West Coast Trail Unit - Management planning

Join the conversation!

Share your feedback and help shape the future of the West Coast Trail Unit and Pacific Rim National Park Reserve by providing your feedback.

A working group appointed by the leadership of Huu-ay-aht, Ditidaht, and Pacheedaht First Nations, and Parks Canada co-developed four strategies to guide how the West Coast Trail Unit will be managed over the next ten years. These strategies will help decide what is most important, what goals to work toward, and what results to aim for.

On this page:

• Engagement and consultation
• How to participate
• What we heard
• Working together in the West Coast Trail Unit

Engagement and consultation

Public engagement and consultation – now open
Through a variety of events and an online survey, interest-holders and the public are informed about the co-development of the plan and are invited to provide feedback on the strategies. Everyone is welcome to participate. 

First Nations engagement and consultation – November – December 2025
Through a variety of events and an online survey, Huu-ay-aht, Ditidaht, and Pacheedaht First Nations community members and citizens were informed about the co-development of the plan and were invited to provide feedback on the strategies.

How to participate

Online Survey

Learn about the strategies and complete an online survey at: letstalkparkscanadawestcoast.ca

Virtual Sessions

Contact us directly to register for a virtual session:
pacrim.info@pc.gc.ca
250-726-3500

E-mail, mail, and phone

Request a consultation package by e-mail or mail, or contact us to arrange a conversation with a representative from the West Coast Trail Unit management planning working group:

pacrim.info@pc.gc.ca

250-726-3500

What we heard

Once both engagement and consultation processes are complete, the West Coast Trail Unit management planning working group will share a summary of the feedback. Your feedback will be considered in subsequent steps in the management planning process. 

Please check back for updates.

Working together in the West Coast Trail Unit

The West Coast Trail Unit of Pacific Rim National Park Reserve lies within the ḥaw̓iiḥ ḥaḥahuułi / čaabat̓ disib̓aʔk (hereditary chiefs’ ancestral territories) of three First Nations: 

huuʕiiʔatḥ (Huu-ay-aht First Nations)

diitiidʔaaʔtx̣ (Ditidaht First Nation)

p̓aačiidʔaaʔtx̣ (Pacheedaht First Nation

These Nations have lived along Vancouver Island’s west coast for millennia. Ancient trails and paddling routes were used for trade and travel by these Nations long before foreign ships reached the region less than 300 years ago. 

In 1973, Parks Canada added the West Coast Trail Unit to Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, despite objections from the three First Nations. Their use of the land and access to the ocean was restricted as a result.
 
Today, the Huu-ay-aht, Ditidaht, and Pacheedaht First Nations have a long history of working together, and with Parks Canada to protect, present, and operate the West Coast Trail Unit. The three First Nations also recently signed a joint cultural agreement to work together in the protection of their lands.