West Coast Path reservations in 2024 begin at 08.00 on 22 January.
The West Coast Path is a rare journey in Pacific Rim Nationwide Park, mountaineering and tenting alongside the seashores and forests of Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. Making a West Coast path reservation is step one in planning to hike this rugged route.
All spots on the path have to be booked forward by way of Nationwide Parks Canada. On this put up, we run you thru all bookings and planning that have to be executed forward to hike the West Coast Path with hyperlinks to the suitable websites (to simply make it a bit of simpler).
Why make a West Coast Path Reservation?
Make a West Coast Path reservation forward to keep away from disappointment, the favored dates are sometimes grabbed up as quickly as reservations open up. The West Coast Path is open to mountaineering from Could 1 – Sept 30. There are solely 70 spots accessible to start out mountaineering the path daily; 25 from Gordon River, 25 from Pachena Bay and 20 from Nitinaht Narrows. Deciding the place to start out mountaineering? See all in regards to the completely different choices to hike in our Full Information to hike the West Coast Path.
To make a reservation you need to create a Parks Canada Reservation Account.
West Coast Path Reserving and Planning on doing Forward
To hike the West Coast Path the next have to be reserved and organized in time:
Get to Vancouver Island.
Lodging earlier than and after the path.
Guide transport to and from the trailhead.
Reserve the West Coast Path.
Meals for the path.
Packing (gear and garments).
Info Wanted to Make a Reserving on the West Coast Path
Preserve the next data able to make a reservation on the path
begin dates – first alternative and alternate dates
variety of hikers in your group
emergency contacts for hikers
fee methodology – Visa, MasterCard or American Categorical accepted
place to begin – Pachena Bay, Gordon River or Nitinaht Village
contact e-mail tackle
The right way to make a West Coast Path Reservation
West Coast Path reservations in 2024 will solely begin on 22 January.
Reservation of the West Coast Path is completed on the Parks Canada Reservation Web page. Reservations in earlier years began in January, however parks Canada are at present altering the reserving system. Name heart numbers for reserving by cellphone – 1-877-737-3783 (toll-free inside Canada & US) or 1-519-826-5391 (worldwide).
On the Parks Canada West Coast Path Reservation Web page choose
Backcountry
West Coast Path
Your arrival date of curiosity (beginning date)
Departure date
Your group (social gathering) measurement
You continue to have to decide on your place to begin.
Click on on the inexperienced ‘search’ button you may have two choices; Listing or Map. It’s the identical data displayed in a different way and makes no distinction which one you choose.
Hover over West Coast Path and choose.
The accessible beginning factors for the Dates and Group Dimension chosen will probably be displayed. There is no such thing as a must e-book some other campsite on the path.
Couldn’t Get a Reservation on the WCT?
Should you couldn’t get a spot otherwise you wish to do a shorter hike contemplate mountaineering the Juan de Fuca Path. This superior seaside and wilderness path additionally begins at Port Renfrew and takes 3 to five days to finish the 47-kilometer path. The surroundings is just like the West Coast Path and no reservation is required. It’s also possible to begin at and end at a number of factors alongside the path making it extra versatile. I actually loved the Juan de Fuca path, however in my view, the West Coast Path is extra well-known for a motive and was a extra spectacular hike.
West Coast Path Transport Reservation
Reserving or arranging some kind of transport is necessary because the West Coast path will not be round. You cannot hike out of your automotive ending at your automotive once more. Most individuals mountaineering the path will drive to 1 trailhead, and use the shuttle bus to get to the opposite trailhead. It’s also possible to use the shuttle bus each methods. The West Coast Path Categorical gives a shuttle bus service in season, Could 1 to September 30, choosing up and dropping off passengers at Victoria, Port Renfrew, Gordon River, Pachena Bay, Bamfield, and Nanaimo.
The Shuttle Bus tickets are fairly expensive at $CAD60 from Victoria to Port Renfrew/Gordon River and $CAD 120 from Bamfield/Pachena Bay to Victoria (2024). The shuttle buses are outdated fashion faculty buses, not very fancy or comfy, however it will get you there and again. You may cancel the tickets with a minimal of 10 days’ notification.
Essentially the most handy strategy to get to and from the path is with your individual transport. For automotive rental we like to make use of Rentalcars Join, this website compares all the primary rental companies supplying you with one of the best deal on-line.
To stroll north from Gordon River and finish at Pachena Bay, simply take a shuttle bus with West Coast Path Categorical again from the tip of your hike at Pachena Bay to your automotive at Gordon River.
to stroll south from Pachena Bay ending the hike in your automotive at Gordon River, you’re taking a shuttle bus from Gordon River to Pachena Bay ($90) earlier than the hike and begin strolling south. Only a few individuals drive to the north and park on the Pachena Bay trailhead because the gravel highway to the trailhead will not be good and troublesome to navigate.
Transport Notes
Arrive in time for the orientation – The WCT orientation is obligatory to attend earlier than you begin your stroll. Orientation is given twice every day at 10:00 and 14:00 every day between Could 1st and September thirtieth, following the orientation there’s an included ferry crossing to the trailhead.
The Ferry again to the mainland – you will need to observe that if you happen to take the shuttle again from both aspect of Pachena Bay or Gordon River you’ll in all probability not make it again to the Swartz Bay ferry terminal in time to catch the final ferry again to Vancouver.
Parking your automotive – Gordon River trailhead, there’s parking on the Pacheedaht First Nations Reserve close to the Gordon River trailhead. Parking is $5/day, paid on the Pacheedaht Campground workplace.
Arrive by boat from Vancouver – The right way to get to Bamfied by boat; take a public ferry from Horseshoe Bay in Vancouver to Departure Bay on Vancouver Island, from right here an Island Hyperlink Bus to Port Alberni, The Girl Rose Marine Companies runs a freight ship that transports some passengers just a few days every week between Port Alberni and Bamfield. Go by taxi from Bamfield to Pachena Bay trailhead.
Attending to Vancouver Island
BC Ferries is the simplest strategy to get to Vancouver Island from the mainland. Ferry tickets don’t must be reserved, you should buy ferry tickets on the day of boarding. The ferry terminals are serviced by common public busses on each ends. It is usually attainable to board the ferry with your individual car. Ferries depart from Tsawwassen (close to Vancouver) to Swartz Bay (Close to Victoria) Ferry Schedule and from Tsawwassen to Duke Level (close to Nanaimo) in addition to from Horseshoe Bay (close to Vancouver) to Departure Bay (in Nanaimo). It’s a good ferry journey to Tsawwassen that I’ve executed a number of instances. The ferry journey takes about 1h30min with meals and occasional accessible on the ferry. You sail near the islands with good views, you’ll be able to even see whales with some luck!
There are some wonderful issues to do in Vancouver when you have a few days earlier than coming to Vancouver Island.
Reserving Lodging earlier than and After the West Coast Path
There are many lodging choices to fit your funds in Port Renfrew and Victoria for the night time earlier than or after the path. Verify under and reserve well-rated lodging to fit your wants.
Victoria
Port Renfrew
Packing for the West Coast Path
You could pack and carry all garments, meals, and kit that you’ll want for the whole length of the path. The West Coast path may be moist and grueling, so your pack have to be gentle and waterproof. You don’t want to climb 100 ladders with a heavy moist pack and sleep in moist garments! Verify our West Coast Path packing listing information to pack like a professional! All the things from meals and paperwork to garments and kit.
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The robust half of Stingy Nomads, a nomadic aquaman that might be blissful to spend all his life within the water diving, browsing and spearfishing however typically has to compromise with Alya and go mountaineering as a substitute. Campbell is accountable for all our marine adventures and following them with write-ups. He loves touring, braai (BBQ in South Africa), pink wine and spending the day in a wetsuit.