[K-Court]

Originally Posted by Chris-STL

My wife stayed in nanaimo. She thinks that trail goes close by, but was never on it. She loved that place though, so I can only imagine how cool it would be to get off the beaten path.

Nanaimo is on the east coast of Vancouver Island, whereas the West Coast Trail is on the more rugged (and less populated) west coast facing the Pacific Ocean. The week-long hike is sort of the "300 challenge" of hiking in these parts, I would say. Here's a description and a link for more info. Like I said, it sounds like it would be right up your alley. I haven't done it myself though I know friends that have. Not for the faint of heart. It is on my list of "must do's" before I die.

"The third unit of the Pacific Rim National Park, the West Coast Trail, includes the section of coast southeast of Barkley Sound between the villages of Bamfield and Port Renfrew. This 25,640 hectare strip contains the 75 kilometre (46 mile) historic West Coast Trail constructed for the rescue of shipwrecked mariners.
This trail largely retraces an old telegraph route first established in 1890 and follows a rugged shoreline where approximately 66 ships have met their demise along this stretch of the "Graveyard of the Pacific". The topography ranges from sandy beaches to rocky headlands and wide sandstone ledges. Caves, arches, tidal pools and waterfalls add variety to the shoreline.

The land of the West Coast Trail unit is temperate coastal rainforest dominated by old growth spruce, hemlock and cedar. Some of the tallest and largest trees in Canada are known to be on or in the vicinity of the West Coast Trail. "

http://www.westcoasttrailbc.com/index.html