Backpack. PURPOSE: A
50 to 75 litre
backpack is needed for the West Coast Trail. If you get expensive, ultralight and ultra-compact gear to put in it a 50 litre pack should work for you. For most hikers a 65 litre pack is ideal.
Are Gaiters necessary for West Coast Trail?
Gaiters (
Optional
)
They are helpful to keep mud, sand, and water out of your boots.
How long does it take to hike the West Coast Trail?
Hiking the West Coast Trail is difficult, even for experienced hikers.” Most people will spend
between 6 and 8 days
in the backcountry, when travelling from end-to-end. There’s also a mid-way entry point at Nitinaht Village, which can shorten your journey by a few days.
How many liters are on the West Coast Trail?
The trail includes some
three dozen
ladder structures, some of them 30 feet (9.1 m) high, that hikers must ascend or descend. Hikers usually take an average of 7 days to complete the trip, allowing visitors to stop at some point for a day, although it has been run in a single day.
Do I need bear spray on the West Coast Trail?
Firearms. Firearms are illegal to have on the trail.
If you are really worried about bears, bring bear spray
. If you are worried about people, I can assure you that everyone is super friendly and out to enjoy this beautiful trail just like you!
Will the West Coast Trail Open in 2021?
Vancouver Island’s world-famous West Coast Trail
will be re-opening to the public in June 2021
. The 75-km trail that meanders along the southwest coast of Vancouver Island between Port Renfrew and Bamfield has been closed since early 2020 due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.
How do I prepare for the West Coast Trail?
Are there bathrooms on the West Coast Trail?
You can find toilets on the West Coast Trail at every campsite except Orange Juice Creek
. There are also toilets at the Pachena Bay trailhead, Gordon River Parks Canada Office, Ditidaht luxury tents and Nitinaht Narrows. There are no public toilets at the Carmanah and Pachena lighthouses.
How many ladders are on the West Coast Trail?
The West Coast Trail on Vancouver Island is a spectacular 75km backpacking route along potentially hazardous terrain. It’s a wild trail that takes 5–7 days to hike and has
nearly 70 ladders
, 130 bridges and four cable cars.
What is the best direction to hike the West Coast Trail?
Some say doing it
north to south
will ensure your pack is lighter once you get to the ladders and elevation down south however we opted to do it south to north and were happy to have gotten through the most challenging parts while our energy levels were at their highest.
Are there bears on the West Coast Trail?
It rains — a lot — on the West Coast Trail, and if hikers don’t take care to keep their clothes and sleeping bag dry, or if they get stranded in bad weather by high tide, they’re in for a world of brrrrr.
There’s also the occasional run-in with bears, wolves and cougars: 40 or so each year on the trail, on average
.
Do I need a permit to hike the West Coast Trail?
Overnight visitors to the West Coast Trail must purchase a West Coast Trail Overnight Use Permit
and have a valid National Park Entry Pass. These fees help support the cost of operating the West Coast Trail (e.g., rescue services, information services, construction of ladders, cable cars, boardwalks and bridges).
Can you day hike on the West Coast Trail?
The West Coast Trail is a 75-kilometre,
multi-day
backpacking route in Pacific Rim National Park, stretching through the traditional territory of the Huuay-aht, Ditidaht, and Pacheedaht First Nations.
How tall are the ladders on the West Coast Trail?
There are two boat crossings on the trail: Nitinat Narrows, near the midpoint of the trail, and Gordon River, at the southern trailhead. The trail includes dozens of ladders, some of them
30 feet high
, that hikers must ascend or descend.
Can you hike the West Coast Trail alone?
The West Coast Trail:
75 KM, Solo
.
Can I use dog spray on bears?
Dog or bear spray is legal for use against dogs or bears
. Buying it with a plan to attack someone, or actually using it as a weapon, makes it illegal and charges could be laid.
Is dog spray same as bear spray?
A:
The active ingredient is the same, but bear spray is twice the strength
. There is one per cent major capsaicinoids in dog attack sprays and two per cent in bear attack sprays. Each has the maximum strength allowed by the EPA and are Health Canada certified, so you know it’s an effective and humane product.
Does bear mace work?
Bear spray is a very effective deterrent when used properly
. In a 2008 review of bear attacks in Alaska from 1985–2006, Smith et al. found that bear spray stopped a bear’s “undesirable behavior” in 92% of cases. Further, 98% of persons using bear spray in close-range encounters escaped uninjured.
How expensive is the West Coast Trail?
| Adult Family or Group | $10.50/day $21.00/day |
|---|
How many people can start the West Coast Trail each day?
The West Coast trail is open from May 1st to September 30th, only
30 people
are allowed to start hiking the trail each day. The popular trail is fully booked for most of the season so there will be more or less the same number of people on the trail at all times.
Do you need reservations for Juan de Fuca Trail?
The Juan de Fuca Trail is open the whole year,
no booking is required for campsites
. Although the hike may be done all year round, weather wise a pleasant time of the year is mid-May to mid-September. That’s also the main camping season. Peak season July and August.
Is the West Coast Trail well marked?
Both the beach and the forest routes had their challenges – slippery rocks, roots, mud, and deep sand. We found that
the campsites were well marked with buoys
, and there were distance markers along the forest trail, so it was easy to keep track of where we were.
How long does it take to hike Cape Scott?
Cape Scott: Length 23.6 km from the trailhead. Average one-way hiking time:
8.5 hours
.
How long does it take to hike the Pacific Rim trail?
The trail is 2,650 miles and it generally takes the entire snow-free season to walk. That’s
about 5 months
. Elite athletes who are experienced on the PCT have finished the trail in as little as two months.
How many bridges are on the West Coast Trail?
According to Parks Canada, the new span ranks among the Top 10 in B.C. in its category of simple suspension bridges. There are
about 50
listed in a provincial inventory.
Can you camp on West Coast Trail?
The West Coast Trail offers the chance to explore some of Vancouver Island’s most remote and rugged landscapes. The majority of WCT hikers spend 6-8 days on this challenging 75km long trail, camping at their choice of
13 designated campgrounds along the way
.
Is Pachena Bay open?
| April Mon–Fri / 8:30 am – 4:30 pm | July–August Mon – Sunday 8:30 am – 4:30 pm | September Mon – Sun 8:30 am – 4:30 pm | May-June Mon- Sun / 8:30 am- 5pm (May Long weekend – Office Hours are till 8 pm) |
|---|
