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Powell River, bc
Canada
2610 Posts |
Posted - 04/07/2012 : 3:56 PM
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I'm thinking of heading to Cape Scott in a couple of weeks (YAY FINALLY)and I'm wondering about a few things.....is it feasable to park,hike in to San Josef Bay,and just set up camp,then the next day,dayhike to the lighthouse and back in one day?? Assume that I'm going to be going kinda slow,taking a billion pictures along the way....OMG I can't wait!!!!!!
Any ideas or advice would be greatly appreciated!! :) |
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676 Posts |
Posted - 04/07/2012 : 4:30 PM
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In a word... NO!
A very strong fast hiker could do it in a looong day, but not easily.
Cape Scott really needs more time than that. Suggested itinerary:
Day one; arrive late after driving all day, camp San Josef. Or arrive early after overnight in Port Hardy or closer, then your day one is day two below.
Day two; hike to Nissen Bight/Fishermans Bay, set camp, explore the beach, relax.
Day three; transfer camp to Guise Bay, note that at anything but high tide you can follow the shore to Experiment Bight from where the trail comes back to the shore after going into the woods at Nels Bight, avoiding the rather boring stretch to Guise Bay. When you get to the sand neck just cross over to Guise bay, which is my favorite camp of the whole park.
Day four; dayhike to the lighthouse and back. Again, as long as the tide isn't high you can follow the shore most of the way, to a bay with some sea stacks and floats marking the trail back up. If you go too far it is obvious you can't go farther, and you're only 5 or 10 minutes too far. Back to Guise Bay for the night and some exploration of the sand neck, or Nels Bight if you want a shorter day out. It's a long slog from Guise to the trailhead, get an early start if this is your choice.
This can be lengthened if you have time, of course. It's also possible to camp only two nights at Nels and still do the lighthouse, but if you possibly can take the extra time to camp at Guise I strongly recommend it, that's the best part.
With the above itinerary you have time to poke around the old settlement at Hansen Lagoon, see Fishermans Bay, explore the fascinating sand neck, take the shore route to the lighthouse and relax a bit. Anything less and you will be pressed for time.
Be prepared for rain! Hope for sun, but bring a tarp. |
Edited by - alexcanuck on 04/07/2012 4:35 PM |
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113 Posts |
Posted - 04/07/2012 : 6:57 PM
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I agree with alexcanucks itenerary. When I went I was too lazy to be transferring my camp all the time so I hiked into Nels Bight on Day 1 and set up camp. Then Day 2 hiked in to Guise Bay and spent some time there before heading up to the lighthouse and then heading back to our camp at Nels. Packed up and hiked out on Day 3.
You have to check out the little trail that goes down the cliffs from the lighthouse at LOW tide, and there are some awesome sea caves down there. It was one of my favourite parts of the whole hike. Also make sure to take some of the little side trails that spur off the main trail along the way to see old tractors, house sites, gravestones, etc.
Here is my TR if you want to check it out:
http://www.coastalbc.com/hike/capescotttrail.htm |
Edited by - Lonny on 04/07/2012 6:58 PM |
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3022 Posts |
Posted - 04/08/2012 : 11:40 AM
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^
the guys above got it right.
Also, expect wet feet this time of year, and I mean Wet.
If you got the extra time and gas & tires & directions, head a further down the coastline & try raft cove. Watch for active logging vehicles.It's bear hunting season so don't be shocked at encounters  the locals up here are into food harvesting.
Plan & download your tide schedules, and wear a PFD along the shore if need be.
Have fun. |
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Powell River, bc
Canada
2610 Posts |
Posted - 04/08/2012 : 11:49 PM
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Alexcanuck, thank you for that,and bummer,as I think I wont have enough time to do all I want to do.....story of our lives right?? Really appreciate your input :)
Lonny,I love your TR,looks like you guys had fun! I will study it closely until I go :)
cambium, A if I ran into someone with a dead bear,it would probably ruin my weekend,and B there is zero chance of me carrying a PFD lol!!! In kayak,yes,on the beach,nein!! LOLOLOL!!! |
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3022 Posts |
Posted - 04/09/2012 : 12:29 AM
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 sure,just watch those rogue waves and slippery rocks NQ, that's all.
don't forget the can of beans and snauzages for that roarin fire. Something about driftwood camp fires. |
Edited by - cambium on 04/09/2012 01:22 AM |
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Brentwood Bay, BC
227 Posts |
Posted - 04/09/2012 : 11:37 AM
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I would still go even if reaching the lighthouse is not doable due to time. And in my opinion the lighthouse there is not overly attractive, although the location is.
If you camp at San Joseph note that water there is scarce. The streams you pass on the trail to the beach are brackish and are no good. The 'offical' wate3r source is on the second beach and that can only be reached by going over or around a beach head. Going over is a short but HARD trail. Going around means timing the tides and still running through the ocean a bit.
As for the other beaches they all have their beauty.
Nissen is smaller and sees a bit less people (so more firewood) and the water source is at the opposite end from the food cache & bathroom so that getting water can be a bit of a chore, but all of Cape Scott can be like that. There is a nice informal camping sight at Fisherman Bay just next door. Personally I like Nissen the most.
Nels is nice and long but gets very busy. Firewood can be hard to find. And depending on where you camp getting water here can also be a chore, but there are more food caches and toilets.
Experiment and Guise are remote and can see some huge waves. Water is at Guise, towards the east. If you camp there the chances are you will be alone.
There are some other spots to camp, Eric lake (food cache and toilet) it could be an option for a late start into the park as its at the 3-4km on the way in (note San Joseph takes you away from the beaches listed above). There is informal camping at Fisherman River in behind the toilet, I don't recall seeing a food cache. And somewhere near the Donaldson farm area there is a very informal tenting site... I would have to check the gps data for the location but I would consider that more of a poor weather stop or for someone trying to make the next day easier.
For car camping en route to the trail head - there is the San Joseph Rec site just outside the park; it would be good for a overnighter before hitting the trail but I cant imagine staying at that site too long. Closer to the highway there is camping at kains and nahiwitti lakes (along the Holberg Rd). And a ~ 1hr detour is Cape palmerson rec site. It's apprx 5 km 9as the crow flies) from San Joseph. There is a very short trail to the beach and tent sites cut back into the bush. No food cache but ones car could be used and their is a toilet. I highly recommend this site.
As for coming across someone hunting bear within the park, you shouldn't see anyone as if I recall the regulations its waterfowl only in that part; other species are only allowed east of Dakota Cr (on the North Coast Trail). |
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It's not a city yet!!, BC
Canada
25 Posts |
Posted - 04/14/2012 : 08:46 AM
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Day 1: Drive all day.
Night 1: San Josef
Day 2: 16km to beaches
Night 2: Nissin Bite.
Day 3: Move camp to Nells bite, and dayhike the lighthouse.
Night 3: Nels Bite.
Day 4: Hike back to car.
Night 4: Hotel in Port Hardy after stuffing yourselves senseless in a local restaurant.
In my opinion, the lighthouse is awesome to get to, but lame to see. It's really just a rangers cabin. The view was totally whited out by fog, and the ranger on duty wouldn't let us hike the trail down to the beach.
I heard from a friend that it used to be a suspension bridge down there that was waaay cool. But he just told us this was as far as we were allowed to go and we had to turn around... Very anticlimatic... |
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Victoria, British Columbia
Canada
1773 Posts |
Posted - 04/14/2012 : 10:31 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by 4byfourbyeIV
Day 1: Drive all day.
Night 1: San Josef
Day 2: 16km to beaches
Night 2: Nissin Bite.
Day 3: Move camp to Nells bite, and dayhike the lighthouse.
Night 3: Nels Bite.
Day 4: Hike back to car.
Night 4: Hotel in Port Hardy after stuffing yourselves senseless in a local restaurant.
In my opinion, the lighthouse is awesome to get to, but lame to see. It's really just a rangers cabin. The view was totally whited out by fog, and the ranger on duty wouldn't let us hike the trail down to the beach.
I heard from a friend that it used to be a suspension bridge down there that was waaay cool. But he just told us this was as far as we were allowed to go and we had to turn around... Very anticlimatic...
We didn't see a ranger at the light house, just the lighthouse keeper. He invited us to hike down to the water, but we'd had a fair bit of coast the past week and declined.
So, YMMV I guess. |
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Port McNeill, BC
Canada
108 Posts |
Posted - 04/14/2012 : 12:31 PM
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Hi no quitting, We just got back from the cape last weekend. There are several trees down along the trail up to about 7 km. To do a hike from San Jo to the light is approx. 27 km.s one way. It is more of a three day trip to fair to your body, and to enjoy the experience of Cape Scott. I hope this helps you in your decision. There are tarps behind the ranger cabin so you don't have to lug one in just replace it after your done.
Happy hiking |
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Vancouver
1825 Posts |
Posted - 04/14/2012 : 5:20 PM
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The last time we went to Cape Scott, our daughter was 6 years old. We made it from Vancouver to camp at Eric Lake the first day. Second day to camp at Nels Bight and hang out. Third day was to the lighthouse and back to camp, and the fourth day was all the way back to the parking lot. If a 6-year old can do it....
The access hike is vastly shorter and is like a sidewalk compared to 30 years ago, but back then you could walk all the way to Cape Scott. You can still find the remains of the staircase dropping from the lighthouse grounds.
If you go around behind the helicopter pad, there's a trail down to the interesting shore. I don't know how far you might be able to get toward the cape down there with very low tide. |
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Powell River, bc
Canada
2610 Posts |
Posted - 04/14/2012 : 5:55 PM
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| Big thanks to everyone for all the great info!! Might have to postpone for a bit,but I will get there,and I will for sure do a TR :) |
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
74 Posts |
Posted - 04/20/2012 : 7:29 PM
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What I've done previously in my more hurried trips is:
Day 0: leave Vancouver after work. Get somewhere far up the Island (Port McNeil or so). Sleep in car or camp in rest area.
Day 1: get up early, drive to trailhead. Hike to Nels Bight.
Day 2: day trip to lighthouse from Nels
Day 3: hike out from Nels back to car and head home. Literally was once the penultimate car on the last ferry out of Nanaimo. :)
That's basically a long weekend leaving Friday after work.
It's a long 1st day, but if you take your time and enjoy the trip it's great.
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Cape Scott questions...............
