Nootka Island Pacific Adventure
Hiking/Trekking in Canada with Wild Earth Adventures
Highlights
- Floatplane access wilderness
- Trekking rugged and remote pacific coastline
- Wildlife watching including whales and bears
- The ancient tribal village of Friendly Cove
- The pristine marine ecosystem of Nootka Sound
Full Description
Not for the faint of heart-the most amazing 8 days of hiking you can do on Vancouver Island! This adventure will take you to a hidden gem.
Escape civilization on this trekking holiday in a vast coastal wilderness off Vancouver Island’s wild westcoast. This is a remote and rugged wilderness backpacking trek and suitable for those in good physical condition and looking for real adventure. The Nootka Trail is an undeveloped hidden gem on the remote and undeveloped Pacific west coast of Nootka Island, off the west of Vancouver Island. We use a float plane to access the remote Nuchatlitz Inlet for the start of our journey. We will journey along the rugged, isolated and pristine beaches along the West Coast to Friendly Cove, the 4300-year-old tribal village.
Includes:
- Lodging/camping once at your destination until the last day of the trip
- Permit fees
- Camping equipment
- Additional transport included in the itinerary e.g. float plane
- A guide(s) and any additional local guide services
- Most meals
- Park fees
Excludes:
- International flights
- Accommodation in Vancouver
- Travel arrangements to/from
- Lunch and snacks while in transit
- Personal travel insurance
- Items of a personal nature e.g. souvenirs, tips etc
Day by Day Itinerary
Day 1: Vancouver
This is arrival day. The group will meet at a convenient Vancouver hotel. Some guests will choose to arrive prior to this day but today the whole group will be met in the afternoon by the guide for a welcome and briefing. Dinner will be arranged for the evening.
Accommodation: Vancouver Hotel
Food provided: Dinner
Day 2: Gold River
Today we travel to the north shore of Vancouver to catch the ferry to Vancouver Island. Next we make our way across the island and through Srathcona Park to Gold River which is the closest community and our base from which we will journey to Nootka Island. We will have all day to travel so there will be numerous stops to enjoy the scenery and sights. Approx 6 hours travel time.
Accommodation: Motel
Food provided: Dinner
Day 3: Starfish Lagoon
We take a seaplane to Starfish Lagoon, a stunning salt water lagoon, located south of Louie Bay, which is south of Nuchatlitz Inlet. We take an hour's hike to beautiful Third Beach. Here you can obtain freshwater and camp overnight.
Accommodation: basic camping, remote
Food provided: all meals, snacks
Day 4: Crawfish Falls
Even more incredible hiking is on tap for today as we hike from Third Beach to beautiful Crawfish Falls, which receives its water supply from Calvin Creek. The first two hours of this hike from Third Beach are hazardous because we hike on slippery inter-tidal peninsulas of rock. The remainder of the journey of four and half-hours will be spent on pebbly and sandy beaches. There are freshwater pools below the falls where you can swim. Skuna bay is an alternate camping site.
Day 5: Beano Creek
This hike involves approximately seven hours along beaches past Bajo Point to Beano Creek where there is good water. Look out for whales and other marine life along the way. There will be lots of opportunities to stop and enjoy the scenery and wildlife.
Accommodation: basic camping, remote
Food provided: all meals, snacks
Day 6: Maquinna Point
This is a strenuous 6+ hour hike along the beach, past Maquinna Point to a tidal lagoon, one and half-hours west of Yuquot also known as Friendly Cove.
Accommodation: basic camping, remote
Food provided: all meals, snacks
Day 7: Yuquot
We hike from a tidal lagoon to Yuquot/Friendly Cove in 1 and one-half hours. Yuquot is the historic site where the Nu-chah-nuth people welcomed the first Europeans. Captain Cook and crew first arrived in 1778. Here Chief Maquinna greeted them. There is a restored Spanish church with artifacts of First Nations and European history on display.
The adjacent lighthouse is one of the few remaining manned lighthouses and one of the most stunning on the BC Coast. The keepers are most receptive and hospitable people. Walk the beautiful polished pebble beaches, swim in the small freshwater lake, and chat to the native peoples. Take a water taxi back to Gold River for hot showers and meal.
Accommodation: camping, full facilities
Food provided: breakfast and lunch, snacks
Day 8: Vancouver
We will drive back to Vancouver early in the morning. (Approximately a 6 hour journey).
Accommodation: camping, full facilities
Food provided: breakfast and lunch, snacks
About The Operator:
Wild Earth Adventures
Headquarters:
Nelson, British Columbia, Canada
Why choose a trip with Wild Earth Adventures?
A journey with Wild Earth Adventures will bring you to the heart of a remote and vast pristine wilderness. Our fun-loving spirit, excellence in guiding, and the deep silence of our remote locations are a powerful combination to bring you a sensory awakening experience in the best tradition of wilderness travel. You will leave Canada with body mind and spirit re-energized in a way only the wilderness can do. Our trips have been developed in areas where we have a close connection to the local communities. This relationship has enabled us to create unique adventures that give a real insight into the places, using local resources that benefit the meager local economy. By joining this trip you will not only enjoy exposure to a remote and pristine wilderness but the people who live and work on the land. You will be learning about and integrating with the local community, their local environment and benefiting the local economy. We believe we can leave more than just our foot prints and strive to make a positive difference in everything we do. From organic home-dried produce and feasts serving the local delicacies we make sure that our guests get a fully nutritional and locally sourced menu. These are added expenses that other companies choose not to include in their itineraries.
Staff
Wild Earth Adventures is a small team consisting of a network of highly experienced guides and outdoor professionals from both Canada and the UK. The tour guides working on any of the trips are local professionals with remote care first aid training and an intimate knowledge of the area.
Ethics
The guiding principles behind Wild Earth are sustainable tourism and education. Wild Earth seeks to create an awareness and respect for the environment through exposure to wild places. Promoting responsible tourism, sustainability and supporting local community initiatives in areas where the company operates. We believe that eco-tourism can benefit the natural world through education. Through the exploration of wilderness settings it is hoped that we may nurture a greater awareness and appreciation of our natural surroundings.