Cape Scott Provincial Park
- Stephanie Michaud
- Jul 13, 2017
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 15, 2018
Vancouver Island is full of great spots just waiting to be explored. We ventured to the northern tip to explore the rugged coastline and wildlife of remote Cape Scott Provincial Park.
Trip Itinerary
This was a backpacking trip where we carried our gear in and out of the provincial park backcountry areas. For the Quatse and Cumberland campgrounds, these were maintained sites with full facilities and we were car camping. The majority of the gear we already owned, and is not included in the trip cost.
Approximate Trip cost: $720 for 2 (including ferry vehicle costs, North Coast shuttle costs, campground fees, food)
Destination Map
The closest town to Cape Scott Provincial Park is Port Hardy, and even coming from Vancouver, this was quite a distance for a day's worth of travel. It is possible to fly into Port Hardy or nearby Campbell River, though fares are quite expensive.
We decided to take the BC Ferries route from Horseshoe Bay to Nanaimo Departure Bay, drive up to Port Hardy, and then drive the final gravel road stretch. Unfortunately, our car was not up for the rough logging gravel road- but fortunately the North Coast Trail Shuttle was able to squeeze us into their schedule last minute and get us to the trailhead the next day. John, the shuttle driver, is a very knowledgable resource, and we loved hearing the history of the area from him.
We camped a total of two nights in the park, both times on the beach. I would recommend a second night at the Nel's Bight campsite, so as to allow more exploration of the neighboring bights and the lighthouse before having to make the trek back to the trailhead. You could easily add a third night, and head further east along the coast to also explore Nissen Bight.
Hiking and Camping in Cape Scott is backcountry camping- always be prepared for the unexpected, and be sure to pack the right gear for the fickle weather, properly store your food, and to collect and treat your own water. We collected water at two sites along the trip; Eric Lake and Fisherman's River, and treated using a Steripen.
In order to plan our destinations and hiking days, we purchased the following trail map from John Baldwin, and the book by Maria Bremner, which have plenty of details and photos for reference.
Helpful Links
A comprehensive tourist guide to the park, with photos, packing lists, and maps for free use. A great starting place to begin gathering information.
All up to date information from BC Parks regarding safety and regulations
Register for a permit and make online payments for your camping fees- and avoid having to carry cash on the trail.
An excellent resource for backpacking and day hike itineraries all over Vancouver Island- their blog on Cape Scott and the North Coast Trail was essential for helping us plan the trip! I hope to join them on an adventure soon.
Book with Babe and George and John will take you by Water Taxi to Shushartie Bay, or by Van to Cape Scott Provincial Park. If you have a low clearance vehicle, I would recommend taking the shuttle to the Cape Scott trailhead.
A quiet campground just outside of Port Hardy with tent and RV sites. Proceeds from the campground go towards the maintenance and upkeep of the Quatse River Fish Hatchery.
A beautiful location on Comox Lake with lakefront and forested campsites for tents and RVs. Due to it's proximity to the public boat launch, its a fairly busy and active place.
A great spot in Cumberland to have your first non-dehydrated meal after the trip and enjoy the local pints from Cumberland Brewery. Try the Sasquatch pie!
Since you will be camping and hiking along the beach, be sure to look up the tidal charts for the area, and know how to read them. We witnessed a few hikers hiking in waist deep water due to the tide coming in over the trail!
The weather in Cape Scott is known to be very tumultuous- fog, rain, wind and the occasional sunshine. Check predictions often, including radar, and be prepared to get wet!
Happy Adventures,
Stephanie
Comments