West Coast Trail Backpack
Guided Backpacking Trips
7 Days, 6 Nights 46.6MI / 75KM
Trip Highlights
This Canada Backpacking Trip is considered one of the world’s top itineraries to hike and we know exactly why it gets this label. This unique challenging route has so much to offer to those that put in the effort to embark on this unforgettable adventure. Our path is along the West Coast of Vancouver Island in British Columbia hiking along spectacular stretches of coastline and through stunning indigenous coastal rainforests. This trek, however, is not for the faint of heart with over 70 steep ladders to climb, multiple hanging suspension bridges to cross, high cable cars to traverse, and challenging terrain to navigate throughout our 7-day adventure.
There are great possibilities along the way to view not only terrestrial wildlife, but lots of marine species as well including whales, orcas, seals, sea lions, otters, and many more. There are many intriguing tidal pools to explore along the way, showcasing amazingly abundant ecosystems in the intertidal zones of our walk. All these highlights combined with world class hikes, fabulous coastal waterfalls, scenic beach campsites, fascinating local history, and opportunities for stunning sunsets should make this trip float to the top of even the most seasoned backpacker’s bucket list. Come see what all the buzz is about and let us plan your next unforgettable backpacking adventure!
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World Famous Backpacking Itinerary
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Stunning Beach & Coastal Rainforest Hiking
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Opportunity for Viewing Wildlife
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Amazing Coastal Waterfalls
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Exciting Suspension Bridges, Ladders, and Cable Cars
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Spectacular Sunsets
Book This Trip
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Trip Details
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Trip Type
Guided Backpacking Trips -
Trip Length
7 Days, 6 Nights -
Daily Hiking Distance
Up to 10.3 miles (16.5 km) -
Group Size
6-8 Guests
- day by day itinerary
- logistical and travel information
- gear and clothing lists and more
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Is This Trip Right For me?
This trip though mostly low in daily elevation changes and traveling moderate distances is considered extremely difficult. Much of the trip crosses steep wet technical terrain through a rugged and remote coastal rainforest wilderness with heavy backpack weights. There is a day with 10+ miles hiked and sections with extreme heights exposure due to bridges, cable cars and ladders being needed to traverse many parts of this route. All these factors combined is why this trip is given a Level 5 difficulty rating.
Difficulty Level
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Solitude Level
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Trip Itinerary
Please Note: We always do everything in our power to follow the set itinerary, however occasionally trips are subject to itinerary changes based on a variety of circumstances, including but not limited to: lodging/campground availability, extreme weather, political or bureaucratic obstacles, earthquakes, fires, flooding and more. Normal terms and conditions apply to trips with itinerary changes. Elevation gains and losses day to day can vary depending on a trip dates actual tide chart and the availability to walk along the coast vs. in the forest.
Pre-trip Arrival
You will need to arrive the day before your trip in time to attend a mandatory orientation meeting at 5 pm in the Royal Scot Hotel (425 Quebec Street, Victoria, British Columbia, V8V 1W7, Canada) lobby. Your guide will cover introductions, a thorough briefing of your route, hand out group and personal gear and answer any last-minute questions you may have. Dinner & lodging is on your own tonight; make sure you have a hearty meal and a good night’s sleep as tomorrow we hit the West Coast Trail!
Day 1
Driving Duration: 2.5 hours
Hiking Mileage: 3.1 miles (5 km)
Elevation Gain: 1329 feet (405 m)
Elevation Loss: 1365 feet (416 m)
Our West Coast Trail Backpacking trip begins with pick-up from your hotel in Victoria. We’ll drive 2.5 hours down a mostly winding road to the Parks Canada office at the Gordan River. Here our group will get an official orientation meeting from the Park on our trip, which is required for all groups venturing into this wilderness. Once complete we’ll load up our gear on to the local ferry boat and head off to the start of our hike. The trek today, though a shorter distance than our other days, starts very challenging with one of our steepest ladders on the whole trip and quickly introduces us to this area’s rugged wet terrain. Our much deserved camp today is at Trasher Cove. Here we’ll set up our homes for the night and enjoy our first evening and dinner together.
Day 2
Hiking Mileage: 4.8 miles (7.8 km)
Elevation Gain: 1175 feet (359 m)
Elevation Loss: 1120 feet (341 m)
Waking to the smell of coffee or tea and a delicious breakfast, we’ll pack up and throw on our backpacks and continue our hike. Some consider today to be one of the most challenging days of the trip. It is mainly due to rough coastal walking including crawling over large boulders and drift wood piles while negotiating surge channels throughout the day. What an adventure! We are rewarded with exceptional views all day, especially from the famous Owen’s Point. Camp tonight is in Campers Bay, properly named eh. A hot dinner and a warm sleeping bag is always much appreciated after our action packed day.
Day 3
Hiking Mileage: 5.7 miles (9.2 km)
Elevation Gain: 1070 feet (325 m)
Elevation Loss: 1000 feet (305 m)
After packing up camp and breakfast, we start our adventurous hike with our first cable car crossing. Today’s path is full of exciting suspension bridges, ladders and cable cars. One of the highlights is the high bridge over Logan Creek. We’ll have a lunch prepared by your guide along the way and camp tonight is at Walbran Creek. As the backpacks get lighter the views get better!
Day 4
Hiking Mileage: 7.1 miles (11.5 km)
Elevation Gain: 1060 feet (323 m)
Elevation Loss: 1050 feet (320 m)
Today is full of the highlights this trail is known for: sandstone shelves, exceptional coastal views, the potential for unique wildlife sightings and the historic Carmanah Lighthouse. Often whales and orcas can be seen in the distance and sea lions are also common along this stretch of the trail. We’ll continue on to eventually reach our night’s camp at Cribs Creek. If we are lucky we may get a clear Western sunset view tonight while we dine.
Day 5
Hiking Mileage: 10.3 miles (16.5 km)
Elevation Gain: 1043 feet (318 m)
Elevation Loss: 1102 feet (336 m)
Today might be the longest hike we have, and it is filled with rewards and trail side treasures along the way. After a morning of beach walking with killer views and maybe even killer whales, we’ll reach the local crab shack at Nitinat Narrows to have lunch. Soon after we’ll take our second boat ferry of the trip and continue our hike towards Tsusiat Point and the unique “Hole in the Wall” feature there. Our day ends at maybe the most popular camps along our route, Tsusiat Falls. Here a waterfall comes right down on the beach and creates a great pool for some fresh water swimming!
Day 6
Hiking Mileage: 8.1 miles (13 km)
Elevation Gain: 525 feet (160 m)
Elevation Loss: 623 feet (190 m)
After waking up to more delicious hot drinks and breakfast prepared by your guide, we’ll head out with the goal of reaching the scenic Michigan Creek for camp. We start almost immediately with climbing ladders and some rainforest hiking, but don’t worry we also get to walk along the beach today. The exciting part of the day comes with a long cable car crossing of the emerald green waters of the Kianawa River. Here some stellar teamwork will be needed from our group to pull our way across in groups of 2. We will eventually reach our camp tonight, which has a mixture of forest tent sites and beach sites all with great views. Enjoy your last night out on the trail, for tomorrow we complete our trek!
Day 7
Hiking Mileage: 7.5 miles (12 km)
Elevation Gain: 1168 feet (356 m)
Elevation Loss: 1135 feet (346 m)
Driving Duration: 4 hours
Today marks our final day of our coastal hiking adventure and gives way to some easier walking. Our trail comes to an end with our final set of ladders at the historic Pachena Lighthouse. Here, we’ll hopefully get another glimpse of sea lions while we enjoy our last lunch before we catch our group’s shuttle and head back to drop everyone off at their hotel in Victoria. We plan to arrive back to the hotel between 6-8 pm. What a week it has been!
Trip Dates
Click on a date to register. You can also click here to request new dates or book through customer service.
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What's Included
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A detailed trip packet that takes the guesswork out of your travel, training, packing, and preparing for the trip
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Trained hiking guide(s) with years of personal wilderness and hiking experience, medical certifications, and a passion for leading people into breathtaking landscapes. See Guide Bios.
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Transportation for the duration of the tour
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All meals from lunch on Day 1 through lunch on Day 7
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Gear including multi-day backpack, tent, sleeping pad, trekking poles and more
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High quality, synthetic sleeping bag (professionally laundered after every use)
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Emergency equipment including a company-issued first-aid kit and communication device
What's Not Included
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Transportation to/from Victoria, British Columbia -
Accommodations and meals in Victoria
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All expenses due to unavoidable events e.g. flight cancellation, personal illness, strikes, etc. (we strongly recommend trip insurance coverage for these variables)
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Clothes, rain gear, and footwear
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Sunscreen, toiletries and personal items
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Water bottles and a headlamp or flashlight
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Extra drinks & snacks at any businesses along the trail
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Guide gratuities are optional and at the discretion of each customer. A suggested guideline is to reward outstanding service with a tip of 10-15% of the total trip cost. Local currency is preferred, or USD is also appreciated. Electronic tipping is not available.
Accommodations
PREMIER CAMPING
TENT CAMPING
Sleeping on this trip is in premier 1-person or 2-person backcountry tents. Top-of-the-line self-inflating sleeping pads and sleeping bags (professionally laundered after every trip) are also provided.
Trip Logistics & FAQs
How Do I Register?
Reserve your spot today! In the Trip Dates & Booking section of this page, the green and red dates are bookable online by simply clicking on the date, and blue dates must be booked through our customer service team for a variety of possible reasons. To email our customer service team, you can click here to get the ball rolling. Our adventure consultants will confirm availability, and if you’re ready to register we’ll email you a link to a registration profile. You’ll have 72 hours to complete your profile (and that of any dependents) and pay the deposit.
Feel free to call us for more info – we’re here 7 days a week!
Where Do We Meet?
You’ll meet your hiking guide and group in Victoria, British Columbia for a mandatory orientation meeting at 5 pm the evening before the trip begins at the Royal Scot Hotel (425 Quebec Street, Victoria, British Columbia, V8V 1W7, Canada). It is recommended to plan arrival flights to land by 3 pm to allow time for baggage, customs and travel to the hotel in time for this mandatory meeting. Your guide will cover introductions, a thorough briefing of your route, hand out group and personal gear and answer any last-minute questions you may have. Your guide will let you know what time the following morning to meet and depart from the Royal Scot Hotel in Victoria for transport to the trailhead together.
Our Canada communications team will be in contact approximately 45 days before your trip and will specify the exact time & location of the orientation meeting at that point if there are changes from the above time/location.
Click here to see a printable, downloadable trip information packet with more detailed guidance about flights, shuttles, recommended lodging and more.
Travel to Victoria
Trip Start: Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. Be sure to arrive 1 day prior in order to make our orientation meeting. Transportation to/from Victoria is the guest’s responsibility.
Trip End: Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. Please plan for flights no earlier than 10 pm on Day 7; we recommend not scheduling flights until the next day.
Closest Airport: Victoria International Airport (YYJ)
Airport Transportation: Multiple rental car companies are available at the Victoria airport along with multiple Taxi service and scheduled public transportation options (BC Transit).
Safety Precautions
Your safety is our top priority. Our hiking tours are led by professional hiking guides, all of whom are wilderness-certified first responders or EMT’s, each with years of guiding and wilderness experience. Guides adhere to standardized risk management protocols in case of any potential or actual incident, and all tours carry an emergency communication device and comprehensive first-aid kit. Additionally we have a “24/7” system through which guides or guests can reach Wildland support personnel at any time.
In the interest of your safety, it’s important to refer to the Center for Disease Control website for up-to-date recommendations on immunizations before your trip.
Age Restrictions
Age restrictions on this trip are as follows:
- 12 and older to join scheduled tours (mixed groups)
- 12 and older to join private tours, with final approval and specific logistical requirements determined on a case-by-case basis.
Trip Insurance Requirements
Field evacuation, repatriation, and medical insurance is REQUIRED as a condition of partnership terms with our Canadian vendors (field evacuation and repatriation minimum coverage is a combined $200,000 USD).
We recommend IMG/iTravelinsured. They are one of the world’s leading providers of travel insurance and policies meet all Alps requirements.
For information on the recommended IMG/iTravelinsured policies please click here.
If you already have the required insurance or wish to purchase from anyone other than IMG/iTravelinsured, we recommend careful consultation with the provider to ensure appropriate coverage. This is because many providers have a number of policy exclusions.
Reviews
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Abby J
2 years agoWill Take Your Breath Away
Wow, what a ride! This trip was not for the faint hearted, or the weak kneed, but was is absolutely incredible. Ladders, boulders, sand and roots galore, but with constant views of either the gorgeous rocky shores and beaches, or the lush forest trails. Every day was a new landscape, a new adventure and a new challenge but every minute of struggle was worth it. Our guides, Sara and Brandon were absolutely amazing...always helping, always encouraging and always smiling (even when I dropped one of my poles in the water during a cable car crossing, oops!). This was definitely my most physically challenging Wildland trip yet, but I am so glad that I did it. Highly recommended to anyone looking for a trip that will take your breath away (literally and figuratively). Pro tips: bring some grippy gloves for the bouldering day, gaiters are a must, and if you can fit an ultra-lite camp chair in your pack, you won't regret it!
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