Landmark
Pachena Bay
KM 0 · ≈0 m (0 ft)
ReservationBackpacking
West Coast Trail Permit
Pacific Rim National Park Reserve · British Columbia, Canada
The 75 km coastal trail between Pachena Bay and Gordon River, with a mid-point access at Balaats'adt (Nitinaht Village). Every hiker needs a backcountry use permit, an orientation and a park entry pass, and Parks Canada limits how many overnight hikers start each day.
Plan your Pacific Rim National Park Reserve trip here, then get your permit from the agency.
Plan your trip
How to get West Coast Trail
Booked on the Parks Canada Reservation Service, online at reservation.pc.gc.ca or by phone at 1-877-737-3783. PermitSnag does not check this booking system for openings yet, so there is no alert for this one.
Official permit pagePlanning another trip? See every permit in Canada.
How booking the West Coast Trail works
West Coast Trail: Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, British Columbia, Canada. Parks Canada takes the bookings. Booked on the Parks Canada Reservation Service, online at reservation.pc.gc.ca or by phone at 1-877-737-3783. When bookings open: one launch day each year, 8 am PT, on the Parks Canada Reservation Service.
West Coast Trail elevation profile
Landmark
Pachena Bay
Distance 0 km (0 mi) of 75 km (46.6 mi)
0 km Pachena Bay75 km Gordon River
- Distance
- 0 km (0 mi)
- Elevation
- ≈0 m (0 ft)
West Coast Trail landmarks
Map of the West Coast Trail, Pachena Bay to Gordon River
10 of 10 places in this section
Loading the map
Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. · SRTM data courtesy of the U.S. Geological Survey · © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)
How to get a West Coast Trail permit
- Type
- Backpacking
- Location
- Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, British Columbia, Canada
- Group size
- Up to 10 people
- Distance
- 75 km (46.6 mi)
Step 1: How it is booked
Booked on the Parks Canada Reservation Service, online at reservation.pc.gc.ca or by phone at 1-877-737-3783. PermitSnag does not check this booking system for openings yet, so there is no alert for this one.
Step 2: Book with the agency
Book West Coast Trail on reservation.pc.gc.ca. Have your dates, group size and payment ready.
Step 3: Check the agency page before you go
Fees, release days and closures change. Confirm the current rules on the agency's page before your trip.
Learn more:
In an emergency, call 911.
How much a West Coast Trail permit costs
West Coast Trail permit fee: CA$184.75 backcountry use permit plus CA$23.75 orientation fee, per person (CA$208.50); Gordon River and Nitinaht Narrows ferries CA$28.00 each.
West Coast Trail FAQ
How do I reserve the West Coast Trail?
Reserve on the Parks Canada Reservation Service at reservation.pc.gc.ca, or by phone. Choose a start point, an exit point and a date. Reservations can be made up to 2 days before departure, and you also need the orientation and a National Park Entry Pass.
When do West Coast Trail reservations open?
Parks Canada opens them on one launch day each year at 8 am Pacific time. In 2026 that was Thursday, February 5. Parks Canada had not published the 2027 date on October 29, 2026.
How much does the West Coast Trail cost?
CA$184.75 for the permit plus CA$23.75 for the orientation, which is CA$208.50 per person, plus CA$28.00 for each ferry and a reservation fee of CA$11.50 online or CA$13.50 by phone. A park entry pass is extra.
How long is the West Coast Trail?
75 km (46.6 mi). Starting from Balaats'adt, the southbound hike is 42 km (about five days) and the northbound hike is 33 km (about three days).
Can I get a West Coast Trail reservation if it is sold out?
Parks Canada says the trail is 100 percent reservable with no standby spaces, and a cancellation puts the start date back on sale. This page does not check that system for you yet, so look at the agency page again as your dates get closer.