Hiking Canadian Trails

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Hiking the Canadian West Coast Trail, North Coast Trail, and Nootka Island Trail on Vancouver Island

These iconic Canadian hiking trips on the West Coast Trail, North Coast Trail, and Nootka Island Trail on Vancouver Island are all available on our multi-day hiking expeditions.

2027 Trips

West Coast Trail 9-Day Backpacking Tour

9 Days — 75 km

West Coast Trail

The West Coast Trail, also known as the “Graveyard of the Pacific”, is rich in human history, wildlife, and natural rugged beauty, and is considered one of the world’s top ten hikes where we have been introducing hikers to this challenging coastal trek for over 30 years.

Once you start hiking, you will quickly come to understand why hikers travel from all over the world to undertake the West Coast Trail. Rest ensured that your visit will include all those special places unknown to the average hiker

This hike offers sandy beaches, rugged cliffs, blowholes, caverns, caves, waterfalls, bogs, rainforests, lighthouses, abandoned settlements, shipwreck relics, native culture, whales, sea lions, eagles, and giant trees. Our West Coast Trail itinerary includes stops to see historic and scenic wonders unknown to many hikers. Our pace allows time to adjust to the demands of the trail and to fully see and explore this magnificent Coastal Environment. Readings and anecdotal stories help the hiker fully appreciate the dramatic and colourful history of the events and people who were a part of this coastline. We have arranged a food drop for the halfway point in our hike, thus reducing the weight carried by each hiker during each portion of the hike.

Activity Level: Strenuous.

Group size: 6 typical, 8 max, 2 guides.

9 days — 7.5 hiking, 1.5 travel.

Thank you so much for a brilliant holiday, walking the West Coast Trail. I really enjoyed my days on the trail. Great company and friendship. Your guides made it a memorable trip. They were very very professional and I felt very safe in the terrain which is different from North Yorkshire. They produced meals from those rucksacks which my husband thought I was pulling his leg. We did see some envious looks from fellow hikers too.

Kate

West Coast Trail Dates 2027

  • May 18-26
  • Jun 4-12
  • Jun 16-24
  • Jun 30-Jul 8
  • Jul 14-22
  • Aug 2-10
  • Aug 16-24
  • Sep 2-10

Trip Fee: $2,795.00 CAD pp

† Solo travellers can request a Single Tent for $6.50 per day

Book 2 or more for $2,749.00 CAD pp (when booked by 1 person for the same trip date)

Prices are subject to 5% sales tax

Nootka Island Trail 6-Day Backpacking Tour

6 Days — 36.1 km

Nootka Island Trail

The Nootka Island Trail is a 36.1 km trail that starts and runs along the west coast of Nootka Island off the coast of Vancouver Island.

Our Nootka Island Trail guided tour is a journey of forgotten history and one of the best places to hike in BC. It is the true island of the sea wolves. When you consider hiking Vancouver Island, don’t underestimate Nootka Island. It offers a true wilderness experience with a backdrop of sublime west coast scenery. Most of the hike is beside the ocean on a mix of hardpacked sand beaches, slippery boulders, and rocky shelves. The forest hiking ranges from spectacular with massive giant trees to sections filled with mud and slippery logs.

Together with an abundance of wildlife, this makes Nootka Island a paradise of scenic treasures. Although the Nootka Island trail is still strenuous, most of the hiking is on beaches, making this BC hike one of the easier hiking trails on Vancouver Island. If you are looking for an exceptional hiking adventure, this coastal hike starts off with a float plane ride to the trailhead. On a clear day, you get to see the whole trail before you hike it!

Activity Level: Moderate to Strenuous.

Group size: 6 typical, 8 max, 2 guides.

6 days — 5 to 6 hiking, 1 travel.

Nootka Island Trail Dates 2027

  • Jun 18-23
  • Jul 15-20
  • Aug 19-24

Trip Fee: $3,179.00 CAD pp

† Solo travellers can request a Single Tent for $6.50 per day

Book 2 or more for $3,129.00 CAD pp (when booked by 1 person for the same trip date)

Prices are subject to 5% sales tax

Cape Scott Trail 6-Day Backpacking Tour

6 Days

We are excited to reintroduce hikers to the Cape Scott Trail. This stunning Park is situated on the very Northwest tip of Vancouver Island and can be considered a more moderate coastal trek. It is rich in human history, wildlife, and natural rugged beauty. The area is littered with beautiful crescent beaches, which, in the right amount of sunshine, will make you wonder whether you’ve magically been transported to Hawaii somehow!

The Cape Scott Trail offers sandy beaches, rugged cliffs, blowholes, caves, waterfalls, bogs, rainforest, lighthouses, abandoned settlements, shipwreck relics, First Nations culture, whales, sea lions, eagles, and giant trees. Our pace allows time to adjust to the demands of the trail and to fully see and explore this magnificent coastal environment. Readings and anecdotal stories help the hiker fully appreciate the dramatic and colourful history of the events and people who were a part of this coastline. There are stories from the thousands of years of First Nations history, to the settlement attempts of Danish immigrants in 1897 and American settlers in 1910, the radar defence installations of WWII and the present day challenges of the Cape Scott Lighthouse.

Activity Level: Strenuous.

Group size: 6 typical, 8 max, 2 guides.

6 days — 5 hiking, 1 travel.

Trip Highlights:

  • Diverse Terrain: The trails around Cape Scott meander through dense rainforests, lagoons, sandy beaches, and rocky headlands, offering a variety of terrains that challenge and delight.
  • Stunning Coastal Views: Breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean nd Hecate Strait, with opportunities to see migrating whales, sea lions, and other marine life.
  • Rich indigenous Heritage: The trail traverses the traditional territories of the Nahwitti people.
  • Iconic Lighthouses: Visit the Historic Cape Scott lighthouse.
  • Rich Settlement History: Cape Scott has many visible artifacts of attempted settlement around 100 years ago.
  • Abundant Wildlife: Encounter diverse wildlife, including black bears, wolves and bald eagles, in their natural habitats.

Cape Scott Trail Dates 2027

  • Jul 1-6
  • Jul 28-Aug 2
  • Aug 21-26

Trip Fee: $2,245.00 CAD pp

† Solo travellers can request a Single Tent for $6.50 per day

Book 2 or more for $2,195.00 CAD pp (when booked by 1 person for the same trip date)

Prices are subject to 5% sales tax

North Coast Trail 9-Day Backpacking Tour

9 Days — 58.6 km

North Coast Trail

The North Coast Trail guided tour is the new crowning jewel of coastal BC hikes. Travelling through ancient, coastal, temperate rainforest and on sand and cobblestone beaches, enjoy this new, rugged addition to the glorious Cape Scott Provincial Park at the northwestern tip of Vancouver Island.

The North Coast hiking trail is a scenic Vancouver Island hike through a number of coastal ecosystems. Passing through large stands of indigenous tree species, this coastal hike winds through and around many pocket beaches adorned with sea stacks and caves.

Hiking Vancouver Island can take you to some important historical places. This north coast hiking trail, one of the best hikes in BC, is no exception, leading to a number of incredible historical and geographical features, on side trips to Nels Bight, Hansen Lagoon, and Guise Bay.

Just outside the park, past Guise Bay, is the Cape Scott Lightstation, one of the few remaining attended lighthouses in Canada. The history is fascinating, the views are unbeatable, and this is one of the best places to hike in Canada.

Activity Level: Strenuous.

Group size: 6 typical, 8 max, 2 guides.

9 days — 7 hiking, 2 travel.

I had a fabulous time and I really appreciated all that the two of you did to ensure we all had a great experience. I still am amazed at the stamina you both have, to keep us all organized, safe, get fires going, prepare meals plus hike the same 70km we do is amazing. I also very much appreciated both your help (and patience!). It was definitely an incredible trip on the North Coast Trail and one I won't ever forget.

Tracy

North Coast Trail Dates 2027

  • Jul 1-9
  • Jul 28-Aug 5

Trip Fee: $3,059.00 CAD pp

† Solo travellers can request a Single Tent for $6.50 per day

Book 2 or more for $2,999.00 CAD pp (when booked by 1 person for the same trip date)

Prices are subject to 12% sales tax