|
|
One of the best hikes in the world is the
Nootka Trail
Place names:
- Third Beach is also known as First Beach
- Louie (or Louis) Lagoon is also called Starfish Lagoon or Starfish Bay
- Calvin Falls is sometimes called Crawfish Falls
By the time you get to Nootka, this web page will be out-of-date. Please email us with corrections.
As this unregulated hike is visited by more hikers, complaints are increasing. Some campsites are crowded & dirty.
The BC government needs accelerate the timetable for protecting the zone from ocean to ridgetop of the adjacent mountains. 
WHY WE LIKE THIS HIKE
 Captain Cook, George Vancouver & William Bligh spent a month here in 1778. Follow in their footsteps.
Nootka is the largest island west of Vancouver Island. You will enjoy the pretty lighthouse overlooking Friendly Cove.
- remote Nootka is a great alternative to the ultra-popular West Coast Trail
- the wild Pacific coast is extreme
- this hike requires no reservation, no permit
- it is almost completely unregulated
- Nootka Island is a fantastic place
- old growth forest, tidal pools, plentiful sea life, rocky headlands, spacious rock shelf
- share the trip with whales, bear, and possibly wolves
- spot the rare sea otter
- we love Third Beach and the adjacent sea caves
- waterfalls & rivers to wade
- stunning Pacific sunsets
- unique to this hike are the historical attractions of Yuquot: museum and native village
- the evocative shipwreck at Tongue Point
- a couple of wilderness retreat accommodations are now available on the Trail
- ship wrecks and other historical artifacts
- campfires below the tide line
- no biting insects
- ... add a comment here
We are still trying to find the ruins of a radar installation near Northwest Cone.
CONSIDERATIONS
This is not a hike for the faint of heart. In good weather, if things go right, it is medium difficulty. If you have problems, you are a long way from civilization. You need buy or rent a marine VHF radio in case of emergency.
- hikers have died on the West Coast Trail and they could die on this hike just as easily
- rogue waves and tides pose the greatest hazard
- river crossings can be very dangerous after rain — especially Beano Creek and Tidal Lagoon. Wait until water level drops before crossing.
- slippery footing causes almost everyone to fall multiple times
- few finish this adventure without at least minor injuries
- emergency phone at the William place in Yuquot. He can call in an Air Nootka plane for a small docking fee.
- this is not a good hike for those who have never done a long multi-day trip
- not pristine Canadian wilderness, the coast has been much degraded by logging.
- you must carry your own pack
- miserably exposed, rain and wind is the norm. You need a good tent and tarp.
- consider wearing water walking shoes instead of hiking boots
- risk of hypothermia
- few pit toilets en route
- bring rope to hang food from trees, away from animals
- most hikers see black bears on this trek (there are no grizzly bears on Vancouver Island)
- many hikers see wolves, as well
- you need to be bear savvy to do this hike
- check the exhaustive list of tips for Staying Healthy on Nootka on i-needtoknow
- ... add a comment here
A controversial C$40/person user fee was increased from $5 in 2003 for all those crossing Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation. We would love to see the budget to know where go our dollars. Does this include tenting at Yuquot? Or does that cost an extra C$20/site/night?
We are happy to pay $40 to hike Nootka — but only if the money is going to protect and improve the hiking experience.
ROUTE
- coastal hike of 35km (22mi) plus sidetrips
- we recommend 5-6 nights on the trail including at least 1 night in Yuquot for an optimal experience. Take time to enjoy this beautiful place. Set your start and finish dates based on availability of island transportation.
- i-needtoknow offers plenty of advice on possible routes
- we would fly from Gold River or water taxi from Tahsis to Louie Lagoon
- exit by ferry from Yuquot (Friendly Cove)
- the cheapest way to do Nootka is to take the ferry both ways
- all campsites are first-come, first-served
- decide as you go where you want to camp. An "open" itinerary is best.
- often you can choose between an inland path or a coastal route. The coast is almost always better.
- you need study a tide chart to plot your best itinerary, hitting specific points at low tide
- ... add a comment here
LOGISTICS
- Vancouver Island is a wonderful destination May through October if you can tolerate rain
- first you need to get to Gold River, BC, on the Island. That's a wonderful road trip via impressive Strathcona Provincial Park
- transportation is a mite complicated — get yourself Hiking The West Coast Of Vancouver Island as early as possible for planning
- to get to Nootka Island, we have used Nootka Air and the Uchuck ferry, both excellent
- next time we plan to take a water taxi from Tahsis, which some hikers like even better
- trail is recommended May to Sept 30th
- we like August and early September best
- off-season hiking is possible if you have transportation to the island, but we advise against it. The weather is horrible.
- ... add a comment here
INDEPENDENT OR GUIDED?
Almost everyone hikes Nootka independently. But you can have an adventure travel company organize a guided trip.
LOCAL INFORMATION
No one knows better what is happening on the Nootka Trail than Air Nootka. They have a bird's eye view.
The Tourist Information office in Gold River is helpful, as well.
BEST TREKKING GUIDEBOOKS
Thank-you Tim Leadem. There was no widely available guide until 2005. (Be sure you get his most recently published edition as earlier Leadem guidebooks did not include Nootka.)
BEST TRAVEL GUIDEBOOKS
There are many others. We like LP's format and maps best.
OTHER RECOMMENDED BOOKS
Brawn's book is particularly good for those looking for a pre-hike fitness program.
BEST MAPS
Nootka was added to the 9th edition of Hiking Trails III. We quite like their maps, divided into north and south sections.
On-line maps
BEST WEBSITES
After this page, the best links are:
BEST PHOTOS & TRIP REPORTS
|
