cape scott north coast trail

The North Coast Trail and Cape Scott Trails took us through a rugged and remote coastal wilderness. First we could hear the ocean, then smell it. After the wolf returned to the forest, eagles dropped onto the carcass to grab some nutrients. Hikers usually only camp here if they have hiked eastbound and are getting picked up by the Cape Scott Water Taxi in the morning. Have your backpack packed and “hike-ready” before boarding the water taxi. Welcome to our North Coast Trail Guide! As always, birds were daily companions, including Swainson’s thrushes, varied thrushes, hermit thrushes, eagles, ravens, hummingbirds, crows, Steller’s jays, robins (a type of thrush), Pacific wrens, and hunting ospreys. coast of Vancouver Island. The fresh water source is a bit of a hunt…look for a path into the forest from the beach. We observed a lot of bear activity during the trip. During dinner that evening, a sea otter surfed the green waves. Soon we saw the blue and fog appear through the trees. Welcome to the website for the Cape Scott and the North Coast Trail: Hiking Vancouver Island's Wildest Coast! Before dinner, we had a stove operation lesson and after dinner we had a food storage lesson. A chapter on the plants and animals of the North Coast will also help hikers appreciate the incredibly rich wildlife of the area. The trail was easy and open for the most part, with a few rough and bumpy sections to keep us focused for a bit longer. It’s not the nicest beach on the trail, but it is a logical place to stop on westbound itineraries. A BC Parks Facility Officer and his team were camping at Laura Creek in between their trail maintenance work. Cape Scott and the North Coast Trail spans 256 pages. Distance: 49 kmDuration: 7 daysPeak: 123 mGain: 964 mMap: CalTopo. Wild animals were constant companions on the Cape Scott Trails and North Coast Trail. Whales spouted all the time now, in fact they became our most common wildlife sighting. The only organism that broke up the grey was the dark brown bulbs of bull kelp. Hold tightly to ropes as they may be muddy. John Tidbury was waiting at the trailhead with his camera and we got a van tour of the big tree. Whales were not as abundant this week. Outside of these dates, transport must be arranged on an individual basis, which can come at a higher cost, but can also offer more solitude if that’s what you’re after. The North Coast Trail Shuttle, which offers boat transfers to Shushartie Bay and pick up from the Cape Scott Trailhead operates May 1 to Sept 15. There are two new tent pads and an outhouse. The extensive boardwalks of Laughing Loon Lake made a perfect spot for a long lunch. Instead, the water taxi transported our group to this marine trailhead the evening before. Shuttleworth Bight is a massive beach that beckons hikers to stay an extra day. We departed camp at 1018 h and enjoyed sunny white sand beaches and passed only one other hiker. There is a tide problem between the two camps, so take this into consideration when trip planning. Bald eagles, hawks, sanderlings, ravens, crows, jays, and seagulls were with us on most days. Our black bear viewing occurred early in the morning at Nels Bight, on our day-trip to the Cape Scott Light Station. Sun protection in the form of sunscreen and hats, as well as breaks in the shade, helped keep heat problems at bay. When trips start at this marine trailhead, the water taxi engine noise temporarily pushes them into the forest. Our team bypassed the sketchy rope obstacle between Tripod Beach and Cape Sutil. We were grateful for cloud-cover and a thin yellow-egg sun, otherwise this section would have been exposed and hot. We see a lot of wolf tracks here in the mornings. However, like no other account on the market today, it also explores the human history and culture of the area - from First Peoples through to colonization and conservation. Creek levels were decent and water was easy to find in all locations. On the way back, we passed a hiker who saw a bear at Nels Bight. George, the captain, was a total professional. For the first few days of the trip, winds from the south and light precipitation made for unsettled weather. The Cape Scott Trail systems and North Coast Trails are remote and require solid trip planning. Here are a few extra tips to make your shuttle van experience better: North Coast Trail Shuttle will not be running between the Cape Scott Parking Lot and Port Hardy in 2020. Here are some tips to enhance your camping experience: Our third and final North Coast Trail and Cape Scott Trails trip of the season was another spectacular experience. No one felt like going in the water that night. The day was sunny and hot, eagles and ravens were talking to each other, and we were the cleanest we would be for a week. It is usually hiked in a westerly direction, with hikers being dropped at the Shushartie Bay trailhead by f loatplane or boat and then picked up at the Cape Scott trailhead. Be prepared for all kinds of weather! 2015. Our group departed Laura Creek at 0945 h and hiked back into the rainforest. There is only one significant tide problem along the North Coast Coast Trail involving a rocky cliff cut-off. Our team enjoyed dinner at Laura Creek and retired to our tents. A curious harbour seal swam into the little bay and watched us until we disappeared into the forest. Solo hiking requires excellent trip planning, a high level of fitness, extensive knowledge of the route, and a solid emergency plan. The VI Trail is currently more t… They are your one-stop land and water logistics between Port Hardy and the North Coast Trail. Email. Hikers may extend their North Coast Trail hike with side trips in the Cape Scott Trail core area. North Coast / Cape Scott Trail Trip report - 7 day hike on the N.W. READ FULL Cape Scott and the North Coast Trail: Hiking Vancouver Island s Wildest Coast Premium. If your looking for adventure or freedom backpacking is the answer!!! North Coast Trail - getting... 21 photos North Coast Trail day 1. Our strolling happiness was short-lived as we scrambled up a rope into the dense jungle. We were happy that the beach was almost deserted, unusual for this popular zone. Fisherman River Camp is not the prettiest spot, but there is plenty of water. The Holberg Road, off Hwy 19, just south of the Town of Port Hardy, is the access point for the Cape Scott Trail. There was a lone cormorant (not the helicopter!) [Download] Cape Scott and the North Coast Trail: Hiking Vancouver Island s Wildest Coast Paperback. Our backpacks were heavy with seven days of food. Distance: 14.5 kmDuration: 7 h 28 minPeak: 66 mGain: 186 m. Our day-trip to the Cape Scott Lighthouse is always a highlight for a strong group! 0:08. These animals are making a visible comeback on the coastline of Vancouver Island, and we are always happy to see them. Sutil Bight is a fine place to swim and wash off the rainforest mud. It's approximately an 18 kilometer, 5 or 6 hour hike, from the trailhead to Nels Bight. Read More Testimonials. We really could not have asked for a better North Coast Trail experience! There is also an old trail from the original Cape Scott Settlement, heading due south to within half a … The deer jumped into the ocean and swam across the bay. Increased prices for the 2020 season. An alarm was set for our final day to hike 17 km to the Cape Scott Trailhead on time to meet North Coast Trail Shuttle van. Discover the magic of the Cape Scott Trail with Wild Coast. These overnight camping fees are only collected from May 1 to September 30 when backcountry services are provided. The total hiking distance Shushartie Bay (from water taxi) to San Josef Bay & Cape Scott Trail parking lot is a minimum of 59.5km (37mi). Distance: 8.9 kmDuration: 7 h 59 minPeak: 245 mGain: 359 m. The trail section from Shushartie Bay to Skinner Creek was 100% inland and 100% hard. There was lots of time for photos and relaxing. Each year, thousands of backpackers and nature lovers head to the northern limits of Vancouver Island, bound for the jewel of the region: Cape Scott Provincial Park and the recently completed North Coast Trail. Canada's most remote backcountry experience. Laura Creek Camp is a welcome sight after a hard day of beach slogging. Distance: 12.7 kmDuration: 8 h 35 minPeak: 11 mGain: 25 m. We love the warm-up walk along Shuttleworth Bight with 2 km of hard flat sand first thing. Part trail map, part field guide, part regional history, Cape Scott and the North Coast Trail is the first comprehensive guidebook about one of Vancouver Island's most iconic destinations. Westbound hikers don’t typically stay at Shushartie Bay Camp. Hikers Must Pre-Book. Full-page maps, essential trail information, vivid photographs and a heck of a lot more . Go to Wild Coast Magazine or John Baldwin.ca online for a great map and description of the Cape Scott North Coast Trail. Carry full water bottles (there is no drinking water until Skinner Creek). It was a pleasure to have camp already set up. We use three guidebooks to plan hiking trips on the North Coast Trail. We probably scared a bear, said the Parks Facility Operators that were camping there too. More music than any other day on the trail. Our weather was a hot and sunny 22 C now! We also passed the Community Hall ruins and an old well. We jumped off the bow and helped each other off-load our full packs. North Coast Trail: This trail is an extension of the original Cape Scott Trail, stretching 43.1 kilometres, with a total hiking distance of about 59.5 kilometres. November 11, 2019 Filed Under: Coastal, Trail Guides, Trip Reports Tagged With: Backpacking, British Columbia, Canada, Cape Scott Provincial Park, Vancouver Island. Our group watched constant spouts that afternoon, with a few whales coming right into the bight on high tide…rolling happily around in the waves. Water was trickier to obtain that day; many of the creeks had dried up or had very low flow. ... Get in touch. Captain George loaded our packs and commented on how light they were. Huckleberry bushes and berries were tempting, but we left the fruits for the bears. Carry it back to the urban. After waiting our turn and crossing in teams of two, we entered the forest again. An extension to the Cape Scott Lighthouse is highly recommended if you have the time. -Beginner and intermediate hikers can take the shorter Cape Scott route -Experienced hikers can trek the longer 58 km North Coast Trail which includes part of Cape Scott Park. The Surespan bridge replacement affected hiker access from the Cape Scott Trail Parking Lot during the weeks of Jun 3-7 and 10-14. Base: Port HardyWebsite: www.capescottwatertaxi.caPhone: 1-250-949-6541 (Toll free: 1-800-246-0093)Email: [email protected]. The North Coast Trail is just one backpacking trip I've done. Today was all about being transported from the urban to the wilderness. There are also man-made wooden structures such as ropes and boardwalks in various states of decay. Shuttleworth Bight was so lovely that we decided to spend a sunny rest day here. We took short breaks in the open bog areas to hunt for carnivorous sundew flowers. Excited to start the North Coast Trail, we boarded the Cape Scott Water Taxi at 0634 h at the Port Hardy marina and motored to Cape Sutil. We cruised through more easy boardwalk over the upland bog, checking out the bonsai ponderosa pine (a.k.a. Travelling through ancient, coastal, temperate rainforest and on sand and cobblestone beaches, enjoy this new, rugged addition to the glorious Cape Scott Provincial Park at the northwestern tip of Vancouver Island. Each year, thousands of backpackers and nature lovers head to the northern limits of Vancouver Island, bound for the jewel of the region: Cape Scott Provincial Park and the recently completed North Coast Trail. Some of us took advantage of the cold ocean and washed off the mud. The Bedwell Lakes Trail provides efficient access into the subalpine of Strathcona Park. Irony Creek Camp is probably the most premium site on the North Coast Trail. Traversed through hikers take 6 to 8 days kilometres ) to the Cape Scott the! The canine had killed a deer into the subalpine of Strathcona Park walk. We took short breaks in the core zone, but an extra day / Cape Scott trailhead yet! Island 's most remote backcountry experience we rested for carnivorous sundew flowers the! 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Hot lunch at the Stranby River washed off the beach for sinking up to the Cape Trails! Secret beach with tide pools and surge channels approximately an 18 kilometer, 5 or hour... Evening activities included walking the Bight is a 43.1km extension to the forest leads...

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