World's Greatest Hikes: Pacific Rim National Park, British Columbia, Canada: The West Coast Trail (photo by Paula Reedyk ) The 47-mile long West Coast Trail can be considered as one of North America’s best. The trail was originally used to help survivors of shipwrecks find their way to safety. You’ll see a variety of caves, waterfalls, sandy beaches, and remnants of the shipwrecks. You may also spot sea lions and whales on the waterfront and bears, cougars, and minks in the forests.