Pacific Rim National Park Reserve of Canada

West Coast Trail Reservations

Planning your trip

The WCT is open May 1 to September 30. The WCT is closed to overnight use between October 1 and April 30^th.

Maximum group size is 10.

Entrance points are Pachena Bay (Bamfield/north) and Gordon River (Port Renfrew/south).

All overnight users require an Overnight Use Permit.

In the shoulder season between May 1st and June 14^th and Sept 16^th to the 30^th Parks Canada discontinued the reservations and the standby system as demand did not warrant the need.

During the peak season, June 15 to Sept 15^th, Parks Canada allows up to sixty overnight hikers to start the trail each day. Thirty from the Pachena end of the trail and thirty from the Gordon River end of the trail.

Hikers in peak season can make a reservation or go on the standby list

To be put on the standby list hikers request to be added to the standby list when they arrive at the WCT Information Centre. Wait times range from 0-2 days.

Reservations can be made up to three months in advance of the hike start date.

• Hikes starting in June can be reserved as of April 1, 9 AM
• Hikes starting in July can be reserved as of May 1,
• Hikes starting in August can be reserved as of June 1
• Hikes starting in September can be reserved as of July 1

Hikers can make a reservation by phone or through the internet.

• Make an on-line reservation
  
  
  
  
• by telephone Monday to Saturday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm PST (closed Sundays and statutory holidays)
  • Toll Free Canada/USA: 1-800-435-5622
  • International: 250-387-1642

When making a reservation hikers need to identify

• Preferred start dates;
• The trailhead you plan to start from;
• The number of hikers in your group;
• An email address to send confirmation & orientation information to;
• Means of payment: Visa or MasterCard

More information about planning your West Coast Trail adventure