This day was timed to take the beach route at low tide vs. taking the inland forest path.
 

   
Love these log crossings
 

And this was typical even after a stretch of dry days
 

Go straight up the middle
 
   
Watch your feet
 

Surge channel on the coastal route at low tide
 

Stay high when traversing the coast at low tide.
 

Sandstone moon craters
 

Low tide at Owen Point
 

Quick video vignettes: two panoramas, approach to a surge channel. I fell on slippery algae by the sea cave…small head bump, nothing serious.
 

Tree stand at the Strait of de Juan Fuca…that’s the United States on the horizon.
 

Close-up of a Zodiac Rescue Boat used by CA Parks. About 40 evacuations off the trail so far this year.
 

Thrasher Cove CG
 

Follow the trail
 

Coastal trees above the surf
 

Morning sun shines through
 

Old planks guide the path
 

Chez Monique’s place: everything on the menu from coffee to burgers to salmon
 

I took 3 sketchy jumps here. Made two of them.
 

And had wet boots has a present. Tip: Just swap out to sandals for the river crossings.
 

Coastal trees at 51 KM
 

Coastal tree in the fog
 

Pano of Walbran Creek
 
   
Lots of climbing
 

Root system
 
   
The trail ahead
 
   
Follow the planks
 

Down, across, and up
 
   
Trail tetris with mud
 

Don’t pause…
 

…or look down…
 

…just do it.
 
   
Finally settled into…
 

…Camper Bay CG for the night.
 

WCT Guardian Hut sits on the edge of the beach
 

The ‘Cadillac’ of latrines: compost only, throw cedar chips on top when you’re done
 

Trail with ocean view
 

Let’s do a quick pano
 

Cable car crossing at Klanawa River
 

Nice spot for lunch
 

Ladder system down to Tsusiet Falls
 

The first of many trail log crossings
 

Ferry ride across Nitinat Narrows
 

Boardwalk trail at 33 KM
 

 

Forest trail at dusk
 

Pano of Bonilla Point…the campground is just to the other side of my shadow
 

Tent side at Bonilla Point CG
 

Start of trail at the northern section
 

First ladder system
 

 

It’s a Suzuki
 
    
At the Pachena Lighthouse
 

First view of the beach at 12 KM. This is Michigan Creek CG.
 

Shadow selfie
 

Bear encounter – mama bear and cub on the beach. Just foraging for food, non-aggressive. Darling River CG is just beyond them
 

Quick 10 second view from a GoPro at wide angle…just look for the dark shape movement.
 

Entrance to Darling River CG
 

Tent side at Orange Juice Creek CG

The West Coast Trail (WCT) sits on the southwest coast of Vancouver Island…

• Covers 55 miles / 74 KM of trail across forest, beach, rocks, mud, tree roots, boardwalks, river crossings, cable cars, and two ferries.
• Includes over 100 bridges and 40 ladder “systems” ranging from 1 to 4 stories high
• Rated as “difficult” by Parks Canada. Over 90 evacuations in 2015, 43 evacs in 2016 by the time I did the hike.
• WCT is accessible by permit only from May 1 to September 30, closed rest of the year.
• I went north to south, from Pachena Bay to Gordon River
• Want to book your own trip? Start here on the CA Parks site.

 
Here’s the gear setup for 5 days…
     
 
In order to start the hike, I first needed to get to Pachena Bay…
 

Traveled to Gordon River by motorcycle
 

Passed by this cargo ship at Port of Seattle
 

Acrobats on the ferry to Victoria
 

Scooted to Gordon River/Port Renfrew, where I parked the bike at Evan’s
 

Backpack weigh-in: 42 pounds minus a full water bladder. Not bad for 5 days.
 

Here’s the Pachena Bay hut, where you get an orientation lecture, trail map, and updated tide chart.
 

Quick panorama in front of the hut
 

Close up view of map and tide chart