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Cape Scott
Cape Scott Provincial park is one of my absolute favourite hiking destinations on Vancouver Island. From San Josef Bay all the way to Nels Bight and the Cape itself, all the beaches are stunning and the trails full of life. Located at the most Northwestern tip of Vancouver Island, this park is a bit of a drive for most but well worth it once you get there. Being part of the North Coast Trail the park has been gaining popularity and for good reason, each beach is filled with fine silver sand, long stretches of flat beach and long rolling waves pushing onto the shore line. The first and my personal favourite beach is actually the closest to the trailhead, San Josef Bay. Only a short 2.4km walk from the trailhead along a smoothed gravel pathway through twisting and turning trees growing together the walk is about as scenic as the beach. Once arriving at the ocean you are immediately greeted by a long stretching beach with plenty of space for camping and swimming, also complete with food caches to keep from the animals. At the end of the first beach there are a few small islands only accessible at low tide as well as many small sea stacks that seem to be growing right out of the sand, carved into unique shapes by the daily waves. Shortly past the sea stacks are a couple caves that go 10-15m into the side of the rock, filled with ferns growing on the ceiling and moss lining the walls, providing another stunning sight. At low tide you can sneak around the point further to reach the second beach, much like the first it is a long beach covered in fine sand with many spots to pitch a tent. After the first night spent at San Josef, the hike back towards the trailhead along the same trail is smooth and scenic until the trail splits off onto the next section leading to Nels, Nissen and the rest of the North Coast Trail. Past this point the trail is filled with root covered pathways, bridges made of logs, long stretches of boardwalk and depending on the season an few creeks and mud puddles to get around. Shortly after the 3km marker along the path is the campsite at Erics Lake. The entire campsite is made up of stretches of boardwalk and large pads for tents to stay out of the surrounding mud and has immediate access to the lake just 20m from the sites. Continuing along the trail will bring you through forests full of gigantic trees, lush green plant life growing on and around the path and bridges made of boardwalk and fallen trees over the rivers and creeks. Throughout the trail there are a few information signs detailing the past of the park and the old settlement in the early 1900s. After roughly 17km from the trailhead you will reach a huge stretch of curving beach with the same soft, fine sand as the first complete with bright blue water and rolling waves crashing onto the flat shoreline. If you're lucky enough you may see a bear or two digging through the seaweed along the beach an eagle soaring overhead, a wolf or two roaming around or a few small minks running across the beach. This beach is also home to the Rangers cabin which can also be used as an emergency shelter in the off season, or June through September is occupied by the rangers and the parks staff. Nels Bight is the perfect beach to set up camp for the night and head to the lighthouse the next day, following the trail will bring you across various beaches and boardwalks similar to the ones on the previous sections. In all, Cape Scott Provincial Park is a stunning area for a day hike to San Josef, or a multi day trek to Nels Bight, Nissen Bight and the lighthouse, full of lush plants along the trail, many animals from squirrels to bears, and beautiful beaches perfect for camping.