Since the wilderness in Canada is well-known, discussing Canadian treks makes sense. The West Coast has several fantastic treks that are stunning, unusual, and difficult. Excellent coastal hikes offer a tough challenge, breathtaking views, wilderness exploration, beach camping, and distinctive ecosystems.

Hiking in Canada is a right of passage for young people, especially in western Canada. There are so many destinations that it is hard to choose which hike to go on. From mountains, to tundra, to coastal rainforest, Canadian hiking is diverse, challenging, and truly just incredible. From the southern Canadian Rockies all the way to the west coast, British Columbia geography is so varied that a lifetime could be spent exploring. The west coast itself offers hikes that go through multiple ecosystems and multitudes of terrains. Three particular coastal hikes in BC offer unique views into the varied climates between southern and northern Vancouver Island.

On Vancouver Island, the south, west, and north coast trail are very sparsely populated. There are a number of villages and small towns in the inlets, servicing mostly the fishing and logging industries. On the outer coast, between these towns, are beaches and headlands that meet the mighty Pacific Ocean. Most of this incredible terrain is known only by a small few, but that is changing, especially since Tofino has become the surfing capital of Canada. The beaches near Tofino are long and sandy, with surf coming in from the Pacific regularly. But this is only a small dot on a lengthy coastline. A few places have opened up for travelers. In particular, there are five main trails where people go for hiking adventures along the west coast, but only the first three are easily accessible.

·         The West Coast Trail

·         The Juan de Fuca Trail

·         The North Coast Trail

·         The Hesquiat Peninsula

·         Nootka Island

Why go hiking?

One of the main reasons to hike is that it is the only way to get somewhere. On the coast, boats can take you in, but you miss the in-between. Boats are subject to weather. There are days on the west coast that it is just not safe to travel by boat. Next to nothing stops you from hiking. And the real reason to hike is that it is the best way to really get an intimate experience of a place that is remote. The in-between is the goal, and the journey is that in-between. On these coastal hikes you start at one end and finish at another, so you are traversing an area. Each day and each step is new. Just around the point is a new beach and a new vista. Hiking is an inward experience in an outwardly demanding place. Okay, it's kind of a zen thing, but if you have done it, you understand.

Why hike on the coast?

Boundaries are always the most interesting. Hikes in the mountains are at the boundary between the land and the sky and the views are over it all. On the coast, it is the boundary between land and vast water, and the views are up and down that boundary along the coast. The coast is always changing. Each day the tidal movement of the water brings it up and takes it down, as if the shore were breathing it in and out. The seasons bring massive changes to the beaches and headlands as the storm forces reshape these places each winter. And the weather is, well, the most fickle of all. Rain, sun, wind, hail, even snow can all happen in a single day. Since we can hike in any of these conditions, we go right ahead and keep on travelling. It is just a part of the great experience.

What's unique about:

The West Coast Trail?

The history of the West Coast Trail is about rescue. It was never intended as a settlement trail, although the northern sections have settlement remains. Most of the trail has been carved out as a way for shipwreck survivors to get back to civilization. So, it is still quite a rugged trail. Some of the original ruggedness has been tamed out with ladders, bridges, and boardwalks, but not all. It is still a very challenging hike. It has long vistas down the west coast shoreline, so it seems like a long trail along the way, but these views are breathtaking. The trail goes along many kilometers of sandy beaches and rock shelf shoreline, with access to many tide pools for exploring sea life. The West Coast Trail is a calm, but expanding experience.

The Juan de Fuca Trail?

The Juan de Fuca trail is shorter than the West Coast Trail, heading southeast from its southern end. Despite being next to one another, the two trails are quite different. The beaches are smaller and more rugged, while the trails are generally less rugged. There is access to many of the beaches by the nearby highway, which is from 2 to 5 kilometers from the trail at any time. Despite the proximity of the highway, it is a wild place. This trail is mostly in the forest, near the shore, but not on it. It is more of a forest-dropping-to-beach experience.

The North Coast Trail?

Cape Scott Park, a well-liked camping tour location, is located near the northernmost point of Vancouver Island. The North Coast Trail, which spans 45 kilometres of rocky estuaries, bights, and tiny beaches, is located at its easternmost point. The trail winds its way through upland bog, stretches of old growth cedar and sitka spruce, and around pocket beaches bounded by sea stacks and caves. Although the scenery is beautiful, the journey there is difficult. A capable hiker will appreciate the variety and individuality of the various ecosystems they encounter. In contrast to the West Coast Trail's immensity, this experience is more intimate. One's concentration turns inside due to the isolated beaches and the rough terrain.

Coastal hiking trips allow us to meet the edge between land and sea, but each hike is different and brings a different inner experience with the journey. The main coastal hiking tours in British Columbia are completely wilderness navigation course, but each has its own character due to its unique terrain and position on the coast. If you are hiker, a coastal hike is really a must do experience, at least once, just to meet that challenge of a different boundary where we meet ourselves in a different way.

To learn more about hiking trips on the West Coast Trail and other coastal hikes,  visit Hike Vancouver Island where you will find this and much more about BC hiking tours and coastal adventures.

On Vancouver Island, the south, west, and north coast trail are very sparsely populated. There are a number of villages & towns in the inlets.