Nestled at the rugged northwestern tip of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Cape Scott Provincial Park is a premier destination for hiking and wilderness exploration. Renowned for its iconic Cape Scott Trail, a 23.6 km one-way trek to the historic Cape Scott Lighthouse, this hike-in park offers a 48.8-km out-and-back journey or up to 59.5 km with side trails, weaving through exceptionally muddy, slippery, and rooty paths. From the stunning San Josef Bay, with its sea stacks and sandy beaches, to the challenging North Coast Nahwitti Trail stretching 47 km to Shushartie Bay, Cape Scott Provincial Park boasts nearly 100 kilometers of hiking trails for adventurers. Steeped in history, the park was home to First Nations peoples, followed by Danish settlers in the late 19th century, whose dikes and relics remain, and a World War II radar station. Cape Scott camping at sites like San Josef Bay, Eric Lake, and Nels Bight requires a $5 daily fee and preparation with gear like waterproof boots, rain gear, trekking poles, tide tables, and bear spray for wildlife such as bears and cougars. Nearby, Raft Cove Provincial Park, Cape Palmerston Recreation Area, and Ronning Gardens enhance the adventure. Whether you’re navigating the Cape Scott trail map, planning a Cape Scott Trail itinerary, or seeking the best hiking in Cape Scott Provincial Park, this Pacific Northwest gem promises an unforgettable experience.
Fulfill your camping desires by camping in a proper place. In the Green Point Campground - Long Beach Unit, you can enjoy one of the best recreational camping within the spacious, clean, and gorgeous campsites with excellent facilities. The atmosphere makes the area fantastic for camping, and tent sites and RV sites are available with a superb rainforest environment.
As a reward for your hard work, travel to Vancouver Island to fulfil your cravings for adventure and fun. Adjacent to Campbell River, Stories Beach is a vibrant spot attracting many visitors worldwide. The great waves heating the beach allow you to experience surfing for real. While you are in the area, keep in mind to fish; so, do not forget to bring your fishing rods.
Assign one page of your adventure book to the experience you would gain in the Cottam Point diving zone. Going north of Nanaimo, this fantastic diving location is famous for its mighty tides and incredible marine life. Therefore, you can enjoy both diving and exploring underwater life.
As one of the main recreational spots in the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, Long Beach features strong waves pounding the beach. This quality has made this beautiful scenic beach a hot spot for surfing and storm-watching enthusiasts. It is a beautiful and pristine beach on which having a lounge time or walking feels rejoiced. You can lose yourselves in the sand of Long Beach and find them once again.
No one can imagine a sank ship's wrecks can make an ideal place to dive deep in the water. Wreck of the SS Themis Diving is a habitat for a small diversity of marine creatures, and it is a beautiful background view for your pictures.
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Protection Island Ferry provides its participants with high chances of watching whales and other marine creatures, along with the scenic view of three spectacular islands. You may also rent a boat to surf the water, and if you are in luck, encounter these gigantic marine beasts.
Those who are planning to engage in the adventure of paddling in Barkley Sound would better schedule their visit for July-August and reserve their seats beforehand. During cold months do not forget to bring rain gear. Besides kayaking, other activities are available in Barkley's good area to be fed on by your souls.
Have you ever had a dream of surfing the largest glacier on Vancouver Island? Well, if you had, it is time to experience this fantastic dream in the real world. Just in the heart of Comox Valley, Comox Lake offers a wide range of water sports such as wakeboarding and waterskiing. Due to the lake's closeness to several parks, you can do other outdoor activities to multiply the joy you have in this area.
Let your surfer spirit free on the extended beach of Cox Bay. One of the merits of surfing is that consistent offshore winds from the northeast facilitate surfing most of the time, which has made Cox Bay Beach one of the popular destinations for surfers. According to the visitors, the delightful walk you can enjoy from where your stay may cause the preference of this beautiful beach to the others.
Satisfy your curiosity about diving in Clark Rock waters. The reefs there are brighten by a beacon which has made the location favourable for diving. It is worth mentioning that Clark Rock is a fantastic place to take pictures for your journey's album. Also, you may have the chance to observe wildlife, whether in waters or on land.
Hiking Cape Scott Provincial Park means navigating a diverse and rugged landscape. The Cape Scott Trail, a 23.6 km journey from the trailhead to the Cape Scott Lighthouse, is the park’s backbone, with side trails pushing the total hiking distance to approximately 59.5 km. Known for being exceptionally muddy, slippery, and rooty, this 48.8-km out-and-back trail (round trip from trailhead to lighthouse) tests even seasoned hikers.
|
Section |
Distance |
Time |
Difficulty |
Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Trailhead to San Josef Bay
|
2.5 km
|
45 min
|
1 BI (Easy)
|
Wheelchair-accessible, sea stacks, sandy beach
|
|
Trailhead to Eric Lake
|
3 km
|
1 hr
|
2 D (Moderate)
|
Old-growth forest, tent platforms, lake camping
|
|
Eric Lake to Fisherman River
|
6.3 km
|
2 hrs
|
2 D (Moderate)
|
Telegraph lines, settler remnants, small campsite
|
|
Fisherman River to Nels Bight
|
7.5 km
|
3 hrs
|
1 B II (Easy-Moderate)
|
Expansive beach, camping, historical grave
|
|
Nels Bight to Cape Scott Lighthouse
|
6.1 km
|
2 hrs
|
2 B (Moderate)
|
Coastal views, historic plank roads, lighthouse
|
The Cape Scott Trail boasts five designated camping sites, each with unique features and amenities. Below is an in-depth look, enhanced with a summary table.
Tahsis is an accessway to many hiking trails. This village municipality is situated at the top of the steep-sided Tahsis Inlet and is surrounded by breathtaking wilderness and abundant wildlife. Some of the best water activities like ocean kayaking, surfing, windsurfing, recreational fishing or sport fishing, scuba diving, and kiteboarding are popular.
The Sutton Range is a group of mountains and a subrange of the Vancouver Island Ranges that form the greater Insular Mountains. The amazing rock formation and alpine scale make the mountains within the range perfect for climbing. While you're atop Sutton Peak, Victoria Peak, Warden Peak, and mainland coast mountains are within your sight.
The Sophia Range is a low small group of mountains on Nootka Island. Visiting the range would be fascinating overlooking inlets. The spectacular sights of the hills wrapped in trees ornamented with beautiful wildlife and birds are amazing while ascending. The range and the nearby park are a wealth of outdoor activities as paddling, fishing, and wildlife viewing.
As it is said, "A river cuts through rock, not because of its power, but because of its persistence." Did you know it takes a long process for a cave to be created? Artlish Caves is no exception. It is the largest active river cave in Canada, and the running water is why these series of caves were carved out from the ground, which is still happening. While you are inside the caves, sharpen your eyes to find bats, spiders, and other creatures in the darkness.
If you desire to search for hidden parts of nature to discover exciting facts, Coral Cave is a suitable option. Before stepping into it, you need to have caving skills. The beauty of the cave is doubled by the stunning rainforest that surrounded the entrance. While you are inside, you may see the flooded parts of the cave. Let's get into it to find more and realize the time effect for thousands or millions of years.
Devote more time, get a challenging goal for yourself, and pack your equipment. It is time to face the longest and deepest cave on Vancouver Island, Thanksgiving Cave. Caving inside this mostly tight and beautiful cave is not a beginner's suitable exploration, but for an expert caver, the adventurers' rush worth any trouble. If you are a beginner, don't worry. Tahsis is the caving capital of Canada, so you have different chances nearby.
Going deep into the forest is worthy enough to visit the stunning Upana Caves. Listen to the sound of a river passing by and detect several entrances with the famous one behind the spectacular Upana Caves Waterfall. Inside entrances, you may find birds' nests. Watch the evidence of years of existence by holes like the one in cheese. The stunning galleries and passages you'll explore while going down would be incredible.
The Genevieve Range offers a fascinating tour within Nootka Island with spectacular sights for mountaineers. The range's area is a remote paradise for those seeking peace and seclusion. While ascending peaks, the range allows breath-taking sights of the ocean, enormous trees below your feet covering hills along with lakes and creeks dotted the area and plenty of wildlife.
The Haihte Range overlooking Tahsis and Zeballos is home to some of the largest remaining glaciers on Vancouver Island. It experiences many cloudy days due to being close to the coast. The high terrain, including long aesthetic lines, is perfect for skiing at the lower glacier shelves, and visitors would enjoy excellent alpine climbing at jagged spires along the main ridge.
This table provides a guide for hikers planning a trip to Cape Scott Provincial Park. The trail is officially open from May to September, which is considered the best time for hiking, though it can be accessed year-round. Weather conditions vary from wet and cool in the shoulder seasons (May and September) to warmer and drier in peak months (July and August). Trail accessibility is generally good during the open season, though closures of some sections or campsites may occur due to weather or maintenance. Key considerations include preparing for muddy and slippery trails, especially in wetter months, and anticipating higher crowds and permit demand during the peak season. Whether you prefer solitude or optimal weather, this guide will help ensure your Hiking Cape Scott Provincial Park experience is memorable and well-planned.
|
Month |
Weather Conditions |
Trail Accessibility |
Considerations |
|---|---|---|---|
|
May
|
Cooler temperatures with increased rainfall.
|
Trail open; some sections may be closed due to weather or maintenance.
|
Less crowded; prepare for wet and muddy conditions.
|
|
June
|
Mild temperatures; moderate rainfall.
|
Trail open; most campsites operational.
|
Increasing number of hikers; moderate weather.
|
|
July
|
Warmer temperatures; drier conditions.
|
Trail open; all campsites operational.
|
Peak season; higher demand for permits.
|
|
August
|
Warm temperatures; drier conditions.
|
Trail open; all campsites operational.
|
Peak season; higher demand for permits.
|
|
September
|
Cooling temperatures; increased rainfall.
|
Trail open; some campsites may be closed.
|
Less crowded; prepare for variable weather.
|
A Cape Scott Trail map is available online through BC Parks or at the trailhead. The Cape Scott Provincial Park map outlines the 23.6 km one-way trail, including camping spots and side trails like Hansen Lagoon. For offline use, download the Cape Scott Trail map PDF, as cell service is unreliable in this remote area.
Alireza Moghimehfar
