We hiked the remote North Coast Trail on Vancouver Island

We're backpacking 43 KM through the wild Canadian jungle of North Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Vancouver Island was named one of the top 25 most beautiful places in the world in 2023, according to CNN.
We'll share some planning tips for the North Coast Trail (NCT), lessons learned, and give you a sense of the trail conditions in Cape Scott Provincial Park.
If you weren't able to secure a reservation on the West Coast Trail, or prefer a trail with less foot traffic than the Juan de Fuca Marine Trail, this trail is a great alternative. We did a shortened version of the trail over 4 days and 3 nights.
This backcountry trek is not for the first time hiker. The trail is in a remote area, and there are many opportunities to get hurt. Do your homework and make sure you are prepared.
Remember to leave no trace and take only memories.
Take the Wild Pledge: vancouverislandnorth.ca/taket...
TIME STAMPS:
00:00: Trail Plan and preparation
00:53: Day 1 - Cape Sutil to Shuttleworth Bight - what to expect
03:16: Day 2 - Shuttleworth Bight to Laura Creek - what to expect
04:48: Day 3 - Laura Creek to Nissen Bight - what to expect
06:23: Day 4 - Nissen Bight to Cape Scott Parking Lot - what to expect
07:02: Lessons Learned on this backpacking adventure
07:39: Bloopers, outtakes
Hotel that we stayed at in Port Hardy pre and post our adventure: Kwa'lilas Hotel
Water Taxi that we used: Cape Scott Water Taxi
Map that we used: The North Coast Trail - part of The BC Coast Explorer
Music through Epidemic Sound
I'm happy to answer questions that you may have about this adventure.
MESSAGE TO MY AMAZING VIEWERS:
Oh my gosh, I am humbled by your support. I really appreciate receiving your messages and I am thrilled that I can take you on a fun, wee escape every now and then. I love exploring and making videos. Knowing that you are coming along for the ride just gets me even more excited. Thank you!
Stay safe and stay curious.
Yaz
#backpacking #NorthCoastTrail #exploreBC

[@V.I.Outdoors]

welcome to the island 😊

[@planetyaz]

It's pretty incredible! Looking forward to exploring more of it this summer. Thank you for watching!🙂

[@chadfontaine2717]

Great vid. We were heading into Cape Scott in 2022 and were greeted by one group from the North Coast Trail that had a bleeding hiker. One group with someone who couldn't even carry their own pack anymore and another group that was almost in tears as they were shocked how gruelling the trail was. We haven't braved the NCT yet as a result ;)

[@planetyaz]

Oh my… that would be discouraging. I had never done a multi-day hiking trip before the NCT. Luckily Dave had experience hiking the WCT so was able to show Cameron and I how to live out of our backpacks, and adventure safely. Yes, lots of opportunity to get injured on that trail, and you are not close to a hospital. It was an incredible family adventure that we will never forget! Enjoy your summer! Yaz

[@MM-my3pc]

Lovely video = thanks for sharing!

[@planetyaz]

Thank you for the kind feedback. 🙂We loved this adventure so much! It's one of those trips that you never forget. We just completed the Sayward Forest Canoe Circuit on Vancouver Island which we also highly recommend. So many amazing places to discover on Vancouver Island! Stay safe and enjoy the rest of your summer!

[@stevet7777]

been to cape scott park 45 years ago... Too old now. saw the old mine site, lotsa birds, some deer, no bears (sorry). had very good boots, hiked in, hiked out. alone, cuz nobody else wanted to go. was not too wet, but was cold. great stuff, enjoyed it. bad part was bushwacking when I lost the trail. eventually finding it again.

[@planetyaz]

Oh my gosh, that sounds like quite the adventure! We were short on time so didn't see the old mine site. We only saw bears on the shore during our boat trip to our starting point. We did see a lot of sea otters. They are way too cute! Good boots are a must. Someone that was hiking ahead of us had their boots fall apart and they hiked barefoot the last day! I'm sure those boots must have ended up on that big shoe tree at the end of the trail. Glad that you were able to find the trail again. There were a couple of areas that weren't as obvious for us and we found ourselves bushwacking. Luckily there was an ocean to our right, so we followed the sound of the waves. Have a fabulous summer, and thank you so much for watching! Yaz

[@short2048]

Great video. Hiked this trail a number of years ago. We started in Shushartie Bay and had to hike through the bog. You were smart to avoid it.

[@planetyaz]

Thank you for the kind words. Making these videos is a fun little hobby for me.🙂 The NCT hike was so much fun!!! A full work out for sure. Bravo for not being swallowed up by the bog. Lol! I hope your summer is filled with great adventures. Yaz

[@gesnow]

That was my play group as a kid, we lived in CFS Holberg.

[@planetyaz]

Amazing! It's so gorgeous there. 🙂

[@billpetersen298]

Are there food bins, and outhouses? Last year I did the west coast trail, with my daughter and her friends. It was awesome, even 40+ years later. After seeing bears, and knowing what raccoons can be like. The bins, were priceless.

[@planetyaz]

Oh how fun! Camping is such a great family bonding experience. We would suggest planning for not having access to food bins and outhouses when on backcountry trails like this, even when there may be some. We also try to find out the most current trail conditions from a FB group. Enjoy the adventure!

[@bcbackcountryadventures3229]

Great trip!

[@planetyaz]

Thank you! It was such a great adventure for our family. What a gorgeous part of British Columbia. Loved it!

[@giselawaddell954]

Best video yet I loved it

[@planetyaz]

Thank you Gisela! It took a while as I have been time starved. I'm excited about the videos still to come. I've had some great adventures in the past year that I can't wait to share. Enjoy your spring and thank you for watching! Yasmin

[@BougieButcher-yb8wz]

If this is the best video I definitely won’t be watching any other ones. Your gear is trash, the kms per day is trash, you’re trash. Don’t quit your day job

[@justinehungerbuhler6168]

Great video Yaz.

[@planetyaz]

I'm so happy that you enjoyed it! Thank you so much for watching. 🙂

[@heyjudesadventures]

Great video! ☺️

[@planetyaz]

Thank you! We had such an amazing time on this hike. Getting to relive it through editing a video is such a treat afterwards. Have a fabulous summer full of exploring! 🙂

[@NancyHamilton]

Great episode!

[@planetyaz]

Thank you Nancy! It was a fabulous hiking adventure that I highly recommend. I felt euphoric the whole time in that incredible setting. I'm currently working on our next adventure video, which is something completely different, and out of province. Those are the only hints that I am dropping. 🙂 Thank you for watching!

[@filmic1]

Brutal!

[@planetyaz]

You definitely get pushed to your limits with this hiking adventure! We actually would do it again. LOL! Maybe the Nootka Trail next time.

[@filmic1]

👏🏼😳@@planetyaz

[@cmonkey63]

I walked the West Coast Trail with my father many years ago. A uni friend did the North Coast Trail a couple of years ago. He invited me to join him, but I'd moved overseas by then. Still looks inviting, though.

[@planetyaz]

You must have loved the WCT, especially doing it with your dad! What a great bonding experience. The NCT is magical. Not very busy and 'wild'. We're still talking about how fun it was! The Nootka Trail is on the bucket list now. I'm just editing our Sayward Forest Canoe Loop video. Now THAT is something fun to do with family or friends. Enjoy your summer! 🙂

[@harryyarrow4110]

I once sailed from Seattle to Victoria on a day trip;October,2001.Not very tiring,but fun,nevertheless.

[@planetyaz]

Hello Harry! I've done the same and absolutely loved it. What a great adventure in a beautiful part of the world. Take care, Yasmin

[@nealmacdonald8191]

A lot of the West Cost Trail beach walks we did were on tennis ball sized round stones. Hard hiking

[@planetyaz]

I can relate to the round stones! Yes, they make it tricky. Have a lovely week and thanks for watching. Yaz

[@geofflogan1489]

Thanks for sharing your journey. Planning to do this trail in the summer. Any tips?

[@planetyaz]

Thank you for watching Geoff! It's such a gorgeous and fun trail. For additional tips: 1) Pack as light as you can. Our backpacks felt heavier the more tired that we got. 2) Determine your water sources in advance and maybe carry a bit more than you think that you will need. We drank way more water than we anticipated due to the workout. 3) Expect damp feet. Merino wool socks and gel blister cushions saved us! Your hiking boots will take a beating. We saw someone hike in bare feet the last day as his boots had fallen apart. 4) A sense of humour really helps. 🙂 It is so wonderfully quiet in this area. Nothing but the sound of waves, birds and pebbles rolling up and down the beach. Have a blast!

[@nealmacdonald8191]

I had a 55 lb. pack at the start with all the food supplies we needed.

[@planetyaz]

Wow! That is a heavy pack!!! Even after eating all the food, don't you find that the pack still gets heavier the more tired that you get? Lol! I'm just working on the video for our fabulous Canoeing Adventure around the Sayward Forest Canoe Circuit on Vancouver Island. That was some heavy portaging! Have a fabulous week. Yaz

[@nealmacdonald8191]

I hiked the entire West Coast Trail with 2 others in 1979. Long before it got destroyed in a terrible storm. Not the same as it used t be anymore.

[@planetyaz]

That would have been an amazing time to hike the trail! Wild and wonderful.

[@kl3vr]

thanks for the insight! What time of year did you hike this?

[@planetyaz]

Thanks for watching kl3vr! We hiked it at the end of August (or Fogust, as we called it. 🙂). It was truly amazing, right from the start of the water taxi ride where we saw bears and sea otters. I'd love to hear your thoughts if you end up doing the hike. Have fun! Yaz

[@kelownasteve337]

Great video! What time of year did you make this trek?

[@planetyaz]

Hello Kelowna Steve! Thank you for the lovely comment. It was fun making the video, and even more doing the trek! It was truly a highlight and will be a tough adventure to beat this summer. We went at the end of August. If you do it, I'd love to hear what you think.

[@jessewicklund4273]

What time of year/month did you go

[@planetyaz]

Hello Jesse! We went at the end of August. It was so awesome. Happy Holidays! Yaz

[@missschatzien]

Whale spine?! Actually? Wild…

[@planetyaz]

Hello Annika. I thought dinosaur first. LOL! Whale sightings in this area of British Columbia are apparently not uncommon. We didn't see any, but we did see Sea Otters floating on their backs (super cute), and heard what sounded like sea lions. Of course I did not have my camera out at that time! Thanks for watching. Yasmin

[@serkanister3620]

Great video, do you need any reservation order to hike?

[@planetyaz]

Hello Serkan Ister! We did not need a reservation for this hike when we went in August 2022. You will need to pay a trail fee, which was $30 per adult when we went. We were able to pay this at the Cape Scott Water Taxi when we booked our boat shuttle. If you do take the water taxi, I suggest booking it as soon as you can to avoid disappointment. If you go I'd love to hear what you think!