Pick up Departure Bay 08:15-08:30; downtown Nanaimo 08:45-09:00, Duke Point 09:30-09:55 (Your guide will confirm times the day prior to tour).

We then drive to Port Renfrew (stopping in Lake Cowichan for you to buy some lunch). Set up camp and attend the WCT orientation from Pacific Rim National Park. We then do our own gear orientation, to help you ensure your pack fits well and is loaded efficiently. Following this, we go to a local restaurant in Port Renfrew for dinner (cost not included).

Rise by 6:00 pack up and enjoy breakfast, and to be ready to walk to the ferry across Port San Juan to the trailhead. The trail in this section of the hike can be some of the most challenging, with lots of roots to step over, and the highest point on the trail to be ascended and descended. Much of the day, hikers have their eyes on the trail and their feet, to avoid tripping. We stop around an old donkey engine or at the highest point on the trail for lunch. Other stops along the way to rest, make equipment adjustments and take photos. After reaching the junction between Camper Bay and Thrasher, we descend to Thrasher Cove. This section takes about 1 hour. We camp, and dine on the beach around a welcoming campfire (if permissible) and hear stories of shipwrecks. [The following day's accessibility to Owen Point may alter this itinerary day.]

We pack up, and enjoy breakfast before beginning the day, by maneuvering over and around the boulders and pocket beaches, toward Owen Point (tide-dependent section). We stop at Owen point for photos, before traveling along the sandstone shelf, to one of the forest access points, where we stop for a well-earned lunch. After lunch, we continue through the lush, rain-forested trail to Camper Bay, where we cross the river, either by cable car or on stepping stones (if the water is low enough). We have now reached our next night's camp, where your guides will boil water for an afternoon beverage, and begin dinner preparation. There is an opportunity here for you to bathe and refresh yourself in the creek next to the camp.

We are up very early for breakfast to begin the long day to Walbran Creek. This is one of the most varied days. If the tides are right, we take a route along the sandstone at sea level, crossing a few surge channels before climbing off the shelf, and hiking up the spectacular Sandstone Creek to the inland trail (The sandstone section of the trail is little-known by other hikers, as it requires guide experience and careful tide planning). Once on the main forested trail, we begin to ascend and descend some of the longest ladder sections on the trail, the first being out of Sandstone creek, followed by the ladders at Cullite Creek, often a nice spot for lunch. After lunch, we make our way to Logan Creek and the final set of major ladders for the day. Following this, we hike along a boardwalk, through an environmentally sensitive, upland bog region. Here we marvel at Bonsai cedar trees, insect-eating Sundew plants, Labrador Tea, and many other indigenous plants. After the upland bog, we continue again through lush, rain forest to Walbran Creek, arriving late afternoon. A refreshing dip in the inviting creek pool by the camp is a welcome treat before a warm drink, a well-earned, hearty dinner, and hearing stories of shipwrecks.

A welcome sleep-in is warranted today, the toughest part of the trail now behind us, we amble along the beach, at a more leisurely pace, exploring tide pools, and watching crabs scurry along, at the sound of our boots approaching. We round, Vancouver point, then Bonilla Point, where we get our first glimpse of the Carmanah Light station. We stop at Bonilla Point to check out the beautiful waterfall and remains of an old shipwreck. We hike past picturesque sea stacks, across Carmanah Creek, and are drawn along the final stretch of beach toward the remains of Chez Monique, now closed with little real prospect of re-opening. We usually stop here for lunch, then after lunch and a short rest, we visit Carmanah Light Station, view the sea lions, and continue for about another hour and a half, through forest and on beach to Cribs Creek. We spend the night here watching for surfing sea lions and Gray whales.

We begin walking along the magnificent natural rock break wall from Cribs creek, with tide pools, watching again for surfing sea-lions. This is a truly incredible place! Most of the morning is along beach and shelf until we reach Cheewaht Beach, just before the Cheewaht River. Here we enter the forest and travel along boardwalk until we reach the Nitinat Narrows for a fresh crab, or fish and baked potato lunch, with the option for beer or soft drinks (this is approximately $30 per person, and not included in the trip cost, so be sure to bring some cash with you). While we are there, we pick up our food drop and distribute it out to packs. Once lunch and re-stocking is finished, we then hike on to our next beach campsite, a secret wild camping gem. There is once again an opportunity to relax before dinner, listen to amazing stories of bravery, heroism, and struggles of early settlers and First Nations. We are often treated to sightings of Gray whales feeding very close to shore at this location.

This morning we leisurely break camp and make our way to the ancient Ditidaht Warrior Camp, where we will meet one of the Ditidaht First Nations guardians, for a short cultural interpretation on the historic significance of the area. Following this, we will make our way to “Hole-in-the-Wall”, and then on to Tsusiat Falls, where we will stop for lunch. A refreshing dip under the falls is a highlight for many hikers. We then ascend a set of ladders to continue along the cliff tops, enjoying breathtaking views from this vantage point. Later descending to Klanawa Creek, before we take the last cable car across the pond and arrive at our camp for the night, where we can often enjoy another refreshing dip.

The hiking gets progressively easier at this end of the trail. We begin along the beach and alternate between inland trail, and beach/sea shelf walking, first to Tscowis, where we stop for lunch, and if the tides are favourable a short side trip (pack free) back toward where Valencia ran aground in 1906, leading to the creation of the West Coast Trail (Shipwrecked Mariner’s Trail). Here, by a peaceful waterfall, we pause for thought for all those lost to the sea. After lunch we make our way along the beach to Darling River and Michigan Creek. We will stay at one of these beautiful beaches for our last night, savouring our experiences of our journey around the campfire, and preparing ourselves for re-entry into the busy world.

Our packs are lighter, and our spirits are high as we head off after breakfast, by about 7:30. We travel the last 12 km of easy trail to the Pachena Trailhead. Oh yes! Lest you forget the trials of the trail, there is still some MUD today. We stop at Pachena light station, and the Sealion rock to watch the social antics of the massive male sea lion in his harem. The feeling of achievement is intensified as we walk the final section of the beach trail, leading to the Park office and trailhead. We congratulate one another, take photos, weigh out our packs, and check out of trail. On most tours, we will be met by our bus driver, who will have a delightful lunch, with lots of fresh vegetables, and fruits, ready for us. We make our way back to the populated world of lattes and showers. Drop-off in Nanaimo is usually between 4:30 and 6:00 pm, depending on your destination and the traffic.