--- title: "West Coast Trail · Route planning guide" description: "Pachena Bay → Gordon River, north to south. 48.1-mile reference route with a sample itinerary, season guidance, water and logistics to review." canonical: "https://www.trailready.run/adventures/west-coast/" modified: 2026-10-02 reference_only: true --- # West Coast Trail Pachena Bay → Gordon River, north to south. 48.1-mile reference route with a sample itinerary, season guidance, water and logistics to review. ## Route overview Pachena Bay → Gordon River, north to south A seven-day coastal backpack, with time allocated for the increasingly rugged southern section. This plan is not a one-day running recommendation. Vancouver Island · British Columbia · Canada. Reference route distance: 48.1 miles. Sample itinerary: 7 days with 35 assumed moving hours. Mapped variant: 48.1 mi; guide estimate: 46.6 mi. Connected mapped trails, not a recorded activity. Unmatched intermediate mileages remain approximate guide markers. 35 moving hours are an editable study budget; camp choices are proposals. This mapped variant favors inland trails where available, includes camp approaches, the Thrasher Cove spur and Nitinaht/Gordon ferry segments. Beach sections still require tide planning; the budget does not establish ferry waiting times. ## Sources, dates and assumptions Reference sources reviewed: 2026-09-24. Guidance reviewed: 2026-10-05. Saved route provenance reviewed: 2026-09-24. Connected mapped trail segments; cumulative geodesic mileage. Terrain: SRTM 90 m via Open Topo Data. Not a recorded activity or an access report. Reference review dates describe the catalog sources. An edited copy needs its own route review. Dates do not establish current access. This reference summary includes no trip-date weather. Check the dated forecast separately. Moving hours, breaks, daylight times, water rates and alternatives are planning inputs. Calculated arrivals are estimates. The app has not verified current fire, smoke, closures, trail access, permits, water availability or transport. Preparation and refill confirmations are owner reports for this itinerary, not independent verification. Owner approval saves the chosen plan or change. It does not verify terrain, current access, conditions or readiness. ## When to plan this route Planning season: July–August. A summer window avoids the particularly wet May–June period, though rain and fog remain possible. The reservable season is May–September; confirm permits, tides and ferries for your dates. Seasonal guidance does not establish current trail access. Confirm conditions for your dates with the linked source. ## Stops and proposed itinerary Stop mileages and sample schedules are planning references. Verify approximate locations against your chosen track. Camps and water candidates are unconfirmed. - Pachena Bay · 0.0 mi. Complete the required trailhead arrangements before departure. - Michigan Creek · 7.2 mi · proposed overnight · water to verify. Proposed first overnight. - Tsusiat Falls · 15.1 mi · proposed overnight · water to verify. Proposed second overnight. - Nitinaht Narrows · north ferry landing · 19.5 mi. North ferry landing. Confirm ferry operation, waiting time and payment; this schedule does not establish the crossing window. - Cribs Creek · 25.9 mi · proposed overnight · water to verify. Proposed third overnight. - Walbran Creek · 33.1 mi · proposed overnight · water to verify. Proposed fourth overnight. - Camper Creek · 39.2 mi · proposed overnight · water to verify. Proposed fifth overnight. - Thrasher Cove area · 44.4 mi · proposed overnight · water to verify. Proposed sixth overnight. Check beach and inland options. - Gordon River · 48.1 mi. Finish around the confirmed ferry and onward transport. ## Terrain skills, exposure and practical exits Review ladders, rugged footing, coastal navigation and tide-table use. Review tide windows, coastal conditions and inland versus beach options. Confirm ferry schedules and exit logistics; estimated arrivals do not establish crossing windows. Editorial planning prompts from the reference itinerary and linked guidance; not a technical grade or current access check. Guidance reviewed 2026-10-05. ## Respect this place Review orientation, legal camps, waste rules and Indigenous community access requirements. Check current rules with the route’s land manager. - Follow local access rules and closures; check tribal boundaries and permissions. - Pass courteously, announce your presence and follow posted yielding rules. Give uphill users room; ask stock riders where to move. - Use established trails and durable surfaces; avoid shortcuts and widening trails. Follow local wet-trail restrictions. - Pack out litter, small packaging and food scraps. Check local human-waste requirements; clean up after permitted pets. - Keep noise down, give wildlife space and protect water sources. ## Water planning Use current information for freshwater access near camps and treat it. Coastal water and an apparent creek on a map do not establish a usable supply. ## Transport and logistics Arrange permits, orientation, trailhead transport and both ferry crossings. Build tide windows into your actual daily schedule. ## Decisions and current conditions Choose beach versus inland sections from the official map and current tide information, not a generic arrival estimate. Check Parks Canada trail notices, tides and ferry operations close to departure. The reference includes no current tide timetable. Reference sources reviewed: 2026-09-24. This is dated planning context; consult the linked agencies for updates. ## Packing to review The starter list needs adapting to your route, season and group. Check the interactive guide for item-level reasoning and provenance. - Water containers and treatment - Weather shell - Warm hat and gloves - Headlamp - Spare battery - Phone with offline route - Paper map and compass - Food for the full trip - Satellite communicator - Dry bags and spare socks - Cash / payment arrangements for ferries - Warm layer - Bear spray - Campsite reservations / permit - Approved food storage - Shelter and sleep system - Stove and fuel - Current tide tables and trail map - Watch - 15 m rope for food storage ## Sources - [Parks Canada · West Coast Trail](https://parks.canada.ca/pn-np/bc/pacificrim/activ/sco-wct) - [Parks Canada · official trail map](https://parks.canada.ca/pn-np/bc/pacificrim/visit/-/media/78640e32e65c4b848bc5e04ca271ede8.ashx) - [OpenStreetMap contributors](https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/6955341) - [Route data · ODbL 1.0](https://opendatacommons.org/licenses/odbl/1-0/) - [Elevation · SRTM 90 m via Open Topo Data](https://www.opentopodata.org/datasets/srtm/) - [OpenStreetMap · matched waypoint features (see each stop)](https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright) - [NPS · Trip planning](https://www.nps.gov/subjects/healthandsafety/trip-planning-guide.htm) - [Leave No Trace · Sharing the trail](https://lnt.org/why/7-principles/be-considerate-of-other-visitors/) - [Leave No Trace · Durable surfaces](https://lnt.org/why/7-principles/travel-camp-on-durable-surfaces/) - [Leave No Trace · Waste](https://lnt.org/why/7-principles/dispose-of-waste-properly/) - [Parks Canada · season guidance](https://parks.canada.ca/pn-np/bc/pacificrim/activ/sco-wct) Canonical URL: https://www.trailready.run/adventures/west-coast/ Content updated: 2026-10-02. 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Trips stay in this browser unless you deliberately share or export them. Signing in lets you keep account preferences and review assistant proposals; it does not upload your local library. Route references and planning estimates help preparation. Check current access, conditions, water and your group’s readiness before heading out. Keep an editable JSON backup of plans you want to retain.