North Coast Trail - Day Two

Cape Scott Provincial Park is remote and wild. Having hiked the West Coast Trail in the late 90s, the North Coast Trail feels like stepping back in time. There are still opportunities to find your group alone on a spectacular beach. For long stretches of the hike, you won't see anyone else.

Reference: Cape Scott and the North Coast Trail by Maria U. Bremner (2015)

Skinner Creek to Cape Sutil

After a restful sleep and breakfast, we hiked along the beach toward the next inland section. A steep rope section led into the forest.

Once in the forest, there were plenty of obstacles to navigate.

After the forest, the trail emerges onto the beach before the Nahwitti River campground. Not far past the campground, you'll cross the Nahwitti River via cable car.

After crossing the river, you'll enter the forest to mud and roots.

For those hiking west to east, there is 'certain magic' ahead.

Leaving the forest, you'll see the shores of pocket beaches.

Tripod Beach.

There were a few short scrambles after Tripod Beach. Most of these were not difficult. After I climbed the steepest scramble, known as 'the clay wall', I decided that I couldn't ensure the kids safety. A fall would likely mean significant injury. With young kids, we decided to bypass the steepest scramble by walking along the beach.

Not far to Cape Sutil now...

Along the beach of Cape Sutil, we found wolf tracks. Not long after arriving, we heard the howl of a wolf nearby.

Water creating beautiful designs in the sand.

A rope swing on the beach...

Sunrise on the beach. The start of our next day.

Final Thoughts

The hike from Skinner Creek to Cape Sutil was very enjoyable. Traversing through inland forest, cable car, pocket beaches and a spectacular sandy beach, this is a highlight of the trip. See my next post for day three!