A pocket guide to hiking the West Coast Trail that provides detailed descriptions of the trail, comprehensive trail maps, and tips for hikers of all skill levels.

The rugged west coast of Vancouver Island offers some of the most spectacular and storied hiking in the Pacific Northwest. Home to the world-famous West Coast Trail, once a lifeline for marooned sailors and still among the most breath-taking yet demanding hikes on the continent, the island's western shores also feature lesser-known coastal trails for all abilities. From the tidal pools and pocket beaches of the Juan de Fuca Marine Trail to the craggy surf-swept shores of Shushartie Bay and the North Coast Trail, the ten areas covered in this volume will give you a taste of the region's best hiking terrain. This third, fully updated and expanded edition, delivers the detailed trail descriptions, insider tips and clear two-colour maps that hikers have come to rely on plus two entirely new sections on the wild and challenging North Coast Trail extension from Cape Scott and the remote and rarely visited Tatchu coastal hike on the Rugged Peninsula. Less-experienced hikers may enjoy the Juan de Fuca Trail, a southern extension of the West Coast Trail from Port Renfrew to Jordan River, or the trails through the stunning old-growth forest of Carmanah-Walbran Provincial Park. For day trippers, there's the Wild Pacific Trail, a northern extension of the West Coast Trail that begins in Ucluelet and heads north over headlands and white sand beaches toward Long Beach and Tofino. And for those who prefer more remote hiking, the northern part of the island offers the rugged Nootka Trail, described by Backpacker magazine as a wild, historic and beautiful trail, or the boardwalk at Cape Scott, where black bears share the windswept beaches with kayakers and the ghosts of shipwrecked crews. From planning the trip, to getting to and from the trailheads, to choosing the most scenic campsites, this is an indispensable guide for the thousands of hikers who use the West Coast Trail each year and for those who will want to use its alternatives.

First and only comprehensive guide to the entire Oregon Coast Trail Experienced, passionate author is the authority on the OCT Perennial interest in long-distance trails From vast beaches and lush forests to windswept bluffs and dramatic sea stacks, the stunning wild coast of Oregon is emerging as the next great long-distance hiking experience. The OCT includes 200-plus miles of publicly accessible beaches, as well as established trails through city, county, and state parks and national forest lands. Breaking the trail into five major sections, each with an elevation profile, Hiking the Oregon Coast Trail provides detailed descriptions of 34 route legs with mileage, maps, resupply options, itineraries, hazards, camping or lodging options, and more. Introductory chapters advise on when to start, what to bring, and what to expect, while sidebars throughout share trail history, flora and fauna, and worthy side trips. The OCT is a truly singular experience with unique challenges such as finding campsites in some areas and navigating coastal tides, weather, and river mouth crossings. This guide synthesizes everything hikers need to know to plan and enjoy a successful adventure.

A one-stop resource for hiking backpackers in beautiful British Columbia. Planning your next backpacking adventure? This book covers all the essentials including: 40 overnight hiking trails: discover the many different routes that BC has to offer Packing tips: take only the most essential items with you (plus a few comforts) Permitting: find out what permits you’ll need, and where to get them Camp set-up: tips for where to pitch your tent and how to find water Environmental impact: learn how to Leave No Trace behind in the wilderness This book features backpacking routes from the North Shore up to Pemberton and Lytton and from the Sunshine Coast out to the Similkameen Valley. Beautiful photographs showcase what you’ll see along the way: mountain peaks, alpine meadows, waterfalls, old-growth forests, and more. Every backpacking route in the book includes bonus features: Trail maps and route descriptions Elevation, distance and time information Points of cultural and natural history Pre-planning hints about fees, permits, and reservations Suggested side trips and points of particular interest Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia also shares options for extending an overnight excursion to several nights or a week, and for selecting hikes that match your timeline/fitness level.

The West Coast Trail: One Step at a Time is not a travel guide but is a true outdoor travel adventure story lived by two friends enjoying their own mid life crisis. The West Coast Trail can usually be found on most lists of the best hiking trails in the world. This 47 mile backpacking trip is one of the most challenging multi-night hikes requiring the physical ability to carry almost fifty pounds of gear. The hiker will be knee deep in mud one minute and walking on white sand beaches the next. Most people spend about seven days completing the trail and all agree that it is an experience of a lifetime. Surrounded by old growth Douglas Fir trees, rivers and creeks of all sizes, tree roots the size of a person's leg, multitudes of ladders as high as a five storey building and a natural beauty that takes your breath away, the traveler is in awe at every turn. Add to this incredible scene two middle aged men in search of some meaning and purpose who stumble (literally) on a life changing, life challenging, life affirming adventure. The West Coast Trail challenged them physically, emotionally, psychologically and spiritually in ways they could never have conceived. Written in a conversational tone with light hearted humor and insight, the phrase "one step at a time," became a daily mantra literally and figuratively. Hiking the West Coast Trail became a touchstone event for the author and his friend that provided guidance and inspiration for the rest of their lives. A must read for anyone who has already hiked, or is contemplating hiking the West Coast Trail, it also provides a great read for the armchair adventurer, as well.

Coastal Hikes describes in detail over a dozen hiking expeditions on the wilderness Pacific coast of North America. The guidebook includes west coast hiking trails: Olympic National Park WA., Juan de Fuca Marine Trail, West Coast Trail, Sunshine Coast Trail, Wild Side Trail - Flores Island, Hesquiat Peninsula, Nootka Island Trail, Tatchu Peninsula - Rugged Point, Brooks Peninsula, Cape Scott Lighthouse, the new North Coast Nahwitti Trail and Naikoon Provincial Park in Haida Gwaii - Queen Charlotte Islands, British Columbia, Canada. There are over 200 photographs and detailed maps illustrating the hikes.

The Pacific Crest Trail as you've never seen it before! A visual feast for the senses, this highly designed paperback showcases the PCT through clever infographics, modern illustration, and insightful text. The book captures both the grandeur of the West Coast as well as the tiniest things that a thru-hiker notices and experiences during a 140-day trek. Through the written word, graphic design, and illustration, The Pacific Crest Trail: A Visual Compendium conveys the beauty and the beastliness of a 2,650-mile wilderness hike from Mexico to Canada. The author chronicles the PCT through infographics about the trail and the thru-hikers' experience, and includes arresting illustrations of the landscape and minutiae of the trail. Everything from trail markers, weather challenges, and the stories behind popular toponyms to the songs stuck in a hiker's head, thru-hiker trail names, and food consumed will be addressed, making this an ideal gift for any outdoor enthusiast.