Thrasher Cove Campground

Thrasher Cove is a small backcountry beach camp on the West Coast Trail, near km 70 from Pachena Bay and about 6 km by trail from Gordon River. If you’re starting at Gordon River, make this your first night. Parks Canada advises against pushing on to Camper Bay in a single day; the route starts with ladders and beach-and-boulder travel.

The camp is reached only by hiking the trail. A West Coast Trail permit and reservation are required, along with the entry-point orientation. The annual area closure runs October 7 through April 30; Thrasher Cove is beyond the limited first 8 km day-use area at Pachena Bay, so it’s closed then. Check current access and permit rules before planning your trip.

The cove has a short strip of sand with boulders at both ends. A few tent spots sit among the trees near a creek. The beach is narrow, and high tides can reach the driftwood line, so leave room above the water when choosing a site.

There’s no food service, so bring your meals. Trail guides report an outhouse and wildlife-secure food storage, though they differ on the exact storage setup. Don’t count on untreated creek water: carry a way to treat water, and follow Parks Canada’s current instructions.

The West Coast Trail began as the Dominion Lifesaving Trail, built in 1907 to help reach people from shipwrecks along this coast. The barque Revere wrecked in Port San Juan in 1883, between Thrasher Cove and Owen Point. You can’t see the wreck from camp.