Vancouver Island Trail

The Vancouver Island Trail (VIT) is a long-distance hiking route that runs the length of Vancouver Island, linking communities including Victoria, Lake Cowichan, Port Alberni, and Cumberland, and it continues on existing trail networks such as the Galloping Goose Regional Trail, Cowichan Valley Trail, Alberni Inlet Trail, the Great Trail, and the North Coast Trail.

Plan on an overnight-capable trek: the full route is about 800 km and is organized into seven sections, allowing hikers to tackle it as a thru-hike or as shorter section hikes.

Section 1 runs from Anderson Hill (Oak Bay/Victoria) to Lake Cowichan, followed by Section 2 from Lake Cowichan to Port Alberni, then Section 3 from Port Alberni to Cumberland.

Section 4 continues from Cumberland to Strathcona Dam, Section 5 runs from Strathcona Dam to Woss, and Section 6 connects Woss to Port McNeill.

Section 7 takes hikers from Port McNeill to Cape Scott Provincial Park at the northern terminus of the route.

The trail is managed as a living corridor, with route details that can shift over time; the route’s condition can vary by season and local water/weather factors, since parts of the corridor are built and connected using existing trails plus connectors. Sections are not guaranteed to be complete everywhere at all times.

More information: Official website, Official website, Wikipedia