FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
How do I use this website?
Find what you NEED to KNOW quickly. Often you can jump directly to the answer to your question using many different navigation options. Use the back button on your browser if you want to return to where you were.
Tip - resize your browser window to show 8 - 10 words / line for easiest reading.
Tip - links to other websites open new windows in your browser. Close those windows you no longer want.
If you might hike the West Coast Trail:
- Browse the FAQs first
- Browse Safety
- Browse the rest of the site
If you plan to hike the West Coast Trail:
- Browse the FAQs first
- Browse Safety
- Check our recommended Routes
- Decide if you want to start in Port Renfrew or Bamfield
- Decide how many nights you want to spend on the Trail
- Choose your start date
- (Try to) reserve a Trail Use Permit
- Check the Archive of past trips
If you have a specific question:
- Scan the FAQs
- Scan the Details
- If that doesn’t work, e-mail us your question
If you’ve already hiked the West Coast Trail:
- E-mail to let us know how it went
- Consider joining us — become a contributor by sending notes and / or photos from your hike.
If you have an addition or correction for the website please e-mail. We’d appreciate any advice you have to improve this site.
If you need to know EVERYTHING about the West Coast Trail:
This website is written sequentially like a book. Given enough time, you could read the whole thing starting on the home page. Keep clicking on next page when you reach the bottom of each.
How up-to-date is this information?
Each page has the most recent date of revision posted at the bottom.
Conditions change on the West Coast Trail on a day to day, hour to hour basis. Expect the unexpected. Be ready for anything.
That said, the main advantage of the Internet is currency. This site is as up-to-date as the last hiker who e-mailed to advise us of new issues on the Trail.
We invite you to become a contributor. If you’ve got new information please e-mail.
Who is i-NEEDtoknow.com?
We are hiking enthusiasts using the Internet to provide up-to-date advice. Though based in Canada, we hope to expand this site to (one day) include many of the great multi-day treks of the world.
This website is a resource for those aspiring to hike the West Coast Trail, & a forum & archive for those who have already hiked it.
