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Home > Where We Go | How We Travel | Where We Stay > Nootka West Coast Trail
Hike the ultimate trail of marine wilderness on Canada’s west coast. This camping and hiking holiday centers on a six-day backpack on the Nootka Trail, a remote hiking trail off the west coast of Vancouver Island on Nootka Island. Our small group flies by floatplane to Nuchatlitz Inlet at the north end of Nootka Island and hikes 35 kilometers of desolate, pristine beaches along the west coast to Yuquot (Friendly Cove). One of the few coastal hiking routes in British Columbia, this area is home to a great variety of marine and animal life, and features ancient village sites, waterfalls, sea caves and culturally modified trees. Travellers will hike the west coast in its undeveloped state, as the West Coast Trail used to be. Upon reaching the 4300 year old village of Yuquot, we travel by converted minesweeper back to Gold River. Then, it's back to Gold River to our motel for a shower and a pub dinner. Note: The 35-km-long Nootka Trail is relatively unknown in international circles and does not experience nearly the foot traffic of its well known and well frequented cousin, "The West Coast Trail."
Reservations Nootka West Coast Trail Itinerary Victoria, B.C. return Day 1. Strathcona Provincial Park, B.C. Camping. From Victoria we travel northeast along the coast of Vancouver Island. The Malahat Drive provides panoramic views of the coastal mountains and the snow-capped peaks of the Olympic Mountains in Washington State. Approaching Nanaimo, we divert to the BC Ferry Terminal to pick up customers traveling from Vancouver. At Campbell River we turn east and ascend into the mountain wilderness of Strathcona Provincial Park. Snow capped peaks, deep forests and waterfalls make this a spectacular driving day. At camp, we check our gear and take a preliminary hike with our packs. Day 2 - 6 Nootka Island, B.C. Camping. An early morning start gets us on the road and into Gold River. At nearby Nootka Harbour we board the floatplane to Nootka Island. Along this 35 kilometer trail small bays, miles of sandy and packed pebbles beaches await us!. The group and guide disembark at Louie Bay Lagoon and set off for a half-day hike to the first campsite. Hikers will see shipwrecks, ancient village sites, traditional native gathering grounds, rainforests, waterfalls, tidal pools, sea caves, tidal rock shelves, sea otters, whales, orcas, bald eagles and black bears. En route, in order to preserve the intact coastal ecosystem, we practice no-trace camping. The trail finishes at Friendly Cove, the birth place of British Columbia. It was here in 1790 that Captain Cook first met the natives of the island with his first officer George Vancouver. Day 7: Gold River, B.C. Motel. Our day begins at the end of our hike at Friendly Cove. Here, passengers have the option of visiting the native museum of the Mowachaht/Muchalaht people of Yuquot. In the afternoon, we board the freight ship MV Uchuck III (a converted minesweeper) for a scenic tour along the inlet back to Gold River. In the evening, after a welcome fresh water shower, we can visit the adjacent pub to celabrate the end of the trail. Day 8: Victoria, B.C. On this last day, we wind our way back to Victoria, stopping at the Nanaimo Ferry Terminal for members of the group who wish to continue to Vancouver. The tour finishes in Victoria at approximately 7:00 p.m. Accommodation for this night is not included. Reservations bottom_table |
Nootka West Coast Trail Click a picture to see
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