Every year more than 8,000 people hike the West Coast Trail, a demanding route that traverses 80 kilometers (50 miles) of some of the most spectacular coastline found anywhere in the Pacific Northwest. Known as the Graveyard of the Pacific, this beautiful yet treacherous stretch of Pacific Rim National Park Reserve wilderness on the west coast of Vancouver Island has claimed sixty ships since 1854.

Author Tim Leadem has hiked this trail at least ten times, in both directions, and his pocket guide to the West Coast Trail distills the knowledge he’s gained. Whether you’re hiking from north to south or south to north, this compact yet authoritative guide provides the essential details about the trail.

Use this guide to plan your trip, then take it with you on the trail. Up-to-date, thorough, and comprehensively written, Hiking the West Coast Trail will help you make the most of this once-in-a-lifetime hike.