West Coast Trail
Trip planning
West Coast Trail Fees & Cost Calculator 2026
How much does it cost to hike the West Coast Trail?
Hiking the full West Coast Trail costs about $455–$595 CAD per person in 2026. That covers your $276 West Coast Trail permit (including ferries), a Discovery Pass for park entry, and the Trail Bus or parking. Here are some common trips, and a calculator to price your own.
6 example trips
Northbound
Most popular
Gordon River → Pachena Bay
Park at Pachena Bay (free), Trail Bus to Gordon River the day before, then hike back to your car.
West Coast Trail permit
$276
Backcountry use permit
$184.75
Orientation fee
$23.75
Gordon River ferry
$28
Nitinaht Narrows ferry
$28
Reservation fee
$11.50
Discovery PassPark entry
$83.50
Parking at Pachena Bay
$0
Trail Bus: Pachena Bay → Gordon RiverArrives 5:15pm
$95
+ A night at Gordon River before your hike, as the Trail Bus arrives at 5:15pm (lodging not included)
Per hiker
$455 CAD
7 days on trail · 1 hiker
Northbound
No car needed
Gordon River → Pachena Bay
Trail Bus from Victoria to Gordon River, then back from Pachena Bay.
West Coast Trail permit
$276
Backcountry use permit
$184.75
Orientation fee
$23.75
Gordon River ferry
$28
Nitinaht Narrows ferry
$28
Reservation fee
$11.50
Discovery PassPark entry
$83.50
Trail Bus: Victoria → Gordon River
$60
Trail Bus: Pachena Bay → Victoria
$120
Per hiker
$540 CAD
7 days on trail · 1 hiker
Southbound
No extra night
Pachena Bay → Gordon River
Park at Gordon River, Trail Bus to Pachena Bay the same morning, then hike back to your car.
West Coast Trail permit
$276
Backcountry use permit
$184.75
Orientation fee
$23.75
Gordon River ferry
$28
Nitinaht Narrows ferry
$28
Reservation fee
$11.50
Discovery PassPark entry
$83.50
Parking at Gordon River7 days × $20
$140
Trail Bus: Gordon River → Pachena Bay
$95
Per hiker
$595 CAD
7 days on trail · 1 hiker
Mid-point entry
Easier permits
Balaats’adt → Pachena Bay
Park at Pachena Bay (free), Trail Bus to Balaats’adt the day before, then water taxi to the trail and hike back to your car.
West Coast Trail permit
$220
Backcountry use permit
$184.75
Orientation fee
$23.75
Reservation fee
$11.50
Park entry day passes4 days × $12.25
$49
Parking at Pachena Bay
$0
Trail Bus: Pachena Bay → Nitinaht Jct
$70
Shuttle: Nitinaht Jct → Balaats’adt
$20
Balaats’adt water taxi
$70
Cash only, paid to the operator
+ A night at Balaats’adt before your hike, for the 7:00am orientation (lodging not included)
Per hiker
$429 CAD
4 days on trail · 1 hiker
Mid-point entry
Southern half
Balaats’adt → Gordon River
Trail Bus to Nitinaht Junction, water taxi to the trail, then hike the rugged southern half.
West Coast Trail permit
$248
Backcountry use permit
$184.75
Orientation fee
$23.75
Gordon River ferry
$28
Reservation fee
$11.50
Park entry day passes5 days × $12.25
$61.25
Trail Bus: Victoria → Nitinaht Jct
$110
Shuttle: Nitinaht Jct → Balaats’adt
$20
Balaats’adt water taxi
$70
Trail Bus: Gordon River → Victoria
$60
Cash only, paid to the operator
+ A night at Balaats’adt before your hike, for the 7:00am orientation (lodging not included)
Per hiker
$569 CAD
5 days on trail · 1 hiker
Mid-point exit
Gordon start
Gordon River → Balaats’adt
Trail Bus to Gordon River, hike north and water taxi out to Balaats’adt.
West Coast Trail permit
$248
Backcountry use permit
$184.75
Orientation fee
$23.75
Gordon River ferry
$28
Reservation fee
$11.50
Park entry day passes5 days × $12.25
$61.25
Trail Bus: Victoria → Gordon River
$60
Balaats’adt water taxi
$70
Shuttle: Balaats’adt → Nitinaht Jct
$20
Trail Bus: Nitinaht Jct → Victoria
$110
Cash only, paid to the operator
+ A night at Balaats’adt after your hike, as the water taxi gets back after the last bus (lodging not included)
Per hiker
$569 CAD
5 days on trail · 1 hiker
Price your own trip
Planning something different? Choose your trailheads, group size and transportation for a more accurate estimate.
Start trailhead
Gordon River
Exit trailhead
Pachena Bay
Hikers
2
Days on trail
7 days
How are you getting to the trail?
Trail Bus plans start and end in Victoria.
Do you already have a Parks Canada Discovery Pass?
Park entry isn’t part of your permit. We include whichever is cheaper: day passes at $12.25 per day, or a $83.50 Discovery Pass that covers every national park for a year.
Your estimated cost
Gordon River → Pachena Bay
2 hikers · 7 days · Park at end
West Coast Trail permit
$540.50
Backcountry use permit2 × $184.75
$369.50
Orientation fee2 × $23.75
$47.50
Gordon River ferry2 × $28
$56
Nitinaht Narrows ferry2 × $28
$56
Reservation feePer booking
$11.50
Park entry
Discovery PassPark entry
$167
Getting there & back
Parking at Pachena BayFree
$0
Trail Bus: Pachena Bay → Gordon RiverArrives 5:15pm
$190
Estimated total
$898 CAD
Per person: $449 CAD
- Driving to Pachena Bay (fuel not included)
- A night at Gordon River before your hike, as the Trail Bus arrives at 5:15pm (lodging not included)
Get the day-by-day plan for this trip
Gordon River → Pachena Bay · Park at end, in the West Coast Trail app.
- Plans dated to your permit start
- Every Trail Bus, orientation and ferry time
- Pro tips, like catching the early Gordon River ferry
- Offline map, tides and the Owen Point calendar
West Coast Trail permit fees
A West Coast Trail permit costs $276 per person for the full trail in 2026, paid to Parks Canada when you reserve. Park entry and the Balaats’adt water taxi are extra.
| Fee | 2026 | Charged |
|---|---|---|
| Backcountry use permit | $184.75 | per person |
| Orientation fee | $23.75 | per person |
| Gordon River ferry | $28 | per person, per crossing |
| Nitinaht Narrows ferry | $28 | per person, per crossing |
| Reservation fee | $11.50 | per booking |
| Full trail, 1 hiker | $276 | both ferries |
| Fee | 2026 | Charged |
|---|---|---|
| Park entry day pass | $12.25 | per adult, per day |
| Discovery Pass | $83.50 | per adult, for a year |
| Balaats’adt water taxi | $70 | per person, each way, cash |
Source: Parks Canada, Pacific Rim fees. Youth 17 and under get free park entry.
What you’re paying for
Every West Coast Trail hike includes some combination of these costs.
West Coast Trail permit
About $276 for a full-trail hiker, paid when you reserve. It bundles the $184.75 backcountry use permit, $23.75 orientation, your ferry crossings and a $11.50 reservation fee. Permits often sell out on Reservation Day.
Discovery Pass
Park entry is not included in your permit. A $83.50 Discovery Pass covers it, or buy day passes at $12.25 per adult. A Discovery Pass is cheaper for hikes of 7 days or more. Youth 17 and under are free.
Ferries & water taxi
The Gordon River and Nitinaht Narrows ferries are $28 each and are paid with your permit. Starting or ending at Balaats’adt adds a $70 water taxi each way, paid in cash.
Getting there
The West Coast Trail Express connects Victoria and Nanaimo with all three trailheads. Parking is free at Pachena Bay, $10/day at Balaats’adt and $20/day at Gordon River.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the West Coast Trail permit cost?
For 2026, a West Coast Trail permit for the full trail costs $276 for one hiker. That's the $184.75 backcountry use permit, the $23.75 orientation fee, $28 each for the Gordon River and Nitinaht Narrows ferries, and a $11.50 reservation fee per booking, all paid when you reserve.
Can I get a refund if I cancel my West Coast Trail permit?
If you cancel 21 days or more before your start date, the backcountry use permit, orientation fee and ferry fees are fully refunded. Within 20 days of your start, only the ferry fees are refunded. Either way, the $11.50 reservation fee isn't refunded, and cancelling costs another $11.50 online ($13.50 by phone).
Do I need a Discovery Pass for the West Coast Trail?
You need park entry, which isn't included in your permit. The trail is in Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, which charges $12.25 per adult per day. For a 7-day hike that's $85.75, so a $83.50 annual Discovery Pass is usually the better deal. Youth 17 and under are free.
How much is the Trail Bus to the West Coast Trail?
The West Coast Trail Express runs from Victoria to Gordon River for $60 and from Pachena Bay back to Victoria for $120, one way per person. Fares exclude GST and a 5% fuel surcharge.
Estimates use 2026 Parks Canada fees and West Coast Trail Express fares, and fees are subject to change. Trail Bus fares exclude GST and a 5% fuel surcharge. Food, gear, lodging and fuel aren’t included.
Last updated .
Plan your West Coast Trail trip
Day-by-day travel plans, Trail Bus schedules, tides and an offline map, all in one app.