Skip to map

West Coast Trail

West Coast Trail — the trail guide

The West Coast Trail is a 75 km trek in Canada, typically walked in 6-8 days, with 2490 m of total ascent. It rates Hard on our published rubric (33 m of gain per km, topping out at 227 m).

The West Coast Trail runs 75 km down the wild southwestern edge of Vancouver Island, from Pachena Bay near Bamfield to Gordon River at Port Renfrew, crossing the traditional territories of the Huu-ay-aht, Ditidaht and Pacheedaht First Nations. It was cut as a lifesaving route for sailors wrecked on this 'Graveyard of the Pacific' coast. It is now among British Columbia's hardest hikes: over a hundred ladder systems, cable-car river crossings, suspension bridges, deep mud, slick boardwalk and long stretches of beach that only go at low tide. Every link in the logistics chain is booked and paid — the reservation, a mandatory orientation session, and two ferry crossings you cannot walk around.

Quick facts

Distance75 km
Total ascent2490 m
Typical duration6-8 days
Difficulty (computed)Hard
Steepness33 m gain per km
High point227 m
CountryCanada
RegionCanada

Difficulty is computed from gain-per-km and maximum altitude on a published rubric, identically for every trail in the catalogue — so an "Hard" here means the same thing everywhere on DirtbagMaps.

Elevation profile

Low point -5 m · high point 227 m · 2490 m total ascent over 75 km.

Planning notes

Frequently asked questions

How long is the West Coast Trail?

The West Coast Trail is 75 km, and most hikers complete it in 6-8 days. Total elevation gain is 2490 m.

How difficult is the West Coast Trail?

It rates Hard on DirtbagMaps' computed rubric: 33 m of climbing per km walked with a high point of 227 m. The rubric classifies every trail from gain-per-km and maximum altitude, so ratings are comparable across the whole catalogue.

Where is the West Coast Trail?

In Canada. The route starts near 48.793, -125.116 — the interactive 3D map above shows the full line, and the planner splits it into daily stages.

Can I get the GPX and plan daily stages?

Yes. Open the trail in the DirtbagMaps planner to drag the elevation profile into daily stages, see huts and accommodation along the corridor, and export a per-day GPX for your watch or GPS.