#1 best hike in the world is …
December 25th, 2006 · 8 Comments
The West Coast Trail
No surprise. We’ve called the WCT the best hike in the world since 1999.
Its “a near perfect hiking experience in pristine Canadian wilderness.”
Variety is the main reason we name West Coast Trail the finest walking adventure anywhere. Many hike it every year. On the “Shipwreck Coast” of Vancouver Island, it’s a thrill ride.
We’ve never taken more photos on any other trip.
A coastal hike of 75km (47mi) between Port Renfrew (Gordon River) and Bamfield (Pachena Bay), ideally you want 7 days, 6 nights though many do it in less.
mystic dawns and mind-blowing sunsets
pretty beaches, cool caves, hidden pocket coves, weird cliffs and coastal geology
WCT is in a well protected National Park, but access is easy from Victoria or Vancouver
it’s challenging — though 99% of those who start (somehow) finish
evacuation in case of disaster is efficient
thrilling boulder and log walking between Thrasher & Owen Point
scrambling up slippery Sandstone Creek
playing at Hole in the Wall
impossibly situated pretty Tsusiat Falls
walking in impressive old growth forest
share the trip with whales, sea lions, mink. Maybe bear and cougar. Or even wolves!
ship wrecks and other historical artifacts
cable cars and ladders can be "fun"
campfires below the tide line
no biting insects
excellent hiking guidebooks available
Considerations:
The biggest hassle is the quota system which limits the number of people starting each day to 52. You need to be organized months in advance to get your hands on a Trail Permit.
hikers have died on the West Coast Trail
rogue waves and surge channels pose the greatest risks
this is not a good hike for those who have never done a long multi-day trip
though it gets a little easier each season, it is still tough
slippery footing causes almost everyone to fall multiple times
few finish this adventure pain-free
you must carry your own heavy pack
you may need to climb 50 huge ladders
miserably exposed, rain and wind is the norm. You need a good tent.
can you handle 6 inches of rain in 12 hours?
summer highs around 14C (57F)
risks of both hypothermia and heat stroke
river crossing are normally no problem
Get the details on how to organize to hike it on our West Coast Trail information page.
original photo from Cazasco - flickr
Any comments on our top 10 list? (What hike did we miss?)
Tags: coastal
8 responses so far ↓
DSD // Jan 2, 2007 at 12:59 pm
Perfect choice for #1!
Along with the Long Beach & Broken Group areas, this is a fantastic location for hiking & kayaking.
DSD
Jim // Jun 19, 2008 at 7:56 pm
Thanks to your ratings, I just did the WCT for the first time this week. It was everything you built it up to be - it probably helped that I had four rain-free days. I’m already planning on doing it again next year!
Dan // Jul 6, 2008 at 9:51 pm
I think the #1 rating is a bit of inflation.
The trail has some very unique aspects (beach walking, ladders, lighthouses, cable cars), but unique does not equal best.
While the beach walking is spectacular, it still can’t compare to the views near Assiniboine or in the Sierras. The other aspects are simply unique to the area, but aren’t that breath-taking.
If you hit this trail at the wrong time, you could be in for some misery - walking through miles of mud in no way equals “the best” trail in the world.
Beautiful trip, just not the best trip I’ve ever been on.
hiker Rick // Jul 6, 2008 at 11:06 pm
Hey Dan,
Do you have a hike or two you enjoyed more?
We could highlight it on this blog.
Tim // Feb 7, 2009 at 7:51 am
Did the WTC back in the 70’s.
Looking forward to doing it this year with my oldest boy.
Deb/Ramkitten // Apr 15, 2009 at 7:33 pm
I have a book about this trail (hmm, I should have looked for it before commenting, because I don’t remember the title, but I believe it was written by a couple who hiked the WCT), but it’s been on my “list” ever since. At first, I’d thought, pshhh, 47 miles. Then I realized how challenging it is (from the book). It’s still on that list of mine, but I’ll definitely proceed with caution.
Liz // May 2, 2009 at 12:23 pm
It’s limited to 52 people a day and hard to get a permit!!! So much for solitude. No thanks.
Cameron Meyerink // May 9, 2009 at 12:58 am
Ok, if this is rated the number one hike in the world. And I already done it at 17, I feel like crap is this the peak. Anyone know any other hikes that are about a week long anywhere around the world. PS the trail is not as hard as it is built up to be. Then again I’ve grown up in that kind of terrain all my life.
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