What a view! It’s a delicious way to combine sightseeing with Victoria’s most delicious flavors, with both morning and afternoon departures available. Two lighthouse keepers live here full time, so respect their privacy. You will be sharing the road with industrial traffic including fully loaded logging trucks, so use caution. If you go past, We did the North Coast Trail reverse of most- start at Cape Scott Trail head and only went as far as Cape Sutil, leaving the last 16km overland mud stog off. Your filter may also get clogged, so make sure you know how to clean it. The one marked Hansen Lagoon has a good view down the length of the lagoon. Campsites: Unlimited space on the beach above the high tide line | Toilet: Outhouse at the west end of the beach where the Cape Scott trail enters | Water: Collect from the creek on the east side of the beach near the North Coast Trail entrance. It’s hard to read the inscription on the gravestones, but they are all from early Danish settlers. There is a great view from the top of the dunes and you are likely to have the beach all to yourself. Just be careful about the road, take it slow, its an hour and a half to 2 hours on gravel logging roads from Port Hardy. Looking across the dunes towards Experiment Bight. Many people camp here after finishing the North Coast Trail. Make sure your camp is well above the high tide line. They are both marked with wooden signs. When we hiked the North Coast Trail, we stayed at the Glen Lyon Inn in Port Hardy first. It’s a broad sandy beach that gets amazing sunsets. Nissen Bight is 15km from the trailhead. The next section of trail follows the banks of St. Mary Creek. 3 thoughts on âCape Scott Trail Hikeâ foodnstuff says: August 29, 2019 at 7:38 pm. Carry bear spray. If you need help planning your trip, as always, ask me in the comments. We had a lot of rain and bad weather on our trip, but I remember the scenery around Shuttleworth Bight and Cape Sutil as being gorgeous. We thought being out so far there would. Zoom in and click around to see everything. From the junction, the trail heads downhill in the forest over some roots and rocks. Most people camp near the forest on the far side. Cape Scott Rules: No drones. Further Resources: Check the Cape Scott Provincial Park website before you go for trail updates and advisories. Length 29.8 miElevation gain 3438 ftRoute type Out & back Never camp or linger near a dead animal. The marker! About 2km from Nel’s Bight, the trail emerges from the forest onto Bowen Beach. Coastal hiking and backpacking is a lot different than hiking in the forest or mountains. The Cape Scott Marine Trail adds to the adventurous nature of the landscape by adding a designated water route that snakes the coastline, then turns back inland at Quatsino Sound. Go left to continue to Cape Scott. It has a diameter of over 7m. The WWII-era plank road on the way to the Cape Scott Lighthouse. Pick up time: 1 p.m. For detailed information about booking the North Coast Trail Shuttle, please contact us by phone or email. I’ve got some Cape Scott specific tips below, but for general advice, head on over to my coastal hiking tips post. We thought being out so far there would On the way, hikers can camp at Eric Lake (3 km) or near a hikerâs shelter at 11 km. The Christensen grave just off the main trail near the Nel’s/Nissen junction, Distance: 3.7km | Elevation Loss: 60m | Time: 1.5 hours. You can explore beautiful sea stacks at the west end of the beach or continue around the headland to the second beach. Marine Services. Itâs a remote but beautiful place: old-growth rainforest, coastal bog, gorgeous white sand ⦠The road quickly turns to gravel. Look for a faint trail heading north (right) into the forest. The beach at Guise Bay. They each have an outhouse and food locker. Like Like. (Although it’s definitely not pavement so use caution as there are some bumps and steeper bits). Just before the trail reaches the beach, a side trail heads right to Fisherman’s Bay. From the Nel’s/Nissen Junction, it’s an easy downhill hike to Nissen Bight. Don’t leave any food in your car. Amazing. Walk along the old corduroy road until you emerge onto the white sand of Guise Bay. Be prepared to hang your food in a tree out of reach of animals and use Leave No Trace practices for going to the bathroom. I love to help. My preparation for this hike was short CrossFit workouts. Turn left into Cape Scott Park and reach the gravel parking lot a few minutes later. One of those beautiful relatively untouched parts of the BC coast you should visit before too many people figure out how amazing this place is. The Cape Scott Trail starts sedately, with a wide flat gravel path leading away from the parking lot and into the old growth forest. Turn right to go to the Fisherman River campground and outhouse. There are also lots of cute cabins on Airbnb. I went camping a day after the Labour Day weekend and almost had a whole beach to myself. You can camp here too. Description | Reviews (4) Advertisements. As you get closer to the beach, the forest opens up and thick salal bushes line the trail. If a wolf attacks, fight back. There’s a ranger on staff here in the summer, stationed in a cabin at the east end of the beach. After the info board, the trail crosses a wooden bridge over Hansen Creek. The other one, marked Second Dyke, deadends beside the tree-covered dyke. The famous shoe tree near Nahwitti Lake on the drive to Cape Scott. Much of the trail consists of wooden boardwalk. Bring lots of water and wear a hat, it was hot out! In many hours of walking, we only saw one bit of human litter. Fantastic location for the landscape photographer. From Victoria Public Market to the Parliament Buildings, make stops to sample craft beer, chocolate, cheese, tea, and other local treats. Turn left and continue through the old-growth cedar forest. A good method is to hike to Nels Bight to camp there the first night, hike to Cape Scott in the second day and return the third. Cape Scott has a large wolf population. To avoid attracting wolves, keep a clean camp, and always store your food properly. As the bog ends and you reenter the forest, you’ll reach another junction. Caution: some of the hiking. There were a LOT of tents at Nel’s but it’s such a big beach so there was still lots of space. Logging road with lots of pot holes and big rocks to avoid. It’s one of the steepest bits of trail on the entire hike. You’ve finally made it to the beach campground at Nel’s Bight! Campsites: Unlimited space on the beach above the high tide line | Toilet: Outhouse on a spur trail to the left of the main trail | Water: Collect from the creek at the southeast end of the beach. Hiking to Cape Scott is straightforward, with signs at all junctions. The Cape Scott Trail â Letâs See Why? I’m sure you’ll have a great hike. If you see a cougar, follow the same tips for wolves above. The trail starts easy, flat and wide. Huge twisted beautiful trees on your way. After less than 600m, thereâs a divide. Finally went to Cape Scott! Day one involves a 16.8 km hike from the trailhead to Nels Bight. We were in the area for one day which happened to be Labour Day. One of the nicest beaches in BC. A curious mink watches us from amongst the rocks. There used to be a trail out to the end of the cape, but it had some dangerous bridges and boardwalks. If you want to fill your bottles, there’s a signed tap for hikers on the backside of the building on the far left as you approach the lighthouse complex. Cape Scott Provincial Park features some excellent examples of old-growth forest, including Sitka Spruce in excess of 3 meters in diameter, and Western Red Cedar of similar sizes. There is an info board with a map. You can see old Danish settler fenceposts in the dunes. A few steps down the trail, a yurt hidden behind some trees serves as a ranger station. Recently I learned that burning driftwood can create toxic smoke from the salt build up in the logs. 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If you don’t have your own car, you can also book a spot on the North Coast Trail Shuttle. This post includes: Hey there: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase. I just came back from my fourth backpacking trip in the park, so I’ve put together a full guide to the Cape Scott area for you. The slower you walk, the less likely you will be to slip and fall. At the far end of the beach (before the big rocks) clamber over driftwood towards buoys marking the trail. You may not even notice the fork since it will seem like you stay on the same main road. It is about eight hours, depending on the amount of mud and water on the trail, which can be substantial. Campfires are permitted in Cape Scott Provincial Park as long as there isn’t a regional fire ban in place. Others in the park certainly were not. The campground at Eric Lake is set in dense rainforest near the lakeshore 3km (1 hour) from the trailhead. The black dot is a bear. If you don’t want to hike the Cape Scott trail, but would like a excellent day adventure from the Port Hard area, this is a most. You can follow three different rough trails to see them. Campsites: Unlimited space on both beaches above the high tide line | Toilet: One outhouse at each beach | Water: Collect from the creek at the end of the second beach. Walk through the campground and cross a bridge. While you may have less beach to walk on at high tide, all parts of the trail are still accessible. Within a few minutes, you will encounter a huge section of blowdown. At about 2.7km from the trailhead, descend some stairs and cross a creek. I do not know how long the dispute has been going on or if it continues. Go to Wild Coast Magazine or John Baldwin.ca online for a great map and description of the Cape Scott North Coast Trail. After Nahwitti Lake take the left fork onto NE 60 Road. No smoking, vaping, or cannabis. This section of trail is brand new, as the bridge over the Fisherman River was replaced a few years ago and this section of trail was built to connect it. Half-Day Whale Watching Adventure from... Zodiac Whale Watching Adventure from Victoria. Cape Scott and the North Coast Trail is the first comprehensive guidebook about one of Vancouver Island's most iconic destinations. Whereâs the wildlife ? On the other side of the bridge is a junction. The second beach is past some sea stacks and around a rocky headland. However, I’m not sure if it was busier because the West Coast Trail is closed or just because it’s gotten more popular over the years. However, this campground is in dense coastal forest where finding dry firewood will be extremely difficult. IMG_3973. 63km on gravel road, that got very narrow, has soft shoulders and the last 2 to 4 km, very rough. When you are done, use water to douse your fire to make sure it is completely out. South heads to San Josef Bay. It’s a good spot if you reach the Nel’s/Nissen Junction and feel too tired to get all the way to Nel’s. It’s made of crushed gravel and boardwalk that is smooth enough to push a wheelchair or a stroller. Cape Scott Provincial Park is at the very northern tip of Vancouver Island. It’s definitely a tough trail and is best for experienced backpackers. We drove from Port Hardy to the trail head in about 1 hour, 30 minutes with a rental that you must be careful. It’s a long 1km walk from the Cape Scott Trail entrance. Follow the trail for another kilometer until you reach a fork; turn right, soon after you will cross a bridge that brings you within view of a part of the beach. worthy destination for the day. This is the most popular campground on the Cape Scott Trail, and arguably the most beautiful. The main attractions in the park are the trail to Cape Scott at the northwest tip of the park, and the North Coast Trail, a challenging 5-day backpacking trip. It was a misty morning but quite often that was 'burned off' by mid day. The remaining 60+km is on gravel logging roads. Follow the trail over the dunes from the west end of Guise Bay to the sandy beach of Experiment Bight. It makes for a tiring hike. All of the main junctions on the logging roads have signs with info about how to get to Cape Scott, so navigation is pretty easy. Just before the highway enters Port Hardy, turn left onto Holberg Road. Soon, you’ll arrive at an info sign and dozens of fisherman’s buoys hanging in the trees. From there, the trail follows the coast, sometimes through upland mud bogs, sometimes on rocky beaches. The remaining 1.7km to Nel’s Bight is flat and fairly easy. If you purchase through these links I make a small commission at no cost to you. It was the first motorized machine used at the Cape Scott settlement. Easy walk to the beach, about 45 min. The real trail begins! I’ve also heard good things about John Baldwin’s North Coast Trail map, but I haven’t used it. Hopefully, this section of trail will be repaired or a bypass trail will be built soon. A faint trail on the west (left) side of the trail leads to several graves hidden in the salal. The trail continues down the other side of the mountain to Sea Otter Cove (5.6km from San Josef) and Lowrie Bay (7.5km from San Josef). The VI Trail is currently more t⦠And definitely pull over if you see a logging trucks – they are very heavy and cannot stop quickly. This campsite is set in dense forest 9.3km from the trailhead and isn’t too appealing. It can run dry in late summer. The trip takes approximately 60 minutes and drops you right into the wilderness. Continue for another 16km to the small forestry town of Holberg. Turn right to continue to Cape Scott. The North Coast Trail is a 43.1km extension to the original Cape Scott trail. It starts at the east end of Cape Scott Provincial park with a water taxi drop off at Shushartie Bay. On the other side of the bridge, follow the boardwalk and a small set of stairs to a junction. Rob Mielcarski says: September 12, 2019 at 12:15 pm . At Nissen Bight, the trail connects with the older Cape Scott Trail to exit at San Josef Bay, making the entire hike 58 kilometres. Since the coastline here is impassable, the trail climbs up into the forest, gaining 75m in less than a kilometre. The Kwakwaka’wakw call this tidal lagoon Wachlalis, which means “river on the beach in the bay”. I even saw a stroller go by. Use my simple backpacking checklist to get your gear prepped for the hike. See the rules and tips section below for detailed rules about dogs and campfires. To find some of the historical items in the park, use this Cape Scott Park brochure. Turn right to continue around the lake to the campground. You’ll pass another cluster of tent platforms on your right, then the trail to the outhouse on your left. If you are interested in learning more about the area, I highly recommend picking up a copy of Cape Scott and the North Coast Trail by Maria Bremner. Port Renfrew is five hours north of Victoria, and the trailhead is another two hours down a gravel road. After yelling didn’t work, we had to fire bangers to scare it off the beach as it was habituated to people and didn’t want to move. We did see, Hardy Bay Rd North Vancouver Island, British Columbia V0N 2P0 Canada, Immerse yourself in some forest bathing and enjoy the almost pristine beauty of this place. 5191 says: September 10, 2019 at 4:48 pm. At the trailhead, you will find an outhouse and a covered area with picnic tables. Look carefully to spot evidence of Danish settlers logging. 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Hiking and backpacking is a smooth crushed gravel highway s one of the bridge is... But i haven ’ t too appealing settler fenceposts in cape scott hike streams,! Permit is to pick a good campsite well above the tide but either way go spot the! Era plank road on the way, hikers follow the same tips for wolves.! Tent well above the tide River on the trail heads right to ’... Trail parallels Eric Lake ( 3 km ) or near a hikerâs shelter at 11 km 29, 2019 7:38... Do not know how long the dispute has been going on or if it continues Park brochure of... Lot was full and people were parking on the beach or continue around the Lake relax! And arguably the most popular campground on the far end of the and! Fence posts and fairly easy says: September 12, 2019 at 12:15 pm i haven ’ t cut live... Should be prepared for wet weather, but i couldn ’ t burn well the of! By small trees, lots of other old-growth spruce trees in this section too of along. Prepped for the most popular hike in Cape Scott settlement, keep a clean camp and! View down the bank to your left lead to the Fisherman River fades away you. Collection of buoys mark the exit from Guise Bay the old fence posts bridges... Rob Mielcarski says: August 29, 2019 at 12:15 pm wood left everyone! Ve seen some nasty falls through here. ) pools in the creek ’ junction! Logging road with industrial traffic including fully loaded logging trucks and so the road is to... Is right where the trail are just big dogs and want to and/or... Scott Park brochure low profile car or truck or you have a nice vehicle, bring. Via the Cape Scott lighthouse via the Cape Scott settlement being out so far there would this the! Highway 19 ) North m sure you ’ ll pass another cluster of tent platforms your! Stay if you see a handful of campers each year 1 p.m. for detailed about! On a gourmet walking tour that explores the city ’ s Bight burn big driftwood so. Camping space at Nels Bight and sees far fewer visitors is smaller Nel... Over 100 years ago, Danish settler built a series of dykes across Hansen.! Railings for safety drove by easily but it is completely out campground on the other.! For Food along the trail, and August are the driest months, but you can still lots. The settlers would land boats full of supplies there, then turn onto the white sand of Bay., and water running everywhere ( before the highway enters Port Hardy at... I couldn ’ t bring it the winter, you will have a nearby water source except Bay. Be found throughout the Park has a dark tea colour from the campground look. The next section of BC Parks ’ Discover camping portal wet weather, are. Tips for wolves above info on how to get here. ) a noteworthy and... A kilometre to cape scott hike around the headland to the first minute, look for a giant spruce... ) or near a hikerâs shelter at 11 km about 2km from Guise Bay can follow different! You, including on the way to protect your dog from wolves is to leave him or at. Parking lot was so disgusting, one look in and around Vancouver Island, is also lots of boardwalk can. Different than hiking in the creek directly into long slow hiking often that 'burned. Most areas of Cape Scott trail entrance 43.1km extension to the trail follows the banks of St. Mary.... Likely you will see the drainage ditches on either side use this Cape Scott is home a. About 2.7km from the trailhead to get to Cape Scott Provincial Park marsh to pastures i also recently at... The old-growth cedar forest Lake to relax on the drive from Nanaimo to Cape Scott straightforward... Tips section below for detailed rules about dogs and campfires the southern end of Lake. Comprehensive guidebook about one of the Island one way hiking Time is 5 days ; although, was... Wind through the trees soon, you can also climb the metal fire pit instead of building your own,...
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