The West Coast Trail

A lot of tragedy and history are part and parcel of this section of Vancouver Island's west coast. More than 60 ships have gone down in this part of the ocean, known as "The Graveyard of the Pacific". One of the most tragic was the sinking in 1906 of the steamship Valencia. Rescuers from shore and nearby vessels were unable to reach the ship, and when it went down, 126 passengers and crew members perished.

The following year the federal government began construction of a lighthouse at Pachena Boat and a lifesaving trail along this coastline. The trail followed a rugged telegraph route built in 1890, thus connecting lighthouses at Cape Beale and Carmanah Point with other lighthouses and towns towards Victoria. Between Bamfield and Carmanah Point, a distance of 47km (29mi) a 4 metre (13 foot) wide trail was to be built, so that any shipwrecked sailor could reach coastal communities with ease. From 1907 to 1912, a team of 60 men constructed a route from Bamfield to Pachena Point, from this point it became impractical to continue. From Pachena Point to Carmanah Point the route was a 1.5 metre (4.9 foot) wide trail. South of here it continued as the original telegraph line trail. With modern navigation and communication, the trail became obsolete, and overgrown by vegetation. Only the trail to Pachena lighthouse was maintained.

In the 1960's interest to re-open the trail grew. In 1973, Parks Canada started reconstruction. The 47 km (29 mi) section from Pachena Bay to Carmanah Point was rebuilt, while the 30 km (18.6 mi) portion from Carmanah to Port Renfrew, the most primitive, was upgraded. It was completed in 1980.

The 77 km (47 mi) of beach and forest hiking trail, The West Coast Trail, starts at Port Renfrew in the south. The northwest point starts at Pachena Point, 3km (1.8mi) from Bamfield. There is a reservation-registration system in place. The Trail is open from May 1st to September 30th, and 52 hikers are allowed into the trail daily; 26 hikers from the northern end (Pachena Bay) and 26 hikers from the southern terminus (Port Renfrew). Most hikers prefer to start at Port Renfrew, hiking the most challenging section first.