West Coast Trail - Vancouver Island - TravBuddy

The West Coast Trail is one of the finest backpacking trails anyone can experience. The 75km trail takes you through old growth forests, bogs, and beaches along the Pacific Ocean side of Vancouver Island. It is not for the inexperienced hiker though, 80 to 90 people are evacuated every year due to injury or being swept into surge channels. The trail is kept in excellent condition, the national park maintains a quota that does not allow more than 50 people to start the hike from either end each day. Also, the trail is only open from May to August. With that in mind, it is really important to make a booking at least a month early. Although it is considered backcountry, you will usually come across a few groups, hiking in the opposite direction, so you will never be in complete solitude.

One of the great things about the hike are the people you meet. Most groups tend to camp in the same area and you get a chance to hang out with people from all around the world. Being a hiker from the Rockies, I found it incredible to actually camp out on the beach and let the sound of the waves crash put you to sleep.

Another amazing thing about the trail is the amount of variation in terrain. If you plan your days appropriately (according to the tide tables), you would get to hike on the beach quite a bit. If you have enough time during low tide, there are caves to explore and you can hike on seashelf. During high tide, you are forced further inland, hiking through rainforst, crossing suspension bridges, ladder sections (I think I counted over 200 rungs on one portion!), and riding cable cars to cross wide rivers.

I could probably go on, but its bed time for me. If you don't mind getting wet, and a bit dirty (wear gaiters!) you are going to have a blast. Its incredibly fun, the scenery is top notch, you meet people from all around, and you get bragging rights for completing this challenging trail

I hope to do this one again in the future