp
- 4Nitinat NarrowsJunction
Ferry crossing; crab shack
- 5Walbran CreekCamp
Surge channels nearby
- 6Gordon River (Port Renfrew)Trailhead
South terminus; ferry out
Season & conditions
May 1-Sep 30 (permit season)
Persistent rain, fog, mud, big surf and tides
Open May 1-Sep 30; wet and rugged even in summer; storms shut it otherwise. Confirm.
On the trail
Rugged coastal rainforest, beaches, ladders, bog, cable cars and river crossings
Non-technical walking/hiking; confirm any exposed or scrambly sections locally
Marked/waymarked route; navigation generally straightforward - carry a map and confirm locally
Suitable for reasonably fit hikers; not wheelchair accessible - confirm specifics
Black and grizzly bear country - carry bear spray, travel in groups, store food properly; also cougars, wolves, whales and sea lions offshore
Iconic; strictly quota-limited
Shorter Nitinat/Pachena half via the mid-point; north-to-south or south-to-north
Getting there & staying
Pachena Bay (Bamfield, north) to Gordon River (Port Renfrew, south)
Trailhead ferries and a bus connect the two ends (Bamfield/Port Renfrew); book with the permit
Backcountry beach/forest camps only (reservation); no huts
Layered outdoor kit, sturdy footwear, sun/rain protection, ample water; patchy mobile coverage - carry a map/PLB where remote
Services in Port Renfrew / Bamfield; limited or none on the trail
Not required; strong backcountry experience essential
Permits & safety
A Parks Canada overnight reservation (quota) plus trail-use and ferry fees; a mandatory orientation; group-size limits. Confirm.
Permits and operators change - confirm before booking.
Tide-timed impassable zones, slippery ladders and boardwalks, surge channels, river crossings, isolation
Retrace the route to exit; dial local emergency services; carry a means of calling for help where remote
This profile is desk research, compiled from public sources - not a first-hand trail report. Coordinates are approximate.