When you book:
Before you book your WCT reservation, there are three items you need to work out ahead of time:
- Whether you want to do the trail South-to-North or North-to-South,
- The number of days you plan to do the trail in, and
- The number of people in your group.
You need to know this info when you make your reservation with Parks Canada. Also, if you plan to do the hike in the prime months of July and August, BOOK WHEN RESERVATIONS OPEN IN JANUARY. The spots during these months fill up fast.
Let’s dig in:
Whether you want to do the trail South-to-North or North-to-South:
- North-to-South – you start off easy with some longer days to start, the trail is fairly easy terrain, you bag is heavier at the start, then you finish off the trail with a lighter bag but the trail gets much harder with changing terrain towards the end.
- South-to-North – you start off with a heavy bag and the more challenging parts of the trail, then you finish off with the easy parts and a much lighter bag.
We opted to go with the South-to-North route mainly to get the hard stuff completed early while we were full of energy and ready for the challenge.
The number of days you plan to do the WCT trail in:
- Typical trail times can range from 6-8 days.
- It honestly comes down to:
- How much time you have?
- Do you want to have chill time and relax, take all the stops you want along the way?
- Do you want to power through and just get it done?
- Do you want to get to camps early and take in the beach area?
- Are you okay with carrying a bit more weight for food.
- Each person and group are different so it depends on your motives. Also, more days = more food to carry = weight in bag.
- Have a discussion with your team/ group to figure out everyone’s motives.
NOTE – when we originally booked we put in 7 days 6 nights and decided to go 1 day longer to make our magical plan work. You can add a day onto your reservation with Parks Canada up to 2 weeks ahead of time at no charge.
The number of people in you group:
- Who do you think you can handle, everyday all day, for 6-8 days? 🙂
For our group, there were five of us. Bill, Olga, Colin, K and H.
We opted to do the trail in an easy relaxing manner and take 8 days 7 nights.
- Bill + Olga are both incredibly talented artists [Art + More Art] who hike and wanted to do the trail for inspiration for their next art work series. They also warned us they would be taking lots of photos along the way.
- Kamil + I (e.g. Holynde) are avid hikers who were up for any challenge but also wanted to take the scenery in. We both mainly wanted to disconnect from reality and be off the grid.
- Colin was somehow coerced into being the pack mule. 🙂 More accurately, always connected and on the go with his work, was up for the disconnect and challenge.
Things to have Checked Off – $$$
Book your west coast trail reservations early through Parks Canada.
Reservations open January 8 for the year, but double check the site as it can change
Budget wise, costs for five people are as follows:
(Disclaimer – this was our cost for doing the hike in 2018. Fees + Rates can change, so double check Parks Canada for the latest fees each year):
| Reservation Fee for 5 People @ $24.50: | $122.50 (non-refundable) |
| Overnight Use Fee for 5 People @ $127.50: | $637.50 |
| Gordon River Ferry Fee for 5 People @ $20.00: | $100.00 |
| Nitinaht Narrows Ferry Fee for 5 People @ $20.00: | $100.00 |
| Total Payment for this Booking: | $960.00 |
| Method of Payment: | CARD |
| GST included in Total Payment: | $45.71 |
Cost per person = $192/ Person for the WCT reservation
NOTE – Additional Items you need to Book Separately:
Tip: there is no cell service in Port Renfrew or Pachena Bay. It is HIGHLY recommended to ensure you’ve got these items organized ahead of the trip as google will not work.
Accommodations or camp site near the north or south trail head
- Our Cost Pre-Trip = $282 for 5 people at an Airbnb Day 0 = $56.4/ person
- Highly recommend staying a night early as orientations are at 10:00 & 14:00 each day. (We completed the 14:00 orientation the day prior to starting the WCT trail. Once finished, we headed back to the Airbnb to have a relaxing night and some yummy food. This also allows you to start when you want on Day 1. Note: if you want to get the orientation completed early, you can only complete the orientation the day prior to your start date.
- Camp Site – Port Renfrew – Pacheedaht Campground
- Right by the WCT trail head.
- Phone in only # (250) 647-0090. No Website.
- Reserve before you get there. There is no cell service in Port Renfrew
- Airbnb
- There are options on both ends, but if you want a nice spot book early. Our cabin in Port Renfrew was super close and cozy!
- <<insert photo of cabin>>
- Camp Site – Bamfield or Pachena Bay
- Reserve before you get there. There is no cell service in Bamfield or Pachena Bay.
- Pachena Bay – Right by the WCT trail head.
- Also think if you are heading home that same day after you complete the trip, or if you plan to slowly re-integrate yourself back into society. (We opted to slowly integrate yourself back into society, so we booked an Airbnb in Sooke for 2 nights)
- Our Cost Post Trip = $441.72 for 5 people at an Airbnb for 2 nights after the WCT trail = $88.34/ person
- We got one with a hot tub which was major key!
West Coast Shuttle Bus
- Our cost – $90/ person
- West Coast Shuttle Bus
- Pick up from the other end once you complete the hike. Or to take you to the trailhead form the other end, depending on your plan.
- Shuttle pick up times are the same each day; RESERVE EARLY so you have a spot on the bus!
- (We booked the pick-up in Pachena Bay, but finished the trail early that day. We took the Bamfield Taxi from the Pachena Bay WCT office into town to enjoy some beers and food while we waited for time to pass. If you have a spot reserved, you do not need to worry about which spot you get picked up in.)
- Plan your last day of hiking to suit the pick-up time or you will be enjoying an extra night at the end of the trip.
Parking your Car
- Our Cost – $30 / car for 8 days x 2 vehicles = $60
- If you park in Gordon River, go to the spot next to Butch’s Ferry Crossing.
- It’s a safe and secure spot. Both of our vehicles were in good order when we returned to them.
Canada Parks – National Park Entry Pass
- Our cost = $78.50 for the Family/Group (up to 7 people arriving in a single vehicle in a National Park)
- (We were contemplating getting the national pass, however we now our hiking plans for the next year and know we will not be in another National Park until Aug 2019, or so we think.
- NOTE – This is not included in the WCT park fees.
- Pre-purchase you National Parks Entry Pass Here.
- If you with a group, the Pacific Rim Annual (2018 = $78.50) or Canada Parks Annual Pass (2018 = $136.40) is the best bang for your buck and good for park re-entry for the next year.
Ferry to the Island
- Ferry There – Horseshoe Bay to Nanaimo – Ferry Reservations $17 + $66.70 vehicle + 2 people = $83.70 x 2 = $167.40
- Ferry Home – Swartz Bay to Tsawwassen – Ferry Reservations $17 + $91.90 vehicle + 2 people = $108.90 x 2 = $217.80
- BC Ferries
- We left Wednesday AM for the first ferry; I highly recommend getting a reservation to confirm your spot and give you a happy go lucky feeling)
- Note – If you catch the first or second ferry of the day, you’ll get to Port Renfrew in time for the 14:00 orientation the day prior to starting.
- Tip: it’s cheaper to go through Nanaimo than Swartz Bay
TOTAL COSTS UP FRONT
- WCT Fees: $192/ person
- Other Fees: ($78.50 park pass + $450 shuttle + $60 Parking) / 5 people = $117.70/ person
- Ferry: $385.20 round trip + reservations / 5 people = ~$77.04/ person
- depends on how many people in a vehicle
- Airbnb before & after the trip: $144.75/ person
- not required, but a Hot Tub provides a whole lot of love
- Cash for the Trail: $40-$200/ person
- depends on how many beers you want
Trail Tip:
- Chez Monique’s – Cash + Credit Card
- hopefully they are around in 2019 and into the future (see Day 4 for more info)
- Food at Nitinat Narrows – Cash Only
Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.