Cape Scott Provincial Park is located on the northern tip of Vancouver Island, in British Columbia.
This backpacker adventure is surrounded by majestic and extraordinary wilderness, an adventure filled with ancient forests including Sitka spruce and Western Red Cedar, vast pristine white beaches, sand dunes, coastal areas, breathtaking sunsets and interesting history of First Nations and Danish settlers.
The route is surrounded by a majesty, a true immersion in an absolutely uncontaminated nature rich in flora and fauna which makes it very interesting and unique corner of paradise!
The trail is described as wetter and muddier even in the height of summer. In our hike the sun kept us company with beautiful sunsets!
The beach camping areas are well equipped for tents and include toilets (outhouse) and food caches (lockers).
How to get there?
From Port Hardy the road starts with the asphalt but quickly turn to gravel logging road "dusty, bumpy and muddy". It is about 60 Km and It takes about 1.5 - 2 hours drive to San Josef trailhed where the trail start.
Cape Scott Fees and Permits?
You need one and u can buy online or can be payed in cash at the trailhead. There is a station with envelopes to insert the fees by paying cash. The ranger will check you out.
How many days were are backpacking?
4 days and 2 nights.
What wildlife live in Cape Scott Provincial Park?
Black bears, cougars, wolves and elks Grey whales, orcas, humpback whales seals, sea lions and much more.
Emergency help?
There is no cell phone service in Cape Scott Provincial Park only the Cape Scott Lighthouse can provide assistance.
IItinerary
• Day 1: Hike from Trailhead to Fisherman's River
• Day 2: Hike from Fisherman's River to Nels Bight
• Day 3: Nels Bight a day hike to Cape Scott Lighthouse, beach hiking and explore
• Day 4: Nels Bigh/ hike back to trailhead
Total distance: 23.6 km. (one way from the San Jose/CapeScott Trailhead to Cape Scott Lighthouse). from the trailhead. Average one-way hiking time: 8.5 hours. It depends on the trail which could be muddy and rainy.
Check this great map
Cape Scott Provinical Park In Vancover Island, British Columbia Canada coming soon
#Day 1 Trailhead - Fisherman's River
The journey started in Vancouver and taking the ferry to Nanaimo, Vancouver Island and drove to the west of Port Hardy where the Trailhead begins. Took about 6 hours to reach Cape Scott trailhead.
The trail from the Trailhead is pretty easy but becomes more and more rough, muddy even in some places and slippery terrain. Then passing alongside Eric lake where there is a campsite with tent pads and boardwalks connections. Finally, we reached Fisherman's River campsite that is surrounded by a dense forest with wooden tent platforms and an outhouse and a food locker. We camped for one night and the whole campsite was just for us and nature! We did not encounters bears but saw what we thought was lots of scat.
#Day 2 Fisherman's River - Nels Bight
The second day was a nice hike in the forest and then a nice surprise reaching the open expanse of amazing Hansen's Lagoon. Nels Bight is the larger sandier beach where we were very lucky to see a sunset view. We set up our tents as a base camp at Nels Bight so as to stay for a couple days and stored our food in the bear cache. We did not see any bears, only prints and other wildlife.
#Day 3 Nels Bight Day Hike
We left our camp set up and stored our food in the bear cache, and continued along the beach to the Ranger Station where we meet a nice friendly ranger!
Then we took the trail to the forest and had some up and down hills. We reached the gorgeous white sand beach of Experiment Bight and then the Cape Scoot Lighthouse were we had lunch.
Then we followed an old military area that was surrounded by old buildings and utilities, to the edge of Guise Bay and its sand dunes.
The final stretch is by following an old log covered corduroy road with some up and down and hiked back to Nels Bight enjoying the rest of the day and the beautiful colours of the sunset.
We did not encounter wildlife only paw prints on the beaches but we saw some marine-life.
#Day 4 Nels Bight - Trailhead/Parking Lot
Our third day was (17 Km) hiking day the same route and there was still some mud and slippery terrain but much drier from the first day back to the Trailhead and drive back to Nanaimo. Still sunny day! :)