Cape Scott Provincial Park is a magnificent remote area with rugged terrain. It is famous for its old-growth rainforest, beautiful white sand beaches, coastal bog, lots of historical places, heavy rain, and intense storms.
The area offers opportunities for hiking, wilderness camping, and wildlife viewing.
A variety of flora and fauna can be found at the park. The forest in upland areas is covered with red and yellow cedar, true fir, hemlock, and lodgepole pine. In the rugged coastline, old-growth Sitka spruce, evergreen huckleberry, salal, salmonberry, and fern are observable.
You can see large mammals such as bears, wolves, deers, cougars, and Roosevelt elks at the park's open uplands and various species of birds along the coastline. Seals, sea otters, sea lions, gray whales, and killer whales are inhabitants in the waters offshore.
Cape Scott Provincial Park has 22,294 hectares (55,090 acres) surface area and is located north of San Josef Bay, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.
Mt. St. Patrick is the highest point of the park overlooking San Josef Bay at 422 m (1,385 ft.) above sea level. The Eric Lake is the park's largest lake at 44 hectares (110 acres) located in the park's southeast, the largest freshwater source.
Cape Scott Provincial Park is a popular destination for backpackers during summer. A well-known backpacking trip is to hike Cape Scott Trail to Nels Bight, which is 16.8 km (10.4 miles) and takes about 4-7 hours. The trails are mostly flat but often very muddy and consist of a wooden boardwalk mainly.
From Nanaimo:
Nanaimo's fastest route is via BC-19 N, which is 452 km (280.8 miles) and takes about 5 hours and 28 minutes.
Take Third St to BC-19 N. After 3.3 km (2 miles) turn right onto BC-19 N (signs for Campbell R). Drive for 379 km (235.5 miles). Take Holberg Rd, NE 60 Rd and San Josef Main/San Joseph Rd to Cape Scott Park Rd in Mount Waddington B. After 69.6 km (43.2 miles), you will reach the Cape Scott Parking Lot.
From Victoria:
The Fastest route from Victoria is via Trans-Canada Hwy/BC-1 N Rd. It is 563 km (349.8 miles) and takes about 6 hours and 41 minutes.
Take Government St to Trans-Canada Hwy/BC-1 N for 1.2 km (0.7 miles). Continue to Port Hardy for 492 km (305.7 miles). Take Holberg Rd, NE 60 Rd and San Josef Main/San Joseph Rd to Cape Scott Park Rd in Mount Waddington B. Keep driving for 69.6 km (43.2 miles) to reach the Cape Scott Parking Lot.
1- Cape Scott Trail is an out-and-back difficult trail located near Mount Waddington B, British Columbia, Canada. The trail has a 48 km (29.8 miles) length and 1048 m (3438.3 ft) elevation gain. It features a lake and is mainly used for hiking, camping, backpacking, and sea kayaking. The best time to use the trail is from May until September.
2- San Josef Bay is an out & back easy trail located near Mount Waddington B. It has 8.7 km (5.4 miles) length and 201 m (659.4 ft) elevation gain. It is a year-round trail, which features a river and offers several activities. Dogs are allowed to use the path but must be kept on a leash.
Cape Scott Provincial Park was established in 1973 and named after a lighthouse site, which has guided mariners since 1960.
This region was first inhabited by the Nakumgilisala, Tlatlasikwala, and Yutlinuk, native peoples who shared the realm before white settlement.
From 1897 to 1907, the primary attempt was made to house whites at Cape Scott. The settlers were Danes, mostly from Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota and Nebraska, who wanted to establish an ethnic society around Hansen Lagoon and Fisherman Bay. But Due to living issues, they could not stay long, and the area became uninhabited soon.
Cape Scott Provincial Park is a popular destination for backpackers during summer. Also, it offers several activities, such as hiking through the trails while enjoying the presence of vegetation and various animals, camping in the wilderness, swimming, fishing, and kayaking at Nels Bight and San Josef Bay.
Based on the BC Act, Cape Scott Provincial Park is one of the protected areas on Vancouver Island, where you are not allowed to hunt.