Hiking the West Coast Trail | 75km in 5 days in Pacific Rim National Park

4-night, 5-day slog through the West Coast Trail (Pacific Rim Provincial Park) in September, 2021. AllTrails Link: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/canad... ---- The West Coast Trail… it’s on almost every ‘best hikes’ list you can find and for a very good reason. The hike will seriously push your body and mind as you slog through the sand, the mud, the roots and the rocks for 75km. You’ll be tired, sore, blistered and bruised. Is it worth it?… hell yeah it is. The West Coast Trail is in Pacific Rim Provincial Park on the Southwest shore of Vancouver Island. The land belongs to several First Nation Tribes, still responsible today for maintaining the trail and operating several of the ferries you’ll take. We powered through the trail (north to south) in 4 nights, though if you have time, I’d recommend slowing your pace and shooting for somewhere between 5 to 7 nights ideally. The trail itself. Man… I couldn’t get over how gorgeous the forest was. A ton of old growth spruce, cedar and douglas fir. Lush, dense forests like this block out enough sunlight from above that a good chunk of the forest has no messy undergrowth… just tall trees, standing the test of time for hundreds of years towering over you as you weave and wind your way through. If that’s not enough, the mist from the wet ocean air often created an almost ethereal fog… you forget that places like this exist outside of epic fantasy novels. The forest trail had a mix of terrain. Slippery boardwalks… often sloped and of questionable sturdiness. There were gnarly tree root systems requiring very precise steps to avoid tripping or twisting an ankle. There were tons of deadfall bridges, requiring you to carefully balance as you crossed to avoid falling to your inevitable injury below. We counted 80 ladders as well on the trail, placed there to help with the pretty harsh ascents and descents… the ladders were hard and a bit precarious, but they definitely helped. You’ll have to fjord some of the streams, but the deeper streams had cable cars to aid in crossing. The cable cars are very unique and actually a lot of fun! And finally… let’s not forget the mud. Probably half the forest trail forces you through grueling mud pools that will test your patience, your balance and your creativity as you plot your path through them. The beach trail takes you along the beautiful coastline, but it’s no walk in the park either. You push through deep sand that’ll give your legs a workout even on a good day, you walk across slippery rocks of all sizes that’ll test your dexterity, and in a few rare cases if you’re lucky, you go across beautiful sandstone at low tides. It’s flat, grippy and a lot easier than the sand. The views along the coast are... stunning. The sandstone creates some amazing rock outcroppings, many of them almost impossibly blooming with life…. It’s like nothing you’ve ever seen before. There are 13 official campsites along the WCT and they aren’t created equal. We stayed on the sandy beaches of ‘Michigan Creek’ on night 1, the quaint ‘Nitinaht cabins’ on night 2, the little paradise ‘Bonilla Point’ on night 3, and the unfortunately overcrowded ‘Camper Bay’ on night 4. Each campsite on the trail offers something unique and special. In my opinion, it’s worth doing your research and planning your trip around the campsites that best suit your personal taste. Here are two of my highlights for what it’s worth. #1 - Tsusiat Falls… Now, even in the pouring rain, the waterfall sparkled and cascaded as though out of an enchanted forest. The inviting pool below is clean and refreshing and deep enough to swim in. Definitely don’t miss it. #2 - Bonilla Point - probably our favorite spot on the entire trail and it had its own waterfall. Perhaps a little smaller than Tsusiat Falls, but equally breathtaking. As the tide pulled back in the evening, the shoreline revealed a really cool field of rocks stretching out to the open ocean. Backdropped by the setting sun and the still water, it was truly something special to behold. The experience is one of a kind. The tides, the weather, the wildlife, the time of year, how you pace yourself, and who you’re with will each piece together your own unique trip and experience of the West Coast Trail. My advice… create some memories for yourself along the way by paying attention to what’s happening around you. It’s a grind that will take a lot out of you, but when you get to the end...that feeling… it’s something else. It’s a beautiful world we live in… get outdoors and enjoy it.