Cape Scott Provincial Park

Hiking

Many sections of the trails in Cape Scott Provincial Park are extremely muddy and difficult to traverse. Visitors should be equipped for wet weather. High-topped leather or rubber boots should be carried and proper hiking boots should be worn. Trail descriptions below offer a number of different hiking opportunities within the park, catering to all levels of hiking expertise., Note that there are sections of boardwalk on the trails, which can be extremely slippery when wet. Hikers should always use caution. Distances quoted for the trails are one-way only, and the approximate hiking times are geared to travel in good weather. Hiking times in inclement weather or when trails are muddy can be considerably longer.

The need to be prepared for adverse weather conditions in Cape Scott Provincial Park cannot be overemphasized. A good tent with a waterproof fly is imperative. It is simply not possible to expect to sleep outdoors here without adequate cover. Clothing, sleeping bags and food should be kept in waterproof bags. A small primus-type stove should be carried for cooking purposes since suitable firewood is in short supply. Moleskin is a good preventative against blisters. Proper raingear is a must, as torrential rains can be expected at any time and may last for days on end. A basic first aid kit should be carried and insect repellent is recommended.

Hiking along the coastline is dangerous and not recommended unless following designated beach routes. When hiking along beach routes, watch for suspended floats and buoys indicating access to trails. No attempt should be made to traverse undesignated coastal areas at high tide or when tides are flooding (incoming.) Knowledge of the tides is essential for any visitor considering travel in the coastal area. Wilderness camping is not restricted to particular sites, although the more popular spots are near San Josef Bay and Nels Bight. Fresh water is available from streams at these sites, as well as at the east end of Nissen Bight and at Guise Bay. Boil, filter or treat all drinking water before consuming. Camping sites should be chosen carefully to prevent flooding from incoming tides, contamination of drinking water sources and to minimize damage to the environment.

When walking around old settlements, watch out for abandoned wells, broken glass and rusty nails.

Standing structures are unstable. Please do not remove artifacts or disturb sites.

Special Notes:

• The main Cape Scott trail to the northern beaches has some very muddy sections and the boardwalk can be extremely slippery, particularly when wet. During the summer season, a backcountry fee for overnight camping is in place. Self-registration vaults are located at the San Josef River boat launch and trailhead.
• Please practice “Leave No Trace” ethics - pack out what you pack in. Use your bear/wildlife sense. If you encounter a bear on a trail, let it know you are there by talking aloud. If the bear continues to walk toward you, back up and find a section of trail where you can get well off the path and let the bear pass you. Keep pets on a leash! Black bears have the right of way! Utilize food caches where provided. Water is available at a number of locations but all water must be boiled, treated or filtered. Use care on the access road and watch for logging trucks. Lock all vehicles and remove valuables.
• The Mt. St. Patrick to Lowrie Bay hiking route receives minimal maintenance. Beyond Mt. St. Patrick, visitors should be equipped with a topographical map and compass and be totally self-sufficient.
• There is no longer a campsite, hut or pit toilet at Donaldson Farm.
• There are now pit toilets located at Guise Bay and Fisherman River.
• The Federal Government dismantled the boardwalk and suspension bridges between the lighthouse and foghorn at the Cape itself.

Trails:

San Josef Bay: Length 2.5 km from the trailhead. Average one way hiking time: 45 minutes. Less adventurous hikers can leave the backpack at home and still get a taste of Cape Scott's unique terrain and spectacular Pacific Ocean vistas along this well-maintained gravel trail, which ends at the sandy shore of San Josef Bay in the southeastern corner of the park. Camping is allowed at San Josef Bay.

Eric Lake: Length 3 km from the trailhead. Average one way hiking time: 1 hour. 11 tent pads, located in the forest, are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Fisherman River: Length 9.3 km from the trailhead. Average one-way hiking time: 3 hours. This is a popular spot for a picnic or rest. The river is also a good place to collect drinking water. Remember to boil, filter or treat all drinking water before consuming.

Nissen Bight/Nels Bight Junction: Length 13.1 km from the trailhead. Average one-way hiking time: 4.5 hours. The trail forks here—go straight ahead to Nissen Bight, or left to Nels Bight and Cape Scott. This is a popular camping destination with a beautiful sandy shoreline.

Nissen Bight: Length 15 km from the trailhead. Average one-way hiking time: 5.5 hours. This is a popular camping destination with a beautiful sandy shoreline.

Hansen Lagoon: Length 14.7 km from the trailhead. Average one-way hiking time: 5 hours. More than 100 years ago this area was the main settlement of the Danish pioneers, who grew crops and hay here on the open meadows. Remnants of the past include fence-posts along the old road and evidence of the early settler’s drainage systems.

Nels Bight: Length 16.8 km from the trailhead. Average one-way hiking time: 6 hours. With a beautiful sandy beach stretching more 2,400 meters long and 210 meters wide at low tide, Nels Bight is the most popular camping destination in the park. This area is also a good base for those exploring the rest of the park.

Experiment Bight: Length 18.9 km from the trailhead. Average on-way hiking time: 7 hours. This area has a beautiful sandy beach, however there is no year-round drinking water or facilities available.

Guise Bay: Length 20.7 km from the trailhead. Average one-way hiking time: 7.5 hours. Guise Bay is another beautiful beach that offers good camping possibilities. Lucky visitors may sometimes spot sea otters, an endangered species, in the Bay.

Cape Scott: Length 23.6 km from the trailhead. Average one-way hiking time: 8.5 hours. The public may visit the lighthouse, which is outside the provincial park and federally operated. The Federal Government has removed the suspension bridges and closed all public access between the lighthouse and foghorn at the Cape itself.

Sea Otter Cove and Lowrie Bay: Length 10 km from the trailhead. Average one-way hiking time: 5 hours. The route to Sea Otter Cove is accessed via San Josef Bay’s second (western) beach. From this point the route gains elevation quite quickly until you reach the summit of Mt. St. Patrick, which offers a spectacular panoramic view of the park. From this point the route descends the mountain to Sea Otter Cove. Sea Otter Cove is only passable at mid to low tide. Only experienced hikers familiar with wilderness hiking and the use of a map and compass should go beyond Mt. St. Patrick. This route receives minimal or no regular maintenance.

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