There are three entry/exit points for the West Coast Trail, however the midway entry/exit point at Nitinaht Narrows is for hikers only hiking part of the trail. The two main entry points are at Pachena Bay in the north(Bamfield) and Gordon River in the south(Port Renfrew). Port Renfrew is located a 2 hours drive from Victoria and Bamfield is quite a bit further and more challenging to get to and find.
PrologueChapter 1: The West Coast TrailChapter 2: When to Hike & FeesChapter 3: TrailheadsChapter 4: Getting ThereChapter 5: ConsiderationsChapter 6: CampsitesChapter 7: ShipwrecksChapter 8: Routes 
Day 1 Pachena to Darling Day 2 Darling to Tsusiat Day 3 Tsusiat to Carmanah Day 4 Carmanah to Walbran Day 5 Walbran to Cullite Day 6 Cullite to Camper Day 7 Camper to Thrasher 
Michigan Creek at 12k Darling River at 14k Orange Juice Creek at 15k Tsocowis Creek at 16.5k Klanawa River at 23k Tsusiat Falls at 25k Cribs Creek at 42k Carmanah Creek at 46k Bonilla Creek at 48k Walbran Creek at 53k Cullite Cove at 58k Camper Bay at 62k Thrasher Cove at 70k
If you are coming from the Nanaimo ferry terminal, the driving time to the Pachena Bay trailhead near Bamfield takes 3.5 hours. The stretch of terrible logging road from Port Alberni alone takes 2 hours! When you consider where to start and finish the West Coast Trail, transportation practicalities should be high on your list of importance. The Pachena Bay trailhead is far more remote and challenging to get to than the Gordon River trailhead.
The Gordon River trailhead is extremely easy to find from Victoria. Simply drive out of the city following the highway signs to Sooke and/or Port Renfrew. In two hours you will arrive at the very small town of Port Renfrew and quickly spot signs to the West Coast Trail. None of this route is on gravel roads and almost the entire drive is scenic and interesting.
If you are taking one of the BC Ferries over from Vancouver you have three options. You can sail from Tsawwassen ferry terminal(Vancouver) across to the Swartz Bay ferry terminal(Victoria). From Tsawwassen you can also take a ferry up to Departure Bay(Nanaimo). In North Vancouver you have another ferry terminal at Horseshoe Bay that takes you to Departure Bay(Nanaimo) as well.
BC Ferries get very busy in the summer months and growing demand has overwhelmed the Horseshoe Bay and Departure Bay ferry terminals. With the ferries being older and the infrastructure inadequate, you tend to get absurdly long waits that you don't tend to get a the Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay terminals. Departure Bay in Nanaimo is particularly bad as you regularly see two ferries come and go as you wait for a third. All the while the lineup is backed up well into the residential streets of Nanaimo!
If you are driving to the West Coast Trail, you have two options. Park at one end of the trail and take the West Coast Trail bus to the other end and hike back. Or you can hike from your car and bus back after finishing the trail. Taking the bus at the start of your hike seems like a better option as when you finish the trail you will be quite tired, hungry and not eager to wait for a bus to take you all the way back to your car. Parking for the West Coast Trail requires some careful consideration as well. Because locals know that a car parked will be unguarded for a week, there has been quite a shameful history of thefts from both trailheads.
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