Cape Scott Provincial Park

Costs (I Spent):

Transportation to and from park: $336 by shuttle (http://www.northcoasttrailshuttle.com/) will drop off and pick up hikers from the parking lot. Hikers doing the North Coast Trail can also arrange to be picked up by boat on the other end. Operates out of Port Hardy.

Camping: $10/person/night, self registration, rangers will ask for your proof of registration

Park is only about 60 Km from Port Hardy although the trip takes about 1.5 hours due to the rough logging roads. I considered renting a car and driving myself but instead opted to take the shuttle. Shuttle has an experienced driver on these roads, the van has heavy duty tires for the rough road, and a radio to communicate with the logging trucks operating on these roads. Pricing will depend on the amount of hikers travelling on the shuttle that day, if you make a reservation on a day where there is only one hiker the trip can be quite expensive (one of my trips was like that). Logging roads may be tough to navigate by those not accustomed to driving on them. Drivers must also be aware of logging trucks operating on these roads. Having said that many regular cars successfully make the trip. Don't leave food in your car, bears have broken into cars in the parking lot. Also there has been some cases of theft from cars parked at the trailhead.

After arrival at the trailhead I paid my fees and started the long hike (about 15Km) to Nels Bight. Nels is an absolutely spectacular beach, when I was there another hiker told me she had seen a lone wolf kill a deer on the beach (I missed it). However, I did see a whale from the beach.  There is a ranger cabin at Nels and there are rangers living there from June 15 to Sept 15, they can help you find the fresh water source at the beach. I pitched my tent on the beach and on the second day took the trail beyond Nels towards the light house. This trail is surreal you pass long sandy beaches strewn with driftwood, kelp, and buoys. There is a lighthouse at the end of the trail and its a bit strange to see its buildings emerge out of the wilderness. There is a lighthouse keeper who lives there. Close to the light house there are a couple side trails on west side of the main trail marked by buoys hanging in trees. They lead down to small rocky beaches with some really cool sea stacks. Walking around the rocky beach between these stacks is something that you must experience. I moved camp and spent my second night at Nissen Bight. Nissen bight is another great spot to camp, the water source is small creek at end of beach opposite from the food lockers. I hike the first 5-6Km on the western-most side of the North Coast Trail. It is difficult in fun kind of way. Trail weaves in and out, over and under logs in the dense forest. Third day I hiked back towards the trailhead/parking lot and took a side trail to the San Josef Bay. Locals refer to it as "San Joe." Its a short hike from the parking lot on a wide, easy, gravel trail that passes some gigantic trees. The beach at San Joe is very big, camping is permitted anywhere on the beach. There is a trail up Mt. St. Patrick apparently on a clear day you can see for miles. Clear day is the important thing to remember here, in this part of the world clear days are rare.

The Cape Scott Provincial Park is one of the most beautiful places on the planet.