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West Coast Trail: Pachena Bay to Gordon River

Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Pacific Rim National Park Reserve

The West Coast Trail runs along the south-western coast of Vancouver Island through old-growth forest, over beaches and across rivers by cable car or ferry. Built on an old lifesaving trail, it is one of Canada's most demanding coastal backpacking routes and takes most walkers six to eight days.

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Location
Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Pacific Rim National Park Reserve
Activity
Hiking
Length published by Parks Canada
75 km
Season
1 May to 30 September, reservation required
Elevation of the imported track
Not specified
OSM track distance
93.9 km
Places along the route
Pachena Bay near Bamfield in the north; Gordon River near Port Renfrew in the south; mid-trail entry at Nitinaht

Before you go

Parks Canada describes a 75 km trail with more than a hundred ladders, cable cars, tide-dependent beach sections and a hiking season from May to September. A reservation and an orientation session are required, and the number of daily starts is limited at Pachena Bay, Gordon River and Nitinaht. Carry tide tables and plan camps around the river ferries.

The route

The OpenStreetMap relation "West Coast Trail" contains 229 main ways and 28 ways tagged as alternatives, mostly beach and forest options. The map keeps thirteen separate portions without artificial links; the measured total includes the alternatives and is therefore longer than the 75 km published by Parks Canada. Tide-dependent beach routes are not verified here.

View this route in the catalogue

The OSM track has 13 separate sections, without artificial connections. Check the links with the route operator.

Places along the route

Sources and updates

Information checked on .

Track extracted on . © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0.

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