Vancouver Island Trail

{{Short description|800 km hiking trail in British Columbia}}

{{Infobox hiking trail

|name=Vancouver Island Trail

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|location=British Columbia, Canada

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|length={{convert|800|km|mi|0|abbr=on}}

|map={{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=300|frame-height=240|frame-lat=49.5|frame-long=-125.7|zoom=6|type=line|stroke-width=3|id=Q7914213}}

|trailheads=Anderson Hill, Oak Bay (southern terminus, {{coord|48.4127|N|123.3059|W|type:landmark_region:CA-BC|display=inline}})
Cape Scott (northern terminus, {{coord|50.7824|N|128.4274|W|type:landmark_region:CA-BC|display=inline}})

|use=Hiking

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|highest=

|lowest=

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The Vancouver Island Trail (formerly also known as the Vancouver Island Spine Trail) is a near-completed 800 km-long hiking trail stretching the length of Vancouver Island, from its southern terminus on Anderson Hill in Oak Bay, to its northern terminus in Cape Scott Provincial Park.{{Cite web|last=Arrais|first=Pedro|title=Our Community: Island spine trail closer to completion|url=https://www.timescolonist.com/islander/our-community-island-spine-trail-closer-to-completion-1.24046138|access-date=2021-02-24|website=Times Colonist}} The trail connects to various communities including Victoria, Lake Cowichan, Port Alberni and Cumberland, and connects along existing trails the Galloping Goose Regional Trail, Cowichan Valley Trail, Alberni Inlet Trail, the Great Trail and the North Coast Trail.

The trail is intended to be accessible to hikers five months of the year, with some sections available much longer. The first thru-hiker completed the trail in July 2018.{{Cite web|last=The Vancouver Island Trail|title=Different Ways to Hike (bike, ride) the Vancouver Island Trail – THE VANCOUVER ISLAND TRAIL|url=https://vi-trail.ca/trail-info/different-ways-to-hike-bike-ride-the-vancouver-island-trail/|access-date=2021-02-24|language=en-US}} It is estimated that thru-hiking the trail may take between six weeks to over two months. As of 2021 the trail is over 90% completed.[https://vi-trail.ca/about-us/presidents-report/ President's report, Vancouver Island Trail Association]. Retrieved 2021-06-14.{{Cite web|last=Sainsbury|first=Brendan|title=Explore this beautiful Canadian island on a new long-distance trail|url=https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/vancouver-island-trail-walk|access-date=2021-02-24|website=Lonely Planet|language=en}} Some sections of the trail will be available where it is accessible for non-motorized trail users, including bicycles or horse riders.

The hiking trail project is being built and maintained by the non-profit [https://vi-trail.ca/?doing_wp_cron=1614196023.7817449569702148437500 Vancouver Island Trail Association] (VITA). VITA is a part of 'Hike BC', the British Columbia wing of the National Hiking Trail (NHT).

References