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There’s nothing easy about the North Coast Trail.

But a backpacking trip on this rugged and remote trail at the northern tip of Vancouver Island just might be one of the best experiences of your life.

That was my conclusion after a six-day hike in Cape Scott Provincial Park, home of the 43.1-kilometre NCT.

Hiking east to west for 59.5 kilometres, we camped at Nahwitti River, Cape Sutil, Irony Creek, and Laura Creek on the NCT before getting soaked by rain at the Eric Lake campground on the Cape Scott Trail.

From Port Hardy, Cape Scott Water Taxi dropped us off at the Shushartie Bay trailhead, and the North Coast Trail Shuttle picked us up at the Cape Scott trailhead.

If you’re thinking about tackling the NCT, I recommend obtaining a copy of Maria I. Bremner’s excellent guidebook, Cape Scott and the North Coast Trail (Harbour Publishing).

Here’s a look at 10 things you can expect to see while hiking the often-muddy NCT.

1. Stunning beaches

Shuttleworth Bight. Stephen Hui

2. Black bears at campsites

Nahwitti River campsite. Stephen Hui

3. Lots of plastic debris

Strandby River to Christensen Point. Stephen Hui

4. Steep rope sections

West of Tripod Beach. Stephen Hui

5. Grey whales

Laura Creek campsite. Stephen Hui

6. Colourful buoys marking the trail

Christensen Point. Stephen Hui

7. Bald eagles

West of Strandby River. Stephen Hui

8. Cable car crossings

Nahwitti River. Stephen Hui

9. Boardwalks through upland bogs

Shushartie Bay to Skinner Creek. Stephen Hui

10. Amazing sunrises and sunsets

Sutil Bight. Stephen Hui

Oh, and one more thing: Rain