Vancouver Island North is home to several renowned hiking trails that pull enthusiastic hikers from all over to the remote yet accessible corners of our region. The sense of adventure, wildlife sightings, and breathtaking scenery of our diverse ecosystems are well worth the travel time. On a hike in Vancouver Island North, you’ll find less crowded trails where you can immerse in nature and form deeper bonds with your group. Many of the best hiking trails are accompanied by the joy of cooling off in a refreshing body of water (water safety is vital in remote locations).
Wherever your two feet take you in Vancouver Island North, we invite visitors to take our Wild Pledge before they arrive to better situate them in the environmental and cultural ecosystems found here. Once here, transform your pledge into action by packing out what you pack in, leaving no trace, and participating in our Live the Wild Pledge self-guided beach clean-up initiative. Pick up a custom tote from one of the designated locations, fill it with trash you find on any of our trails and beaches, post your find to social with #livethewildpledge, and return your tote to our recycling locations to discover rewards.
Read on to discover the top hikes on Vancouver Island North to add to your adventure list.
For sweeping views and heritage: Woss Fire Lookout
The revitalized Woss Fire Lookout, a heritage site, sits on a rocky outcrop 640m above sea level. Views from the top sweep down the Nimpkish Valley and include Woss Lake and the mountain peaks of the Bonanza Range. Interpretive signs at the top provide history and inside the lookout (open May-October each year) is a photo-worthy picture window view. The hike is only 1.4km out and back, but don’t be fooled by the short distance: the trail is steep and strenuous with rope sections. Allow four hours to complete the hike. The Woss Fire Lookout is a day-use site but Woss Lake Campground is perfectly situated nearby for a post-hike dip and a waterfront site.
For a challenging, multi-daycoastal hike: Cape scott and the North Coast trail
The North Coast Trail is a captivating 58km (one-way) coastal hike passing through old-growth forests, sandy beaches, and bogs. It is known for being challenging and remote, and preparedness for wildlife encounters, changing terrain and weather conditions, and solitude is vital. The hike begins with a water taxi from Port Hardy to Shushartie Bay and technically ends at Nissen Bight; hikers then walk out on a connecting trail to be picked up at the Cape Scott Trailhead.
For the less experienced or those seeking a shorter adventure, the original Cape Scott Trail is 23.6km one-way from the trailhead at Cape Scott Provincial Park. This was then extended into the North Coast Trail. Other popular trails in Cape Scott Provincial Park include the picturesque San Josef Bay (2.5km one way), Nissen Bight (15km one way) and Nels Bight (16.8km one way) with an overnight camp on the beach, and Hansen Lagoon (14.7km one way) to see remnants of a Dutch pioneer settlement from over 100 years ago.
About a 30-minute drive south of Cape Scott Provincial Park is Raft Cove Provincial Park. The parking lot is small and the trail is less frequented. It provides an excellent day hike to experience the rugged beauty of Vancouver Island North’s west coast beaches. It’s a 4km out-and-back trail although can be challenging due to roots, mud, and fallen trees. It ends in a spectacular wind-swept sandy beach where you can camp overnight.
Travellers should be prepared for the logging road from Port Hardy to Cape Scott Provincial Park and Raft Cove Provincial Park. You can also book a shuttle or take a day trip with North Island Overland. Hikers should also expect little to no cell service and the potential of fewer water sources. At least one person in your group should have a satellite communicator and we also encourage at least one person in your group to have (wilderness) first aid training.
For solitude and quiet coves: the tex lyon trail
While the North Coast Trail traverses plenty of sandy beaches, the Tex Lyon Trail near Port Hardy takes in more forest, quiet coves, and island views from along its rocky bluffs. It’s a 12.7km out-and-back trail that begins at Beaver Harbour Park to the south and ends at Dillon Point in the north. Make “Basket Eaters’ Cove,” the route’s midway point, your stop for a picnic lunch. It’s suggested you allow up to 8 hours for the hike to fully enjoy the trail’s unique outposts and allow for tides. It is a more rugged and remote trail so prepare accordingly, particularly if you go earlier in the season: expect mud, potentially a little bushwalking, and make sure you have your map downloaded.
For swimming and the salmon spawn: Marble River Provincial Park
The more accessible trail at Marble River Provincial Park is popular with hikers who enjoy the wildlife opportunities and lushness of river ecosystems. The 8km out-and-back trail parallels the park’s namesake: the salmon-spawning waters of the Marble River. The trail offers views of Bear Falls, plenty of flora and foliage, and several idyllic swim spots (no lifeguards). Pets must be on a leash on this trail. Access is from the Marble River Recreation Site off Highway 30 on the way to Port Alice.
For wildlife watching and cultural sites: Hiking on Malcolm Island, and around alert bay
On Malcolm Island, the 10km trail of the appropriately named Beautiful Bay trail takes hikers through the thriving temperate rainforest, with the option to walk back along the pebbly beach depending on the tides. It begins in Bere Point Regional Park where patient hikers may glimpse orcas rubbing from the viewing platform—keeping quiet and maintaining distance is vital for the protection of these natural behaviours. This is also a fantastic trail for birdwatching.
Around Alert Bay on Cormorant Island, 16km of trails exist for hikers to choose their own adventure, particularly in Alert Bay Ecological Park. This area is particularly popular with hikers eager to birdwatch and take in cultural sites—visit the U’mista Cultural Centre before setting off to root yourself in the living traditions and history of the pathways you’ll take.
Know before you go
- Follow the three T’s from Adventure Smart: Trip Planning, Taking the Essentials, and Training.
- Practice Leave No Trace principles.
- Be wildlife smart – pack food in caches or away from camps.
- Sign the Wild Pledge to commit to being a responsible traveller.
- The North Island is remote and has areas without cell coverage.
- Be prepared for intermittent weather.