The trail offers hikers a glimpse into wild, west coast ecosystems. See the trail description above for more details: Unlike the West Coast Trail and most other coastal trails in BC, tides are not a problem on the main trail to Cape Scott. As you get closer to the beach, the forest opens up and thick salal bushes line the trail. Their dykes and fences survive today. The main campsites and points of interest along the trail to Cape Scott are in red, additional side hikes are in orange. At Nissen Bight it links up with the original Cape Scott Trail Cape Scott Lighthouse Trail There is also lots of historical garbage strewn around including parts of an old stove. Just be sure to put your tent well above the high tide line. Follow signs into the forest to pools in the creek. It’s a good place to stay if you got a late start on the trail. If you are hiking Vancouver Island, find your bliss on a guided hiking adventure in Canada's premiere wilderness areas. The trail to San Josef Bay heads left and your route to Cape Scott turns right. There is a great view from the top of the dunes and you are likely to have the beach all to yourself. So you may want to skip the campfire entirely. The tiny little trees growing from the top of the stacks defy the onslaught of the raging Pacific on a daily basis . The Eric Lake campground has boardwalk paths to several tent platforms. Campfires are permitted in Cape Scott Provincial Park as long as there isn’t a regional fire ban in place. Find the most current and reliable 7 day weather forecasts, storm alerts, reports and information for [city] with The Weather Network. Coastal hiking and backpacking is a lot different than hiking in the forest or mountains. Abandoned tractor hidden off to the side of the trail. The following information comes from the BC Parks website, http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/cape_scott/hiking.html. (Check the BC Fire Ban website before you go. A parking lot is provided at the Cape Scott and San Josef Bay trailheads, near the southeast corner of the park. Port Renfrew is five hours north of Victoria, and the trailhead is another two hours down a gravel road. Hiker, adventure traveller, Leave No Trace trainer and connoisseur of alpine meadows. Campsites: Unlimited space on the beach above the high tide line | Toilet: Three outhouses – one where the trail meets the beach, one just past the ranger station, and one on the other side of the creek | Water: Collect from the creek on the west side of the beach. And definitely pull over if you see a logging trucks – they are very heavy and cannot stop quickly. Lowrie Bay and Experiment Bight see a handful of campers each year. The trail from the parking lot to Nels Bight and beyond to Cape Scott is fairly easy and fairly flat, though muddy year-round in spots. Soon, you’ll arrive at an info sign and dozens of fisherman’s buoys hanging in the trees. It’s a 23.6km hike from the trailhead to the lighthouse at Cape Scott, so most visitors do it as a backpacking trip, staying at one of the campsites along the way. Rain 10 °C. Day hiking is free. Keep an eye for lots of other old-growth spruce trees in this section too. Watch for hanging buoys and follow them back into the forest. Your filter may also get clogged, so make sure you know how to clean it. Pull over to let faster vehicles pass. From the junction, the trail heads downhill in the forest over some roots and rocks. Before you get to Por… Yet, when combined with a round trip to/from the Cape Scott Ligthouse, and the trip south to the San Josef staging area, the trip totals nearly 80 km. On the other side, it heads back into the forest through a particularly muddy patch. About 1.6km from the junction, the trail emerges from the forest into an open area at with an info board. Hiking to Cape Scott is straightforward, with signs at all junctions. 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