As of May 1, 2008:

• Attention Hikers:  The cable car at the Nahwitti River on the North Coast Trail is closed. To complete the trail, you must ford the Nahwitti River. Be prepared for deep water. The river can rise significantly with heavy rains so you must be prepared to wait for the river level to recede, or return to the trail head. We estimate that the cable car will be functioning by
  May 30, 2008; check back to the website, as updates will be posted to this page.
• Visitors - please watch for information signs in the park.
• The boardwalk is extremely slippery when wet. Please avoid hiking beside the boardwalk and off the established trail as this increases sediment flow and will damage the sensitive riparian habitat.
• All campers and hikers should be prepared for set conditions year round.
• Please note: the water in Cape Scott Provincial Park is untreated and must be boiled for a minimum of 20 minutes or treated with a chemical water purification kit prior to human consumption.

Special Notes:

• The lighthouse and the Cape are outside the provincial park boundary and are private property belonging to the Department of National Defence. The old trail and foghorn were built during World War 2 by DND staff to give access to the beach, etc. but as the old structures, boardwalk and suspension bridges deteriorated, they became dangerous and were removed by the Federal Government. BC Parks is not responsible for this trail and not allowed to trespass on this private property.
• People contemplating a visit to Cape Scott Provincial Park are reminded that the park is a wilderness area without supplies or equipment of any kind. Parts of the trail are very muddy. Holberg, located 16 km from the trailhead, is the nearest settlement. Visitors should be in possession of suitable maps.
• Even though Cape Scott is a wilderness park, a variety of tourist facilities are located nearby in Port Hardy, Port McNeill, Holberg and Port Alice. Accommodation in these communities is limited, so reservations are recommended. Consult the Accommodation and Campground Directory published by Tourism British Columbia for names, addresses and other pertinent information.
• National Topographic Series maps, scale 1:50,000, Index No. 102, Sheets 1/9 and 1/16 cover the Cape Scott area. These maps are available from most map retailers in British Columbia.
• There is no longer a campsite, hut or pit toilet at Donaldson Farm.
• There are now pit toilets at Guise Bay and Fisherman River.

Management Planning:

• Approved Management Plan.

• Location Map

Cape Scott is a hike-in park, located at the northwestern tip of Vancouver Island. A parking lot at the Cape Scott and San Josef Bay trailhead near the southeast corner of the park is on Western Forest Products land and is provided by the company for the convenience of park users. The lot, which is located 64 kilometers west of Port Hardy, can be reached by driving on a combination of public highways and private, active logging roads. Port Hardy is the northern terminus of Highway 19, which connects with Vancouver Island communities south to Victoria; it is also the southern terminus of the British Columbia Ferries service to Prince Rupert. Port Hardy is also served by regularly scheduled air and bus lines. The community of Winter Harbour is another settlement southwest of the park that offers tourist amenities, RV campsites, fuel and a general store.

Any maps listed are for information only - they may not represent legal boundaries and should not be used for navigation.

• Location Map
• Brochure (76 kb pdf)
• Brochure Map (166 kb pdf)

• Lock all vehicles and remove valuables.
• Use care on the access road and watch for logging trucks. Logging trucks have the right of way; yield to trucks and use pullouts when possible.
• Please pack out what you pack in.
• Use your bear and wildlife sense; see wildlife safety below. Keep pets on a leash. Utilize food caches where provided.
• Surface water is available at a number of locations but all water must be boiled for a minimum of 20 minutes or treated with a chemical water purification kit prior to human consumption.
• Beyond Mt. St. Patrick, visitors should be equipped with a topographical map and compass and be totally self-sufficient. The route beyond this point receives minimal maintenance.
• The Park Facility Operator’s residence is situated at the western end of Nels Bight beach and is staffed during the summer months. Although the staff is usually hiking the trails during the day, park visitors should be able to contact them in the evening in case of emergency. The Cape Scott Lighthouse is staffed year-round and could also be contacted in an emergency.

Visitor Safety Information (park safety, hazards, wildlife safety information, health risks)

Reservations are not accepted at this park, all campsites are on a first-come, first-served basis. For parks that accept reservations or information on the reservation service, click here.

Explore Parks: Fees, park listings, what you should know before you go and other useful links.

	There are no vehicle-accessible campsites at this park.
	There are 11 designated camp pads located at Eric Lake, available on a first-come, first-served basis. There is no longer a campsite at Donaldson Farm. Random wilderness camping is also allowed in this park, though no facilities other than food caches (at Guise Bay, Nels Bight, San Josef, Nissen Bight and Eric Lake) and pit toilets are provided. Please camp on the beach whenever possible. A backcountry fee for overnight camping is in place from May to September. Self-registration vaults are located at the San Josef River boat launch and trailhead. If you should choose to erect a temporary shelter from the elements, please dismantle it entirely when you are through with it and return the site to its natural state so that others may enjoy the surroundings as you have. Please practice Leave No Trace camping ethics. Backcountry Camping Fee: $5.00 per person / night, for all persons 13 years of age or older
	There are no group campsites available at this park.
	There are no picnic tables at Cape Scott Provincial Park. San Joseph Bay, accessed by a well-maintained 2.5 km trail, is often used for day-use and camping.
	There is wheelchair access along the boarded walkway in the park.
	The water in Cape Scott Provincial Park is untreated and must be boiled for a minimum of 20 minutes or treated with a chemical water purification kit prior to human consumption. Drinking water is not available at the Cape Scott Lighthouse.
	There are 10 pit toilets available throughout the park. There are no flush toilets at this park.
	There are no shower facilities at this park.
	There are no sani-station/dump facilities at this park.
	While fires are allowed, we encourage visitors to conserve the environment by minimizing the use of fire and using stoves instead. Two communal fire rings are provided at Eric Lake and three at Nels Bight. Campers are requested to NOT bury their beach campfires. Several visitors have been burned where fires have been buried. Please practice Leave No Trace camping ethics.
	There are no electrical hook-ups in this park.
	There are no regularly scheduled interpretive programs at this park.
	For information about hiking trails, click here. For your own safety and preservation of the park, obey posted signs and keep to designated trails. Shortcutting, switchbacking, skirting mud holes and trampling across meadows and boggy ground destroy the plant life and soil structure, thus increasing erosion and deterioration of the trails. If you should choose to erect a temporary shelter from the elements, please dismantle it entirely when you are through with it and return the site to its natural state so that others may enjoy it as you have.
	There is no playground at this park.
	There are no designated swimming areas at Cape Scott Provincial Park, however the beaches at Nels Bight and San Josef Bay are popular destinations for swimmers. Please be aware of sometimes intense surf conditions and possible riptides. There are NO LIFEGUARDS on duty at provincial parks.
	Canoeing/kayaking is becoming increasingly popular, particularly in San Josef Bay, where there is a BC Parks boat launch. More experienced kayakers can make the trip from Port Hardy and around the Cape, finishing in Winter Harbour or Coal Harbour. San Josef Bay has also become a popular spot for surf kayaking, particularly in the spring and fall when waves are larger.
	BC Parks' boat launch is accessed via San Josef Heritage Park, but it is a BC Parks facility. It is for canoes/kayaks and small car-toppers only. The San Josef River is tidal at this spot so don't plan on using the launch at low tide or you may be hauling over gravel bars.
	Fishing is permitted as per provincial and federal fishing regulations. All anglers should check the current regulations issued by Fisheries and Oceans Canada prior to fishing. Anyone fishing or angling in British Columbia must have anAnyone fishing or angling in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence.
	Cycling is not permitted in the park.
	Horseback riding is not permitted in the park.
	Pets/domestic animals must be on a leash and under control all times. You are responsible for their behaviour and must dispose of their excrement. Backcountry areas are not suitable for dogs or other pets due to wildlife issues and the potential for problems with bears. Pet owners should ensure their dogs do not enter streams used for drinking water as they can be carriers of Giardia. Please water your pet well away from drinking water sources.
	The scenery in this park is incredible no matter where you are. The view from the top of Mt. St. Patrick offers spectacular panoramic views of San Josef Bay and down into Sea Otter Cove and the unspoiled wilderness of Cape Scott Park.
	This park is open year-round. The camping rules noted above apply, however there is no winter camping fee.
	No SCUBA diving or snorkelling opportunities.
	No windsurfing opportunities.
	No waterskiing opportunities.
	Portions of the park are open to hunting for specific species. Please refer to the current annual Hunting and Trapping Regulations Synopsis for closures and regulations. All hunters must have valid licences and tags. For more information visit: /www.env.gov.bc.ca/wld/hunting.htm.
	No climbing or rock climbing opportunities.
	No spelunking or caving opportunities.
	No cabins, yurts or lodges for public use. A rangers cabin is available for emergency use only (wood stove available). This cabin is situated at the western end of Nels Bight beach and is staffed during the summer months.