Considerations for the West Coast TrailThere are 13 established campsites along the West Coast Trail. They are fairly well spaced out and all are located near fresh water creeks and rivers.  Amenities are kept to a minimum to keep the trail wild and beautiful, so you rarely see any signs or markers to indicate precisely where to pitch your tent.  This is one of the many great aspects of the West Coast Trail is the focus on keeping it natural looking.

Campsites are mostly found along the beach where you can find a clearing in the driftwood above high tide.  Some campsites have tent sites in the forest which are simply clearings from previous hikers.  There is no reservation system for campsites, so you show up at a campsite, find a good spot and set up your tent.  West Coast Trail campsites are all equipped with beautifully designed outhouses, with the exception of Orange Juice Creek, which does not.  The outhouses look like tree houses as they are built a couple metres off the ground to accommodate a large composting bin and constructed with sturdy wood.  When you enter one you immediately recognize the wonderful scent of cedar.  Western redcedar shavings are piled high next to the toilet and you throw a handful into the toilet after you finish.  Outhouses along the trail are shockingly nice, don’t smell bad, reasonably clean and almost always have a beautiful view of the ocean when you exit.  Of course they are not equipped with toilet paper, so all hikers must supply their own.  Bear proof food storage boxes are found at most campsites as well, so you can keep your food safe from animals and not have to worry.  Campfires are almost always allowed, though there were a few uncharacteristically dry summers recently and temporary campfire bans were put in place.  If there is a campfire ban in place you will be told that during your orientation session before you start the trail.  There are also a couple pay, “comfort” camping options halfway along the trail, but they are not included here as roughing it on the trail is part of the experience and they would detract from that and feel a little bit like cheating.

Michigan Creek Campsite Outhouses

Michigan Creek Campsite Outhouses

Do I Have to Camp at a Campsite?

No, you can camp anywhere you want with the exception of First Nations reserve lands and areas closed due to potentially dangerous wildlife activity.  These areas are clearly marked on the West Coast Trail map you get when you start the trail and closures not marked on the map will be explained to you on the orientation session before you start.  There are surprisingly few good places to camp that are easy to spot.  Along the beach your main concern is finding a spot for your tent above high tide.  A convenient and close creek or river is another concern.  The more you search for a good unofficial campsite, the more you realize that all the good campsite possibilities are where the official campsites already are.  There is one exception to this, Dare Beach near KM40.  Dare Beach would likely be an official West Coast Trail campsite if the beach wasn’t so small and confined.  You can’t reasonably establish an official beach campsite that only has room for two or three tents.  Being unofficial and not marked as a campsite on the West Coast Trail map has one obvious benefit, however, it is overlooked by almost everyone.  Dare Beach is described in better detail in the following list of West Coast Trail campsites.

Dare Beach from the Dare Creek Bridge

Dare Beach From Above

West Coast Trail Campsites

Campsite Icon West Coast TrailOccasionally along the West Coast Trail you will pass kilometre markers that indicate the distance from the trailhead at Pachena Bay to the end of the trail just past the KM75 marker at the end of the trail at Gordon River in Port Renfrew.  If you start at the south trailhead at Gordon River you will be starting at the KM75 and counting down the kilometres to zero at the north end of the trail at Pachena Bay.  The following list of campsites will be in order of north to south for no other reason than to align with the ordering of the KM markers.  On each campsite you will see a rating of excellent, good, mediocre and poor.  Ranking are tricky to do as everyone has different preferences for what makes a good or bad campsite.  We tend to favour campsites with nice views, pretty beaches and less crowded.  A pool of water to jump into at the end of a long hike is another thing we value highly.  So if a campsite like Michigan Creek which is notoriously crowded, has a not terribly pretty beach and a small shallow stream, we rank as poor.  A campsite like the one at Tsusiat Falls is busy, but very large and spread out, has a beautiful beach and an incredible waterfall to dive into, we would rank as excellent.  A good campsite we would consider one step below excellent and a mediocre campsite we consider as not very good, but not terrible.  Planning your hike to avoid mediocre and poor campsites is highly recommended as some West Coast Trail campsites are absolutely wonderful and have characteristics that may contribute to making your experience magical and unforgettable. 

Michigan Creek Campsite Near KM12 - Poor

4 West Coast Trail RatingThe campsite at Michigan Creek is the first or last campsite you will encounter on the West Coast Trail. First if you begin your hike at the Pachena trailhead(hiking south) and last if you begin at the Gordon River trailhead(hiking north). The 12.1 kilometres(7.5 miles) between the Pachena trailhead and Michigan Creek is fairly easy and flat. Compared to the rest of the West Coast Trail, this section is wonderfully relaxing. At a brisk pace, you should be able to hike this section in a little over 3 hours.  At a more relaxed pace, and stopping at the Pachena Point Lighthouse, you will take 4 or 5 hours from the trailhead. Michigan Beach is not terribly pretty, though the Michigan shipwreck boiler is quite a sight. The campsite is busy and you should pick one of the neighbouring campsites. Darling RiverOrange Juice Creek and Tsocowis Creek campsites are all better than Michigan.

Boiler from the 1893 Michigan Shipwreck

Michigan Shipwreck Boiler

Darling River Campsite Near KM14 - Good

7 West Coast Trail RatingThe second, or second to last campsite on the West Coast Trail is at Darling River. Located just 1.6 kilometres(1 mile) from Michigan Creek, the Darling River campsite has an alright, sandy beach and a truly wonderful waterfall. Darling Falls pour into a stunning, emerald coloured pool nestled against a short cliff. The falls only drop about three or four metres as they fill the pool at the base and flowing down to the ocean in an ever-narrowing torrent of water.  The campsite at Darling River is the best along this stretch of the West Coast Trail because of its wonderful waterfall. Michigan Creek is busy often chaotic. There are many aspects of this place that are beautiful. First it is a bit up from the beach and almost everyone passes it by unnoticed! Another is the emerald colour of the water is hemmed in by the deep forest that stretches over the small valley giving you a strange sense that you are inside something.  Until you look directly up as you float on your back in the water and see a narrow band of sky through the encroaching forest. On a sunny day, the sun penetrates the thick canopy only along a gap that appears to narrow by the minute. At the Darling River campsite, you are just five hours from the Pachena trailhead. That is at a reasonably good pace and including a short tour of the lighthouse on the way. There are lots of areas along the beach that you can put up a tent amongst the driftwood logs.  There are not a lot of amenities off the beach, except for the usual bear proof food boxes and West Coast Trail outhouses. One amusing thing you find here is the morale of the hikers that pass by. Heading to Michigan Beach, you see people on the last full day on the trail. Tired and plodding along to the last night before the end of the trail, not even walking up Darling River for a couple minutes to see the amazing waterfall!

Beautiful Darling Falls

Darling Falls West Coast Trail

Orange Juice Creek Campsite at KM15 - Mediocre

5 West Coast Trail RatingJust a kilometre past the Darling River campsite you will come to another beach campsite at Orange Juice Creek. Orange Juice Creek is not terribly pretty and gets its name from the intensely, orange juice coloured water that crashes through a tangled morass of driftwood logs. If you aren't keen on swimming and/or washing at Darling Falls, Orange Juice Creek is a good alternative. Orange Juice Creek is the third(or third to last) campsite on the West Coast TrailMichigan CreekDarling River, Orange Juice Creek and Tsocowis Creek are all along a fairly continuous beach that stretches for 5 kilometres. All are easily within a days hike from or to the Pachena trailhead. Of the four campsites Michigan Creek is by far the busiest and Darling River is definitely best because of its wonderful waterfall. The waterfall is amazing, located in deep forest, pouring through a narrow channel and plunging 2 metres into a crystal clear, emerald coloured pool. In terms of popularity with campers, Orange Juice Creek is considerably quieter than Michigan Creek and much quieter than Darling River. Also, due to the arching shape of the beach and morass of driftwood you will find a more relaxed and private campsite at Orange Juice Creek. One interesting aspect of Orange Juice Creek that makes it worth camping at is the small, but very livable sea cave. Some find it charming, others find it spooky. At the very least it is worth a look. A small fire ring usually sits in the middle, surrounded by driftwood logs for seats. In horribly, wet weather, this cave is paradise, at least if you are looking for an unusual and interesting place to escape the rain. Orange Juice Creek spills from the forest in a bizarre looking reddish, brown torrent onto the beach in the midst of a monstrous tangle of driftwood logs. At first sight, Orange Juice Creek is an ugly mess of logs and murky coloured water. After some closer consideration, the place becomes interesting and even beautiful in a way.

Orange Juice Creek Campsite Cave View

Orange Juice Creek Cave West Coast Trail

Tsocowis Creek Campsite at KM16.5 - Mediocre

6 West Coast Trail RatingThe Tsocowis Creek campsite at 16.5k has a decent beach with an excellent water source. Most hikers pass through the beach here on their way to Michigan if heading north or Tsusiat Falls if hiking south. The beach at Tsocowis is fairly decent and there is plenty of room for tents along the beach amongst the driftwood logs. Tsocowis Beach has a lot of interesting features to explore.  Shipwreck debris, stunning sandstone cliffs with a wonderful sea cave. Tsocowis Falls brings excellent, fresh water just steps from your tent. Ladders near the campsite take you up above and over Tsocowis Falls. The view from the top of the ladders and on the bridge are fantastic. A tremendous way to view the beach below you. It is a good idea to take a long look at the beach as camping here is unexpectedly nice and far less busy than almost every other West Coast Trail campsite.  The sandy beach invites you to plunge into the ocean. Parts of the beach are a bit messy with tangles of driftwood and seaweed, however for the most part, the beach is quite nice.  You have the same amenities here as other West Coast Trail campsites such as deluxe outhouses and animal proof food storage boxes. Tsocowis is home to one of the West Coast Trail guard cabin's. In 1940 the survivors of the Varsity shipwreck survived by crawling their way to the shelf below what is now called Valencia Bluffs. They now found themselves on a steep shelf that they could not climb. Out of the wreckage they managed to survive exposure and construct a ladder up the cliff and found the trail that hikers now call the West Coast Trail.

Tsocowis Creek from Above

Tsocowis Creek Beach View

The three survivors made their way to Tsocowis Creek and found the Tsocowis cabin occupied by lineman who fortunately was there. The three were later picked up from Tsocowis Beach. Today the shipwreck's huge metal winch rusts in a crevice at the foot of Valencia Bluffs. Hikers tend to pass this campsite and push on to the end of the trail(or the next campsite if heading south).  Everybody it seems camp at Tsusiat Falls or Klanawa River.

Klanawa River Campsite at KM23 - Excellent

8 West Coast Trail RatingThe campsite at Klanawa River is quite nice because of its lovely, swimmable river, expansive beach and serenity relative to other West Coast Trail campsites.. Though the beach is a thick, tangle of driftwood, you can still manage to find cleared areas perfect for a tent. Klanawa River is just a couple kilometres from Tsusiat FallsTsusiat Falls is pretty impressive and hardly any West Coast Trail hikers don't camp there.  This leaves few people at Klanawa River. Beautiful beach and a wonderfully huge river, the Klanawa River campsite is fantastic. And because it is close to the super popular Tsusiat Falls campground it is often quiet and serene.  Also, the main trail runs to the cable car crossing which diverts the crowds away.  At Klanawa River you will find the water flowing past wide and slow. The river is deep enough to dive into from the riverbank. Which is the best way to get in as it is always surprisingly cold. There are several nice places in the morass of tangled driftwood logs to put up a tent. This gives you a nice feeling of having partial walls and you are never more than a metre away from a log to sit on. In the forest you will find a few more, very nice and also serene feeling clearings for tents. Always with a perfect little fire ring in the centre and sometimes with log furniture surrounding. It is hard to say where is better for your tent, in the wild, deep forest or the wild, driftwood scattered beach. The forest is a bit more cozy feeling and especially suited for a campfire in the forest. The beach, however has the benefit of a perfectly smooth, sand surface under your tent and the ever present river and ocean view.

Klanawa River and Distant Cable Car Crossing

Klanawa River Campsite on the West Coast Trail

Tsusiat Falls Campsite at KM25 - Excellent

9 Rating IconOne of the most popular and beautiful campsites along the West Coast Trail is Tsusiat Falls. Tsusiat Falls is one of the main highlights on the trail with its dramatically wide and beautifully picturesque appearance. You will find Tsusiat Falls at the base of an extraordinary array of ladders extending hundreds of metres up into the trees.  Tsusiat Falls pours over an abrupt and wide cliff onto the sandy beach. The force of the water has dug out quite a large pool that flows in an ever changing channel through the sand to the ocean. It is not unusual to see whales passing by from your tent. Tsusiat Falls campsite is wide and extends as far as you want to go down the beach. As everyone has seen pictures of it, everyone aims for it to spend the night. If you don't mind crowds then you'll love it.  If you don't like crowds, you may have trouble finding a serene corner to camp. If you really want to find serenity, you might try camping at the far end of the beach where you will find quite a large sea cave. If you love waking up to whales in the distance and the beautiful roar of waterfalls nearby, then you will find that at Tsusiat. The campsite is well designed for crowds though as the hundreds of driftwood logs on the beach have fashioned partitioned areas randomly, where some sort of organized privacy exists.  Tsusiat Falls pours over an abrupt and wide cliff onto the sandy beach. The force of the water has dug out quite a large pool that flows in an ever changing channel through the sand to the ocean. It is quite common to see whales passing in the distance from the beach at Tsusiat.  The beach is raised up a few metres from the ocean and affords you a better vantage point over the ocean than you get elsewhere. Tsusiat Falls campsite is very spacious and extends way down the beach in both directions. As everyone has seen pictures of it, everyone aims for it to spend the night. If you don't mind crowds then you'll love it.  If you don't like crowds, you may have trouble finding a serene corner to camp.

Tsusiat Falls Campsite View

Tsusiat Falls West Coast Trail

Dare Beach Unofficial Campsite Near KM40 - Good

7 West Coast Trail RatingNear KM39 you come to a long bridge crossing the creek that flows through Dare Beach. The view of the beach far below is fantastic. Far below you see a pool of clear green water flowing over and beside a big rock shelf emerging from the forest. The beautiful pool ends at a big jumble of deadfall logs where the creek flows through for about 15 metres before ending at a wonderful sandy beach cut through by the creek. This is Dare Beach, named after Dare Point which juts out to the right and the sight of the Dare shipwreck that happened here in 1890. The same Dare Point would claim another ship in 1923 when the 600 ton steel steamer Santa Rita wrecked here. Dare Beach an unofficial West Coast Trail campsite, so it has no campsite amenities and is not marked as a campsite on maps. There is not a lot of room to camp along the beach, but otherwise it is fantastic, especially compared to the busy and a bit ugly Cribs Creek campsite just 1.5 kilometres away.

Dare Beach Unofficial Campsite

Dare Beach Unofficial West Coast Trail Campsite

Cribs Creek Campsite Near KM42 - Poor

4 West Coast Trail RatingCribs Creek at KM42 of the West Coast Trail is a beautiful, clean, and surprisingly emerald coloured creek that flows through the messy, beach campsite. The pretty creek is about the only nice part about this campsite. The beach is not great, it smells of ageing seaweed, the sandy beach has patches of grass and bushes that give it a messy feel.  Unlike many other beaches on the West Coast Trail where you have long sandy beaches carved out by the ocean in giant arcs. At Cribs Creek, you find an irregular and not very attractive beach setting. Still, a nice atmosphere can be created.  A lively campfire and a West Coast Trail sunset turns this mediocre beach into decent place to get some rest. Certainly the biggest drawback to Cribs Creek is how busy it always is.  Owing to its great distance to the next campsite to the north, Tsusiat Falls, everyone seems to camp here. And they camp here after quite a long day of hiking. Unlike Tsusiat Falls campers, who tend to marvel at the ocean view or stunning waterfalls, at Cribs Creek you find campers busy and focused on camping and cooking. Skipping Cribs Creek as a campsite is recommended. Carmanah Creek campsite is just 4 kilometres away and considerably nicer and quieter. You should try your best to exclude Cribs Creek from one of your campsites on the West Coast Trail. The Carmanah Creek campsite is infinitely nicer if you can manage the extra 4 kilometres of relatively easy beach walking.

Cribs Creek Campsite

Cribs Creek Campsite

Carmanah Creek Campsite Near KM46 - Excellent

Hike Rating West Coast TrailCarmanah Creek slowly flows through this wonderfully massive channel that cuts deep into the sand out to the ocean. There is a cable car crossing that connects to the forest on either side of the creek. Most West Coast Trail hikers pass the campsite here without taking a moment to look at the nice beach. Plenty of room for plenty of tents on the wide, sand beach.  This is one of the beaches that makes you drop your pack, sit on the warm sand and gaze out at the ocean dumbfounded for minutes at a time. The West Coast Trail is something special! There is no shortage of great spots on the beach to put up your tent. You can even put up your tent along the river on the lovely sandy bank. Everybody camps at the unimpressive Cribs Creek campsite just 4 kilometres away, leaving Carmanah Creek a serene little hideaway. This is one of the campsites where you will want to stay for days, so you might want to include that in your itinerary! The beach is large and very pretty. There are plenty of spots for tents. Sunset here are wonderful. Lots of driftwood for beach fires. You will love jumping in the creek on a hot day and braving a dip in the ocean here is very enticing. Added to this, the fact that few other hikers camp here make it one of the best campsites on the West Coast Trail.  There are the usual West Coast Trail campsite amenities at Carmanah Creek, including outhouses, food boxes and some clearings in the forest for tents. The beach is ideal for camping, and on a sunny day, you will find yourself wandering down the lovely beach towards the Carmanah Point Lighthouse. Chez Monique's is along the beach between the lighthouse and Carmanah Creek. Sadly Monique passed away in 2018, however her restaurant continues to operate. Chez Monique's is a restaurant along the beach with burgers and drinks. Seems a bit strange to encounter a restaurant in the middle of the West Coast Trail, but it has been here for years and will likely remain. For some, Chez Monique's is a highlight of the trail, for others it is an annoying bit of civilization in the midst of the wild beauty of the West Coast of Vancouver Island. 

Amazing Carmanah Creek Campsite

Carmanah Creek Campsite Best of West Coast Trail

Bonilla Creek Campsite Near KM48 - Excellent

8 West Coast Trail RatingThe Bonilla Creek campsite at KM48 on the West Coast Trail is easy to miss, as it looks very unassuming from the beach. Most hikers pass by Bonilla Falls, which is nestled against a small cliff at the edge of a suddenly deep forest. And the forest hides a nice little world, somewhat sheltered from the elements. An outhouse sits up at the far end, and several tent clearings stretch to the beach where you find a wonderful hammock cobbled together over the years out of old fishing nets and ropes.  A bit surreal in such a remote feeling place, but it is so elaborate that it makes you look around for permanent residents! You won't find any permanent human residents, however, you will encounter some wildlife as there always seems to be a bear or two walking the shoreline between Bonilla Point and Carmanah Creek in the early morning hours. The campsite at Bonilla Creek has some beautiful characteristics. First the cute, Bonilla Falls have a perfect little pool to dunk yourself in and wash off the days hiking grime. The falls hide at the edge of the forest and once you reach them you feel like you are in a secluded little world. The falls are often bathed in sunshine and the water lights up to a brilliant green colour. Second, the campsite is quite good with lots of varied places to put up a tent as well as some driftwood structures out on the beach. Within the forest you find all sorts of strange constructions out of things washed up on the beach. At the far end of the campsite you find a characteristically lovely outhouse hidden in the trees. The third wonderful aspect of the Bonilla Creek campsite is the sunsets. They are sensational. Bright orange, with the narrow islands in the distance topped by improbable looking trees. Added to that, you have a relatively quiet campsite compared to other West Coast Trail campsites.

Beautiful Bonilla Falls Campsite View

Best West Coast Trail Bonilla Falls

Walbran Creek Campsite Near KM53 - Excellent

9 Rating IconWalbran Creek at KM53 is home to possibly the best and most unappreciated campsites on the West Coast Trail. The Walbran Creek campsite encapsulates so much that makes the West Coast Trail truly wonderful. The expansive beach which seems purpose built for enjoyability is flanked by scenic cliffs and creek on one side, the pacific ocean on the other, and backed by the emerald coloured Walbran Creek that flows through the jungle valley spanned by a cable car crossing!  Of the list of pro's and con's for Walbran Creek, the list is hopelessly lopsided to the pro's. Walbran Creek campsite is reached in the middle of the most challenging, invigorating, stunning, bewildering and breathtaking section of the West Coast Trail. The ladders you encounter heading either direction from the campsite are astounding in size. One after another you ascend and descend the most improbably long and slippery, wooden ladders that always feel solid and safe, despite their obvious age and weathering. Even the cable car crossing is exhilarating. It is a very long one and this one in particular invites you to stop midway and take in the stunning view in either direction. Upstream the view is an emerald coloured creek(though it looks more like a river in size), flanked by a beautifully tangled rainforest jungle on either side. The view in the other direction is of the Pacific Ocean framed by trees on either side. Though this image is pretty, it doesn't reveal the true beauty of the campsite that spills out along the beach, just out of view. For most, this cable car glimpse is the closest they get to the Walbran Creek campsite. Such a shame as they are passing a little piece of West Coast Trail paradise. If you do venture down the short side trail to the campsite, almost entirely on the beach you will be instantly surprised by the beach of weather rounded rocks and maze of driftwood logs. Though a beautiful, sandy beach may be your ideal, a pebble beach is a close second.

Walbran Creek Beach Campsite View

Walbran Creek Camp West Coast Trail

Cullite Cove Campsite Near KM58 - Excellent

9 Rating IconCullite Cove is a wonderful campsite on the West Coast Trail at the 58 kilometre mark. One of the nicest campsites you will find on the WCT. It has everything, a lovely wooded area with clearings for tents and campfires. Stunning views all around. A terrific, pebble beach, beautifully hemmed in by towering cliffs on either side.  Cullite Creek pours into the cove, making for a stunning, albeit freezing swim into the surf. Cullite Cove is a close to perfect as a campsite can get. The creek is beautiful, crystal clear, bright green, big and slow moving into Cullite Cove. A picture perfect beach hemmed in by majestic cliffs on both sides. The forest is a wonderful tangle of trees extending up to some of the most challenging sections of the West Coast Trail.  In both directions on the trail you encounter some of the longest ladders on the trail. Very exhilarating, but also a bit bewildering as you can't help but wonder how a trail could develop in such absurdly rugged terrain. With ladders everywhere the trail is still very challenging. Before the ladders, it must have been a nightmare. It is this section of the West Coast Trail that makes people fall in love with it. It is hard. Very hard. And you never quite know what is around the next bend in the trail or at the top of a ladder. Plenty of times you will climb an impossibly long ladder, only to come to a small platform and another ladder as long as the first!

Wonderful Cullite Cove Campsite

Cullite Creek Camp Best of West Coast Trail

Camper Bay Campsite Near KM62 - Good

6 West Coast Trail RatingThe Camper Bay campsite at KM62 of the West Coast Trail is very nice, similar to Cullite Cove there are cliffs on either side. The downside is crowding. It's the first really good campsite from the Port Renfrew direction. Still, it's spacious. Another downside is the proximity of Port Renfrew. It's hard to get the wilderness feeling when you can see boats pass every minute and cruise ships in the distance.  Camper Bay is often home to quite a number of campers. You always find the campsite lined with tents along the treeline packed so close together as to hear each others conversations. A bit too cozy, but on the other hand, Camper Bay is a great place to socialize with fellow hikers. The linear tent site arrangement along the treeline make it necessary for you and others to walk past several tents to do almost anything. So you get fairly well acquainted with your fellow West Coast Trail hikers. Camper Bay has an excellent water source in Camper Creek. A cable car crossing spans it just above the campsite. You have all the usual West Coast Trail campsite amenities of animal proof food boxes and deluxe outhouses. There is also a West Coast Trail guard cabin. The guard cabins are spaced out along the trail in order to communicate accidents and facilitate rescue. If you encounter someone injured on the West Coast Trail and need help, your best bet is to make your way to a guard cabin as soon as possible. They are not constantly manned, however they are frequently occupied by a helpful West Coast Trail guard. Camper Creek flows out of the trees, along the large, mostly rocky clearing in front of the sandy border where most tents end up. The water bends right sharply before reaching the ocean. So if you want to check out the ocean you have to cross the shallow creek and climb the finger of land blocking the view. The view you get is a remarkably close view of the United States across Juan de Fuca Strait. The US looks back at you from a distance of only a couple dozen kilometres.

Camper Bay Campsite Sunset

Camper Creek Campsite West Coast Trail

Thrasher Cove Campsite Near KM70 - Poor

4 West Coast Trail RatingThrasher Cove is the first, or last West Coast Trail campsite you will encounter. It has a lot of good aspects as well as some bad. In terms of good, the beach is very pretty and quite interesting. Not a broad and long beach, the beach at Thrasher is quite varied with rock outcrops and constant bends. You can easily keep yourself amused by wandering down the beach, poking your head around every new corner. Back at the campsite, the beach tent sites are backed by an amazingly abrupt ascent to the main trail. Long ladders that stretch so far as you often can't see the top. Looking up from the bottom of a ladder, you see it narrow in the distance above until all you see is jungle. Often the top of the ladder emerges to a small platform and another staggeringly long ladder!  Back down near the beach, still in the wild and steep jungle you find the outhouse. As West Coast Trail outhouses go, this one is one of the best. The Thrasher Cove outhouse is perched up in the trees above the beach and looking around, you feel the embrace of the trees all around giving just narrow glimpses of the ocean. It sits quite high above the ocean despite being just a few metres from the beach. It is a nicely exhilarating feeling to step from the beach into the suddenly deep, tangled forest. Brilliantly green, the forest here glows bright when the sun penetrates through. What a remarkably difference a few metres makes. Sandy bright beach with sweeping ocean views then deep neon green and captivatingly beautiful rainforest world.

Thrasher Cove Beach Campsite

Thrasher Cove Campsite West Coast Trail

Best West Coast Trail Sights & Highlights

Best West Coast Trail Sights

West Coast Trail Guide

There are 13 established campsites along the West Coast Trail. They are fairly well spaced out and all are located near fresh water creeks and rivers.  Amenities are kept to a minimum to keep the trail wild and beautiful, so you rarely see any signs or markers to ...
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The West Coast Trail is a very tough hike. About one out of one hundred hikers don't make it, they need to be rescued. That's why there are so many fees. By the time you are done preparing and registering, you laugh at how hiking got so expensive. Isn't hiking usually ...
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When shipping in and out of Juan de Fuca Strait rapidly increased in the mid 1800's and an alarming and costly number of ships were lost, the need for a inland trail was realized. It would take decades, and many more brutal and costly shipwrecks in the waters leading to
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The West Coast Trail is incredible. Everything about it is amazing. From the wildly, incomprehensibly enormous trees to endless jaw dropping views. And it's tough.  Very tough.  It is a trail that shouldn't exist. Hiking trails always form out of the easiest route worn ...
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Amazing Whistler Hiking Trails

Explore BC Hiking Destinations!

The West Coast Trail

The West Coast Trail was created after decades of brutal and costly shipwrecks occurred along the West Coast of Vancouver Island.  One shipwreck in particular was so horrific, tragic and unbelievable that it forced the creation of a trail along the coast, which ...
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Victoria Hiking Trails

Victoria has a seemingly endless number of amazing hiking trails.  Most take you to wild and beautiful Pacific Ocean views and others take you to tranquil lakes in beautiful BC Coastal Rainforest wilderness.  Regional Parks and Provincial Parks are everywhere you turn ...
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Whistler Hiking Trails

Whistler is an amazing place to hike. Looking at a map of Whistler you see an extraordinary spider web of hiking trails. Easy trails, moderate trails and challenging hiking trails are all available. Another marvellous thing about Whistler is that Garibaldi Provincial Park ...
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