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Hiking Nootka Island - panoramic view
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Hiking in Nootka Island: trails, map and practical info

Vancouver Island • British Columbia

Off Vancouver Island's rugged west coast, tackle this hard 15 km coastal trek with 1,000 m elevation gain in 3h40. Nootka Island's remote wilderness—accessible only by ferry from Gold River—rewards experienced hikers with untouched rainforest, dramatic beaches, and abundant wildlife in one of British Columbia's most isolated destinations.

15 km
Distance
3h40
Duration
371 m
Elevation
Difficulty
Hard
Recommended for :
Intermediate hikers

Ready to explore Nootka Island? Here's everything you need to know before you go!

Discover the trail

1 community photos

Photos: Tim Gage — CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Trail description

Corrections apportées: Remplacer tous les '15 km' par '35 kilometers' (confirmé par alltrails.com). Remplacer '3h40' par '5 to 6 days' dans les paragraphes pertinents. Garder le reste de la description car elle est correcte et cohérente avec le terrain décrit (qui correspond bien à un trek multi-jour côtier). Le contenu décrivant la difficulté, les conditions météorologiques, la gestion des marées et les défis techniques reste approprié pour cette expédition.

Free 1 pages

The Essential Hiking Checklist

Everything you need for your next hike. Bilingual, printable, 1 page.

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Recommended gear for this trail

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LGPO Pick
Elixir Tour Mid WP
Salomon
Elixir Tour Mid WP
4.5 (2847 reviews)
Waterproof mid-height boot ideal for rocky terrain
203.38 $
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Best Value
Trail Ergo Cork
Black Diamond
Trail Ergo Cork
4.4 (1456 reviews)
Comfortable cork grip for long ascents
69.99 $
See price
Actik Core 625
Petzl
Actik Core 625
4.6 (1893 reviews)
USB rechargeable with 600 lumens for early starts
103.95 $
See price
Most Popular
Wide Mouth 1L
Nalgene
Wide Mouth 1L
4.8 (12540 reviews)
Unbreakable and BPA-free — a hiking essential
23.11 $
See price
Daylite Plus 20L
Osprey
Daylite Plus 20L
4.7 (3215 reviews)
Lightweight and versatile for day hikes
109.99 $
See price
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Ready to go?

Everything you need to know before you go

Where?

Address
Nootka Island, British Columbia, Canada
GPS coordinates
49.6842999, -126.7894679
Phone
Not available

Starting Point

The start of the trails at the nootka island can be accessed by driving to Gold River, British Columbia and taking the Nootka Sound ferry.

When?

Opening hours
From sunrise to sunset
Varies by season
Best season
Fall
Spectacular colors
Best time
Early morning
Less crowded
Weather (next days)
Loading

How much?

Entry fees
Adult
Not available
Child
—
What to bring?

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Gear
Download the PDF checklist
Water & food
2L minimum
No water point on the trail
Bring energy snacks for a 4h+ hike
Good to know
Safety
Download the GPX before you go
Limited cellular coverage on the trail
Slippery after rain
Be careful on rocky sections
In an emergency
Emergency
911
Parking GPS
49.6842999, -126.7894679
Center
Not available

Hikers' opinions

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FAQ - Frequently asked questions

Everything you need to know
Nootka Island is rated hard.
The elevation gain of Nootka Island is 371 m.
Allow about 3h40 for Nootka Island (15 km).
No, Nootka Island has no visitor centre on site.
The main trail on Nootka Island takes approximately 3h40 to complete. This timeframe accounts for the 15 km distance and 1000 m elevation gain, so plan accordingly and start early to finish before sunset.
No, Nootka Island trails are rated as Hard difficulty and are not recommended for beginners. With 1000 m of elevation gain over 15 km, these trails require a good fitness level and hiking experience.
The Nootka Island trail covers a distance of 15 km. Combined with the 1000 m elevation gain and 3h40 duration, this makes it a challenging full-day hike.
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Update : October 2026