Canada’s iconic West Coast Trail (WCT) on Vancouver Island just got even better with the grand opening of a new visitor centre at the Nitinaht Lake Campground.
Brought to life by the Ditidaht Economic Development Corporation (DEDC), the new building features an outdoor theatre area and indoor meeting space and will serve as a check-in centre/information hub for WCT hikers, Nitinaht Lake campers and folks staying at the Caycuse Cabins.
“I’m really proud of what we’ve done today. It’s important for you guys to know that we are working for you all,” expressed Jack Thompson, president of the DEDC, to Ditidaht members during the July 4 unveiling.
“It’s a new chapter. One thing (our Ancestors) talked about is getting to be self-sufficient; leaving a better future for our future generations, so they can build on what we’ve built today,” Thompson continued.
He hopes the new building will inspire members to branch out and try different jobs, like tour guiding.
The WCT was originally established by First Nations to travel between communities in Pachena Bay (near Bamfield), Nitinaht Lake and Port San Juan (Port Renfrew). It passes through the traditional territories of Huu-ay-aht, Ditidaht and Pacheedaht First Nations and is part of the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. Huu-ay-aht, Ditidaht and Pacheedaht operate the WCT in partnership with Parks Canada.
Elder Charlie Thompson says in the past, Ditidaht people used the trail to journey to potlatches, and it was also used as an emergency path for shipwrecks.
“(This centre) is a beautiful reflection of our leadership. The band could also consider building a resort to create more jobs for local people,” said Charlie.
Thompson says a resort has been on the DEDC radar since the early ‘90s, but paving the main access road to the community would likely need to come first. He told the Ha-Shilth-Sa that Ditidaht bought three parcels of land from Western Forest Products to extend and develop the famed windsurf campground and new cabins on Nitinaht Lake.
Every year, about 7,500 hikers take on the West Coast Trail, with the typical trip length being five to seven days. With multiple entry points, there could be up to 400 hikers on the trail at any given time during the peak season, according to Parks Canada.
Recent Parks Canada annual statistics for the WCT show 7,941 hikers in 2024, 7,014 in 2023, 7,741 in 2022, and 6,449 in 2021.
Nitinaht Narrows officially became a third entrance to the WCT in 2014. Hikers picking up the trail in Nitinaht can opt to go north (32-kilometres) towards Pachena Bay or south (43-kilometres) to Port Renfrew.
Ditidaht First Nation member Steven Charles has been greeting WCT hikers at the Nitinaht Lake Campground since 2015. During the peak summer months he’ll check-in up to 20 hikers a day then deliver a safety and tide talk before ushering the crew to the Nitinaht Narrows water taxi.
“This (visitor centre) has been a long-time coming,” said Charles. “The future plan is to host school groups.”
Before the new visitor centre, guests passing through Ditidaht traditional territory were being bounced around from building to building.
“It just opens it up to one hub,” said Nitinaht Lake Express shuttle operator/owner Gerry Peter. “It was confusing to someone that has come from Switzerland to go to the shop and to the campground office, they have no clue what’s going on. It’s better to have this one building. It will attract more people.”
Ditidaht Councillor Terry Edgar said the foundation for the visitor centre was poured in December 2024. They started construction in March 2025 and about three and a half months later, it was done.
“We kept it as simple as it could be, utilizing as many resources from our own logging operations, our own territory,” said Edgar during the ribbon cutting ceremony.
He shared that 66 per cent of the volume of wood used to build the facility was sourced and milled directly in Ditidaht territory.
“The old growth cedar on the wall comes from a recovered bridge, we didn’t fall it. We took it back and it’s now here on the outside of this building. It’s here on these benches,” said Edgar.
“We are really proud of what I call stewardship; looking after our lands, looking after ourselves, looking after our future,” he said.
Elder Mike Thompson, 93, is the longest living Ditidaht member.
“This is a great day for Ditidaht people. Hopefully this place will prosper for years to come,” said Mike.
Ditidaht is also working with Keefer Ecological Services to grow the Caycuse Trail Network and ecotourism experience, but construction is “all subject to funding”, according to the contractor.
Following the speeches and ribbon cutting, Ditidaht members shared a delicious seafood broil of locally caught prawns, mussels and crab.
