Nootka Falls cascades on to a wild beach on Nootka
Island’s western shore.
Calvin Creek outflows from Crawfish Lake before
it end in this spectacular manner on this island off
the southwest coast of Vancouver Island
Journey in the footsteps of the 18th century Nootka
Chief Maquinna.
Fly to Nuchatlitz Inlet at the north end of Nootka
Island and hike the rugged, isolated and pristine
beaches along the West Coast to Yuquot
(Friendly Cove).
Yuquot is a 4300-year-old village, where you will
meet descendants of Chief Maquinna, the chief who
bartered sea otter pelts with Europeans and
Spanish-American traders in the late 18th century.
See the West Coast in its undeveloped state (like
the West Coast Trail used to be).
The West Coast of Nootka is very rugged.
It is subject to varying weather conditions and help
can be far away.
For these reasons the trail should only be
attempted by experienced and fit hikers or with
trained guides.
The first part of the trail from Starfish Lagoon
located south of Louie Bay and leading to Third
Beach is a difficult scramble over and under
fallen trees.
However the trail is flagged and should only take
half to three-quarters of an hour.
Most of the remainder of the trail needs to be done
on the beach at 2/3 tides or lower.
This means you will need tide tables and to adjust
walking times along the beach accordingly.
Good hiking boots are required because of the
nature of the trail along sandy, pebbly, and
seaweed strewn rocky beaches and also steep sided
rocky peninsulas that jut into the ocean.
Running shoes are not recommended.
A great variety of wildlife may be viewed on this
trail.
Black bears, wolves, cougar, sea otters, seals,
sea lions, and an abundance of bald eagles and
ravens frequent this isolated shore.
Here some black bears have a white bib.
Because of the wildlife, it is necessary to put all
food in rugged sealable bags that birds won’t pick
apart (not plastic garbage bags) and to place the
bags in trees so they are not accessible to bears
and wolves.
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