We fly by floatplane to Nuchatlitz Inlet at the north end of Nootka Island and hike 35 kilometers of rugged, pristine beaches along the west coast to Yuquot (Friendly Cove). One of the few coastal hiking routes in British Columbia, this area is home to a great variety of marine and animal life, and features ancient village sites, waterfalls, sea caves and culturally modified trees. Travellers will see the west coast in its undeveloped state, as the West Coast Trail used to be. Upon reaching the 4300 year old village of Yuquot, we travel by converted minesweeper back to Gold River. Then, it's back to Gold River to our motel for a shower and a pub dinner.
Your Itinerary
Day 1:
Strathcona Provincial Park, B.C. Camping. From Victoria we travel northeast along the coast of Vancouver Island. The Malahat Drive provides panoramic views of the coastal mountains and the snow-capped peaks of the Olympic Mountains in Washington State. Approaching Nanaimo, we divert to the BC Ferry Terminal to pick up customers traveling from Vancouver. At Campbell River we turn east and ascend into the mountain wilderness of Strathcona Provincial Park. Snow capped peaks, deep forests and waterfalls make this a spectacular driving day. At camp, we check our gear and take a preliminary hike with our packs.
Day 2:
Nootka Island, B.C. Camping. An early morning start gets us on the road and into Gold River. At nearby Nootka Harbour we board the floatplane to Nootka Island. Along this 30 kilometer, isolated trail small bays, miles of sandy and packed pebbles beaches await us!. The group and guide disembark at Louie Bay Lagoon and set off for a half-day hike to the first campsite. Hikers will see shipwrecks, ancient village sites, traditional native gathering grounds, rainforests, waterfalls, tidal pools, sea caves, tidal rock shelves, sea otters, whales, orcas, bald eagles and black bears. En route, in order to preserve the intact coastal ecosystem, we practice no-trace camping. The trail finishes at Friendly Cove, the birth place of British Columbia. It was here in 1790 that Captain Cook first met the natives of the island with his first officer George Vancouver.
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Day 3:
See Day 2
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Day 4:
See Day 2
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Day 5:
See Day 2
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Day 6:
See Day 2
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Day 7:
Gold River, B.C. Motel. Our day begins at the end of our hike at Friendly Cove. Here, passengers have the option of visiting the native museum of the Mowachaht/Muchalaht people of Yuquot. In the afternoon, we board the freight ship MV Uchuck III (a converted minesweeper) for a scenic tour along the inlet back to Gold River. In the evening, after a welcome fresh water shower, we can visit the adjacent pub to socialize with the locals of Gold River.
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Day 8:
Victoria, B.C. On this last day, we wind our way back to Victoria, stopping at the Nanaimo Ferry Terminal for members of the group who wish to continue to Vancouver. The tour finishes in Victoria at approximately 7:00 p.m. Accommodation for this night is not included.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Tour price includes: One night's motel accommodation, float plane to trailhead, frieghter transportation from trail end back to Gold River and guide for camping portion of the trail hike. Tour price does not inlcude 7% GST and some meals.
Also see tour packages in:
Canada
British Columbia
Backpacking
Camping
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