West Coast Trail – Cribs Creek to Walbran Creek

Hiking trails & Routes

Canada

British Columbia

Cowichan Valley F

West Coast Trail – Cribs Creek to Walbran Creek

Moderate

hikers

West Coast Trail – Cribs Creek to Walbran Creek

03:10

12.0km

100m

Hiking

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

Last updated: September 25, 2026

Tips

Includes off-grid segments

Navigation instructions may be limited.

After 0 m for 20 m

After 5.14 km for 91 m

Waypoints

Start point

Camping Site

Get Directions

20 m

Cribs Creek Campground

Highlight • Beach

Cribs Creek flows through the middle of this campsite, dividing the sandy beach in two, before reaching a natural breakwater of rocks at the ocean’s edge. There are places to pitch your tent on both sides of the creek, along with little open forested areas behind the beach, though camping closer to the forest is advisable as the lower beach can flood at higher tides. There is an outhouse and two food lockers, but this spot fills up quickly because it sits in the middle of a 17-kilometre stretch with no other designated campsites. If the site is full, or you’re looking for a quieter overnight, Carmanah Creek Campsite is roughly 4 kilometres south along this same beach.

Tip by

2.78 km

Carmanah Point Lighthouse

Highlight • Monument

Carmanah Point Lighthouse has overlooked the entrance to the Juan de Fuca Strait since 1891, when its first light shone out over the coastline that sailors had long called the Graveyard of the Pacific. The current concrete octagonal tower was built in 1922 to replace the original combined lighthouse and dwelling, and it looks much the same today as it did a century ago. Grey whales pass close by during their spring and fall migrations, and Steller sea lions hang out on the nearby rocks year-round. This spot also marks the northern edge of the critical habitat of the Southern Resident Killer Whales, making it one of the best wildlife viewpoints on the entire trail.

Tip by

5.14 km

Carmanah Creek Crossing

Highlight • River

Carmanah Creek flows through a wide channel cut deep into the sand beach before reaching the ocean, with a cable car connecting the forest on either side. The view from the cable car is one of the best of any crossing on the West Coast Trail, with the creek cutting across the open beach toward the ocean, and a stunning sunset view on offer if you happen to cross in the evening. At low water levels, the creek can sometimes be forded on foot, though most hikers take the cable car and are glad they did.

Tip by

6.52 km

West Coast Trail: Bonilla Point

Highlight (Segment) • Trail

This is a beautiful stretch around Bonilla Point, where you’ll find plenty of tidepools, rock pillars topped with trees, huge mussel patches, and fossils embedded in wave-carved rock all within a short distance of each other. There is a lovely campsite at the edge of the forest, just off the beach, where Bonilla Falls pour into a clear pool at the base of the cliff, and ocean views in both directions, making this a fantastic place to slow down and stay awhile.

Tip by

12.0 km

Walbran Creek Campsite

Highlight • Rest Area

This campsite sits in the middle of one of the most challenging and dramatic sections of the trail, with towering ladder systems in both directions and an impressive cable car crossing spanning the creek above. The creek flows crystal clear just steps from your tent, deep enough for a swim, with small sea caves accessible on the far shore and the Pacific Ocean a short walk away. The campsite has two outhouses, three food caches, and a pebble beach stretching along the ocean with additional forest spots that are ideal if you’re looking for a bit more shelter.

Tip by

12.0 km

End point

Camping Site

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

10.4 km

1.31 km

309 m

< 100 m

Surfaces

10.7 km