Nootka Island Hike

As soon as the Air Nootka seaplane takes off and you rise above the waters of Muchalet Inlet en route to the start of the Nootka Trail, you know you have started out on a very special adventure.

The flight itself is worth the trip, over the exposed light station and Mowachaht-Muchalaht village of Yuquot, right along the west coast of Nootka Island to the trailhead at Starfish Lagoon. The Nootka Trail follows miles of deserted beaches, cuts across craggy headlands through old growth forest, and visits First Nations historic sites, all the while just metres from the mighty north Pacific at the western fringe of Canada. But it is, in fact, something of a misnomer to call this a trail because, despite the quality of the 40 km, hike no government agency recognizes the trail and maintenance is done only sporadically by volunteers.

While the hike itself might be considered moderate in difficulty, it must be remembered that you will be following an unmaintained route in remote and sometimes inaccessible locations. The rewards, however, are unrivalled and the Nootka Trail is fast gaining a reputation as British Columbia’s quintessential coastal hike.