REGION History
“The West Coast Trail, originally called the Dominion Lifesaving Trail, is a 75 km (47 mi) long backpacking trail following the southwestern edge of Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. It was built in 1907 to facilitate the rescue of survivors of shipwrecks along the coast, part of the treacherous Graveyard of the Pacific. It is now part of Pacific Rim National Park and is often rated by hiking guides as one of the world’s top hiking trails.”
High
20
Low
5
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average Temp. | 6 | 8 | 9 | 12 | 15 | 17 | 19 | 20 | 17 | 12 | 8 | 5 |
High
68
Low
42
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average Temp. | 43 | 46 | 50 | 54 | 59 | 63 | 66 | 68 | 64 | 55 | 47 | 42 |
Tripadvisor
Raving Reviews
Graham L
“A walk in paradise”
Listening to the whales and sea lions while hiking proved to be some of the best trail I have ever been on. Each part of the world is a bit different for hiking adventures and this trail is not to be missed. It is not an overly difficult trail and one that should be completed at an easy pace to maximize its beauty.
Reviewed 23 July 2015
Clark P
“Amazing trail.”
Went from May 3-9th. Soloed it. It was an amazing experience. Avoid anything green/ red on any rock surfaces and you should be fine. Tread lightly. Hiking poles are your best friends. Great scenery, great campsites, great people. Do it, if you have a chance.
Reviewed 15 May 2015
Digerati_Cypher
“Bucket list hike – a must do”
Challenging yes, but the rewards FAR outweigh the challenge. If you search for pictures of the WCT online it will give you a good idea of the hike; the scenery, the ladders, the cable cars etc. Your mind will be blown by the beauty of this hike. Prepare physically for it, take time to prepare your kit for it ( keep it as light as possible!), then enjoy! …
Reviewed 25 July 2015
The West Coast Trail
Bucket List Hike
The West Coast Trail is a seventy kilometres (forty-seven miles) long backpacking trail following the southwestern edge of Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. It was built in 1907 to facilitate the rescue of survivors of shipwrecks along the coast, part of the treacherous Graveyard of the Pacific. It is now part of Pacific Rim National Park and is often rated by hiking guides as one of the world’s top hiking trails.
Take a Closer Look ›
Avg time To Complete
47 miles
established
Sept
open Season
Hiking The Coast
“Soft sandy beaches, rainforests, and the sound of the Pacific Ocean await hikers along the Vancouver Island coast. Tide pools burst with marine life at Botanical Beach along the Juan de Fuca Marine Trail.”
First Nations
Heritage
“The Ditidaht First Nation, along with the Pacheddaht and Huu-ay-aht people, has always lived along the west coast of Vancouver Island. Our ancestors created many of the hiking trails and paddling routes in this land for the purpose of trade and travel. Some of our traditional communities and cultural places, along with a once life saving trail established for survivors of ship wrecks along the coast, became part of the newly created Pacific Rim National Park in 1973.”