West Coast TrailTravel & Exploration
Last update 2 d. agoCreated on the 20th of May 2026
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Duration
~56.1 hours
Distance
219.4 km
Elevation gain
720 m
Difficulty
T2 — moderate mountain hike
High point
200 m
West Coast Trail
A 75 km rugged coastal trek along the wild southwest edge of Vancouver Island in British Columbia, built on the historic Dominion Lifesaving Trail. Hikers navigate ladders, cable cars, bog boardwalks, slippery rocks, and tide dependent beach sections through old growth rainforest and surf battered shoreline.
Open May through September only, with a strict Parks Canada quota and mandatory orientation, so book the permit the moment reservations open in January. Carry a current tide table, as several beach sections are impassable at high tide and require waiting hours or taking inland bypass trails.
