FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

Is the weather as bad as they say?

You will hear horror stories of weeks of non-stop rain, mud slides, collapsed ladders, and hypothermia. Those stories are true.

Wardens call this a marine temperate climate, a far too generous description. Karen Sykes calls it "The Worst Coast Trail".

Check the Mudhounds trip report — 6 inches of rain in 12 hours on the toughest section!

About 10 feet of rain fall a year on the West Coast Trail, year round though perhaps May & June are wettest.

Summer temperatures average around 14 degrees Celsius (57 Fahrenheit). The mornings are usually misty, but often the fog burns off by midmorning. Winter days are often horrible with frequent, heavy rains.

Our advice is that you book, if you can, sometime midsummer through September. We’ve twice hiked during August & September without a drop of rain. Wardens told us stories of up to 2 weeks rain free on the Trail. The WCT is glorious in the sunshine!

It’s more likely you’ll experience a howling sea gale and bright sunshine on the same day.

For a pre-recorded marine weather report, just before you hike, call local (604) 724-1333.

Click here for a marine weather forecast online.

It is usually foggy in the morning.

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How long is the WCT?

The WCT is — a deceptively short — 75 km (47 miles). On average, on the WCT:

• 2 km / hour is a nice, relaxed pace with time for rest stops, water breaks, photos, & enjoying the viewpoints. You can even take time to side-trip.
• 3 km / hour is a steady pace, not rushed but without many rest stops
• 4 km / hour is fast for this hike

You can easily hike three times as fast or more on the Bamfield end of the Trail as compared with the difficult Port Renfrew end. In fact, on the difficult sections many hikers cover only:

• 5 km in one day between Thrasher & Gordon River
• 8 km in one day between Thrasher & Camper

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How many days are needed to hike the WCT?

We've heard that trail runners have completed the WCT in less than 16 hours! Most normal folks take 7 days, though it is not unusual to finish in 5 or 6 days.

Our recommended routes are 6 or 7 nights on the Trail. It's great if you can schedule an additional rest day which you could take when & if you choose, depending how you feel on the Trail.
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Can I hike the WCT using only 1 week holidays?

Yes. But it will take a bit of advance planning. Here's an example starting in Port Renfrew:

• Try to get a Hiking Reservation to start on a Sunday. Good luck.
• Travel to Victoria on Friday night.
• Organise transportation to Port Renfrew for Saturday. You need to get to the Trailhead by 3 pm latest, to attend Orientation & purchase your hiking Permit.
• Hike the WCT starting the next morning, Sunday. You will be sleeping 6 nights on the Trail. You will probably need to hike every day.
• Reserve a place on the water taxi or bus from Bamfield back to Port Renfrew for the following Saturday.
• Travel Saturday night or Sunday morning back to Victoria. Head home.

That’s it. You did the WCT in one working week.

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