National park · Canada
Cape Scott Provincial Park
Go only if you accept mud and rain: day-trip San Josef Bay (about 1 h return) or backpack the 16.8 km (10 mi) Cape Scott Trail to Nels Bight in 4–7 h; the 43.1 km (27 mi) North Coast Trail needs a booked permit (duration check).Go only if you accept mud and rain: day-trip San Josef Bay (about 1 h return) or backpack the 10 mi (16.8 km) Cape Scott Trail to Nels Bight in 4–7 h; the 27 mi (43.1 km) North Coast Trail needs a booked permit (duration check).
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
223 km² (86 sq mi)86 sq mi (223 km²)
approximate
Established
1973
Best months
Jun–Aug
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 13Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
- North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
- North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
- North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
- Canada ↗Visa-exempt travellers flying to or through Canada usually need an eTA; check your passport on the official Government of Canada site (canada.ca) and apply only there.
- Canada ↗A Parks Canada pass is needed to stop in national parks such as Banff and Jasper; some spots (for example Moraine Lake) are reached only by shuttle or tour, so book ahead.
- Canada ↗Keep well away from bears, elk and moose; carry bear spray on Rockies trails and follow trail closures.
- British Columbia ↗BC Ferries: reserve a vehicle sailing in summer; foot passengers just turn up.
- British Columbia ↗Interior wildfire smoke can hit July–August; keep plans flexible and check air quality.
- Vancouver Island ↗BC Ferries vehicle sailings on the Tsawwassen–Swartz Bay and Horseshoe Bay–Departure Bay routes should be reserved ahead in summer; foot passengers do not need a booking.
- Vancouver Island ↗Book a rental car before you arrive; Victoria and Nanaimo airport lots sell out in July and August.
- North Vancouver Island ↗Most of the north has no cell coverage; fuel up and carry a paper map.
- North Vancouver Island ↗Whale and grizzly tours sell out in summer; book days ahead.
- North Vancouver Island ↗BC Ferries to Port Hardy and between the small islands runs a reduced winter schedule.
At a glance
- Country
- Canada
- Area
- 223 km² (86 sq mi)86 sq mi (223 km²)
- Started at about 151 km² in 1973 and was later expanded to roughly 222.9 km² (check).
- Established
- 1973
- Best months
- Jun–Aug
- Permits
- For some areas
- Base
- Port Hardy
Cape Scott Provincial Park protects the north-west tip of Vancouver Island: old-growth Sitka spruce and western red cedar, long sand beaches, sea stacks and a coast that takes the full force of Pacific storms. It began in 1973 at roughly 151 km² and now covers about 223 km², most of it reachable only on foot, by boat or by helicopter. Two trails define a visit: the 16.8 km Cape Scott Trail to Nels Bight, and the 43.1 km North Coast Trail, opened in 2008, which continues east along the coast. The Kwakwaka'wakw used and still use this land, and three reserves lie inside the park, including the former village of Nahwitti; Danish settlers tried a fishing colony near San Josef Bay from 1897 to 1910 and failed against the weather, leaving mossy ruins, corduroy roads and a granite tombstone. There is no entry fee, no lodge and no food: you come for mud, rain and empty beach, and you carry everything out.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1973.
Size and age
223 km² (86 sq mi)86 sq mi (223 km²) · national park since 1973
Started at about 151 km² in 1973 and was later expanded to roughly 222.9 km² (check).
This page covers the park itself. Nearest base: Port Hardy.
Why go
- Old-growth Sitka spruce and western red cedar, some trunks over 3 m across, on an easy beach walk.
- Long sand beaches and sea stacks at San Josef Bay and Nels Bight, exposed at low tide.
- The North Coast Trail: 43.1 km (27 mi) of rough coast, opened in 2008, for fit backpackers only.The North Coast Trail: 27 mi (43.1 km) of rough coast, opened in 2008, for fit backpackers only.
- Danish settlement ruins, corduroy roads and a granite tombstone from the failed 1897–1910 colony.
When to go
- JanAvoid
- FebAvoid
- MarAvoid
- AprCaution
- MayGo
- JunBest
- JulBest
- AugBest
- SepGo
- OctCaution
- NovAvoid
- DecAvoid
- JanStorms, heavy rain, mud (check)
- FebWettest stretch; short days (check)
- MarRain; trails still soaked (check)
- AprSlowly drying; snow possible on Mount St. Patrick (check)
- MayCamping season opens; expect mud (check)
- JunLongest days; trails at their driest (check)
- JulWarmest and busiest; book the trail early (check)
- AugBest beach weather; fog and rain still possible (check)
- SepFewer people; camping season ends 30 Sep (check)
- OctRain returns; no camping season (check)
- NovStorms; very muddy (check)
- DecShort days, heavy rain (check)
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coastal wolvesAll year · High activity reported in parts of the park; store food in the caches and never approach them. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Black bearsApr–Oct · Use food caches and keep a clean camp. | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no |
| Sea stacks and tidepool lifeMay–Sep · Best seen at low tide; check a tide table before walking out. | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| Salmon runs in the estuariesAug–Oct · Carcasses on the beach attract wolves; avoid camping near them. | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Port Hardy
Drive Highway 19 south, then the Holberg Road logging road to Holberg, then San Josef Main and Cape Scott Road to the trailheads.
1.5–2 h (check)
Open the page →
From Holberg
Supplies and fuel are limited; continue on gravel roads to the San Josef or Cape Scott trailhead.
30–45 min (check)
From Vancouver Island
Region hub for Port Hardy, Holberg and the north island road network.
Open the page →
From Canada trip planning
Where this park fits into a wider Canada itinerary.
Open the page →
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| San Josef Bay area | The southern trailhead, a 2.5 km (1.6 mi) walk to a wide beach with sea stacks.The southern trailhead, a 1.6 mi (2.5 km) walk to a wide beach with sea stacks. | Open; no permit; dogs allowed on leash here only. |
| Cape Scott Trail corridor | The 16.8 km (10 mi) route from the Cape Scott trailhead through forest and bog to Nels Bight.The 10 mi (16.8 km) route from the Cape Scott trailhead through forest and bog to Nels Bight. | Open on foot; backcountry permit for camping. |
| North Coast Trail | The 43.1 km (27 mi) eastern extension along the coast, opened in 2008.The 27 mi (43.1 km) eastern extension along the coast, opened in 2008. | Permit and orientation required; difficult sections. |
| Nahwitti and settlement sites | Former Kwakwaka'wakw village sites and the Danish settlement ruins at Hansen Lagoon. | Open on foot; do not disturb artifacts. |
Sketch map
- 1Port Hardy · Town≈50.722, -127.493Map ↗
- 2Holberg · Village≈50.640, -128.012Map ↗
- 3San Josef Bay trailhead · Gate≈50.674, -128.275Map ↗
- 4San Josef Beach · Beach≈50.674, -128.275Map ↗
- 5Cape Scott trailhead · Gate≈50.742, -128.372Map ↗
- 6Eric Lake campsite · Sleep≈50.702, -128.266Map ↗
- 7Nels Bight · Beach≈50.783, -128.333Map ↗
- 8Mount St. Patrick · Summit≈50.678, -128.327Map ↗
- 9North Coast Trail east end · Trail≈50.837, -128.139Map ↗
Take the points offline
9 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Approximate positions from the trailheads to Nels Bight and the North Coast Trail, for orientation only.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry (day use) | Free | person | No day-use fee is charged for BC provincial parks and trailhead parking is normally free (check). |
| Backcountry camping permit | CAD 10 (≈ US$8) | person/night | Age 16+; $5 per child aged 6–15 per night. 2026 estimate. |
| North Coast Trail permit | CAD 10 (≈ US$8) | person/night | Same nightly rate; a separate registration applies (check). |
| Shuttle from Port Hardy to the trailheads | CAD 100–200 (≈ US$75–150) | person | One-way estimate; operators and prices vary (check). |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Backcountry camping permit or guide
North Coast Trail permit or guide
Day hike to San Josef Bay no permit
What would our group pay?
People
Nights or days
- C$10≈ US$8
- C$10≈ US$8
- C$100–200≈ US$75–150
Tick the fees that apply to your trip to see a total.
A guide, not a quote: the ranges are estimates (checked 2026-09) and each fee may have rules on who pays it. Confirm on BC Parks — backcountry camping registration before you go.
Park rules
- Dogs
- Allowed only in the San Josef Bay area and must be leashed; prohibited everywhere else, including the North Coast Trail.
- Food storage
- Store food and cooking gear in the metal caches at designated campsites, day and night.
- Camping
- Only at designated backcountry sites with a permit; no fires, and pack out all rubbish.
- Artifacts
- Do not remove or move items at the settlement and village sites.
- Wildlife encounters
- Report aggressive animals to the Conservation Officer Service 24-hour line, 1-877-952-7277 (RAPP).
Where to stay
In the park
Nels Bight and Guise Bay campsites
Backcountry sites with pit toilets, food caches and wooden tent platforms; permit required.
In the park
Eric Lake campsite
Forest camp beside the park's largest lake, about 44 ha.
Near the park
Holberg
Small settlement with basic lodging and the last fuel before the gravel roads.
Near the park
Port Hardy
Full range of motels and hotels, 1.5–2 h from the trailheads.
Safety
Mud and boardwalk slips medium
Wolves habituated to food high
Tides and river crossings high
Weather and remoteness high
Logging-road driving medium
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- The San Josef Bay trail is a wide gravel path but not paved; the beach itself is soft sand.
- The Cape Scott and North Coast trails are rough, muddy and not suitable for limited mobility.
Visiting lightly
- Camp only on the wooden platforms and use the food caches so wolves do not learn to associate people with food.
- Pack out everything, including food waste; there are no bins in the backcountry.
- Stay on the boardwalk where it exists to limit damage to the bog and old-growth forest.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Cape Scott Provincial Park?
Nothing for day use: BC provincial parks have no entry fee, and parking at the San Josef and Cape Scott trailheads is free. You pay only if you camp: $10 per person per night for ages 16 and over and $5 per child aged 6–15, booked in the BC Parks backcountry registration system (2026 estimate).
What are the best hikes in Cape Scott Provincial Park?
For a short visit, the 2.5 km gravel walk to San Josef Bay, about 1 hour return, gives you the beach and sea stacks. The classic backpack is the 16.8 km Cape Scott Trail to Nels Bight, 4–7 hours each way and mostly flat but muddy. The 43.1 km North Coast Trail is the hard option, with permits, an orientation and 4–6 days needed.
When is the best time to visit Cape Scott Provincial Park?
June to August: the longest days, the driest trails and the camping season, which runs May to September. July and August are the busiest, so book your permit early. Outside that window expect heavy rain, deep mud and storms, and no camping season.
Do I need a permit to hike Cape Scott?
No permit is needed to walk the trails or visit San Josef Bay for the day. You need a backcountry camping permit for any overnight, and the North Coast Trail also requires registration and an orientation before you start.
Can I bring my dog?
Only to the San Josef Bay area, and it must be leashed at all times. Dogs are prohibited in the rest of the park, including the Cape Scott Trail and the North Coast Trail.
How do I get to Cape Scott Provincial Park?
Drive from Port Hardy south on Highway 19, then the Holberg Road logging road to Holberg, then San Josef Main and Cape Scott Road to the trailheads; allow 1.5–2 hours and check road conditions. The rest of the park is reachable only on foot, by boat or by helicopter.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go