West Coast Trail

The West Coast Trail - July 2000

Pacific Rim National Park

British Columbia, Canada

Reservations and Logistics 

The West Coast Trail is a part of Pacific Rim National Park.  Access to the trail is monitored, and works on a quota system.  Space is limited and reservations are needed.

Presently, to reserve for a date, you need to call three months before, starting on the 1st of the month.  For example, if you wish to hike July 17, you may call to reserve your spot on April 1st.  BE FORWARNED...  The West Coast Trail is internationally renowned, and getting reservations is tight.  Call the second the phones open up for business (Pacific Time).  Have alternate plans to your ideal hiking date.  Chances are, you may have to hike the opposite direction you had planned, or leave on a different day.  You can also take the chance on walk-up access.  Parks Canada hold a number of walk-on spots, or you may strike it lucky and be able to take someone else's spot if they show up late for their registered time.  You may have to wait a few days at the trailhead for your opportunity to get on the trail if there are many others of like mind.

Plan your trip in the winter, and get ready to dial, or save yourself the reservation fee and wait a few days at the trailhead.

See the preparation guide or ParksCanada for  more details.

Getting there

Vancouver and Victoria, BC, Canada are both serviced by international airports.  Your destination is the trailhead at either Port Renfrew, or at Bamfield.  If landing in Vancouver, you will need to board a ferry to Vancouver island.  Make note that you will need transportation from the airport to the ferry at either Horshoe Bay or Tsawwassen to Shwartz Bay or to Nanaimo.  From the Shwatz Bay terminal, you can take a bus into Victoria, or as far up the west coast of the island as Sooke.  From there, you are on your own.  Port Renfrew is another 1-2 hours drive.  Hitchhiking is very easy and safe on the island.  If you are not comfortable with this, there are a number of shuttle options from Victoria that will take you to either trail head.  From Nanaimo, your options are limited other than hitchhiking or shuttle.  Keep in mind that the road across the island to Tofino, and north to Bamfield is less travelled than from Sooke to Port Renfrew.  )  See the links page for BC Ferries information, and other transporation helps as well as the Preparation Guide.