Vancouver Island is the largest island on the Pacific Coast of North America and Port Renfrew has the second longest stretch of beach on the west coast of Vancouver Island next only to Long Beach a days drive to the north. in Port San Juan Bay is Port Renfrew, at the mouths of where the San Juan and Gordon Rivers meet is the beginning of 2 km long Pacheedaht Beach seated on Pacheedaht First Nation ancestral lands. The Pacheedaht campgrounds stretch along the length of this very popular beach. The campground has room for campers and some RV hookups at the far end of the beach from the main bridge that crosses onto the Pacheedaht First Nation beach land. This area can be accessed during the summer time and people camp right on the beach with their tents and campers/rv’s. There are limited electrical hookups. There are new showers & laundry facilities. Please contact Pacheedaht Campgrounds for more information. The Gordon River ferry and the WCT administration office It is also the location of the southern most unit of the Pacific Rim National Park boundary, where the south east end of the West Coast Trail begins. Also entwined behind this magnificent beach front is a protected ecological area know as the San Juan River Estuary Ecological Reserve. It is here you might catch a glimpse of our herds of Roosevelt Elk grazing on the swamp grasses and fresh water ferns. Many species of water fowl and river otters, black bears and deer are commonly sighted here. This is prime kayak and canoeing zones. So many tucks and bends, sloughs full of water foul and a gentle upriver slope that can be easily navigated during summer months. There are hundreds of species of birds nesting here. The steelhead and trout fishing is beyond superb! Cougars are here but are rare and live far from humans and the local traffic in these areas . The beach contains the headlands, swamps, fens and backwater that reach far back into the San Juan Valley. It is here that our precious little hideaway lakes and beaches are hidden within our deep mountain rainforest valleys. BC Forestry Campgrounds & Beaches Fairy Lake, Lizard Lake & San Juan Campground In the summer the locals and visitors hang out or camp in the BC Forestry campgrounds and lounge during the daylight hours sunbathing on the beaches. Fairy Lake has a public access beach. It is a small area but generally enough room on the beach for everyone. It is located in the camp- site area. Lizard Lake up the road a few miles has a small sandy beach with a dock to swim from or fish for rainbow trout. Juan de Fuca Provincial Park & Juan de Fuca Marine Trail Botanical Beach, Sombrio Beach, Parkinson Creek and China Beach east, are all major trail- heads, and they all have beaches. Loss Creek is not accessible by vehicle. This is a 47km four day backpacking trip from one end to the other with possible day trips between trail-heads. Bear-proof food caches are available at the Mystic Beach, Chin Beach, Bear Beach, Sombrio Beach, Little Kuitsche Creek and Payzant Creek campsites Large orange balls mark exits from the beach to the trail-heads. If you contact West Coast Trailbus for reservations, they will pick you up at designated times at either ends of the trail-heads. Camping Fees Tide Beach Cut-offs Botanical Beach Trail-head & Botany Bay Botanical Beach once a provincial park is now the Trail-head (mile 0) of the Juan de Fuca Marine Trail in the north. It’s tide pools rich in marine life are the major attraction here. Not so much a sun bathing beach although Botany Bay has a smaller beach area a few meters away and is much more sandy with less traffic. History: This area is also the back yard to one of Canada’s famous surfing spots of Canadian legends, and brothers “Jesse and Isaiah Oak”, Both experienced competitive surfers born on Sombrio Beach. “Jesse was King” a local car bumper poster, would later nick name “Botany Bay” to “bought a neck brace bay” for the hidden shallow rock shelf just a few feet below the surface, a short 200 feet offshore, a boneyard for any inexperienced surfer foolish enough to attempt this dangerous spot. In the large waves you can see the rocks sticking up through the surf. The beaches here have sandy areas great for sun bathing, sometimes a little windy so bring layers of clothing with you just in case . The bay has a loop trail for those that like a little more of a hiking adventure. Links: Please check out our Trail links for more information. There are many beaches along this trail. Day trips are possible from many locations. Overnight camping, hiking and wildlife, views of the Olympics draw visitors to this area. Do not leave valuables in the vehicle. Thieves creep the parking lots. Check the Botanical Beach tide tables for lowest tides. How To get there: In Port Renfrew head north on Parkinson Road to the end at Cerantes Road turn left and follow it to the end. You will arrive at Botanical Beach. Parkinson Creek Trail-head Once a provincial park, Parkinson Creek Trailhead in now a part of the Juan de Fuca Provincial Park. Loss Creek is located along the trail, headed south from the Parkinson Creek trailhead on the Juan de Fuca Marine Trail. The access to this beach is from either trail heads on both sides of the creek. There is no vehicle access to this beach. See parks links for more info on Loss Creek, BC, Canada. Sombrio Beach Located 16km/10mi south of Port Renfrew and is another trail-head access to the Juan de Fuca Marine Trail. It takes about 15 minutes to the beach with a suspension bridge, great surfing, and a hidden waterfall to find if your are an adventurist. Sombrio Beach and Mystic Beach were not part of a provincial park prior to the establishment of Juan de Fuca Provincial Park. Both parks were settled by squatters back in the day when you could squat on the land or “live off the land” before the laws and boundaries were changed. The land was owned by private sectors, lumber companies and the Crown Government of British Columbia. Many people lived on these beaches, built their homes of driftwood shacks, and lived freely, bearing children, surfing and fishing the ocean, planting gardens and surviving off the land. When these areas were eventually purchased or appropriated back from the private sector and forestry companies when they were turned into local and Provincial parks and those people were forced off their lands to whatever fate had in store for them. The shacks were torn down and the residents told to leave or as an example, in 1969 Long Beach south of Tofino, each squatter was given a cheque for $50.00 if they were to burn their shack down and vacated the beach by late 1969. Some remnants of garden areas , carvings, and over grown foundations can still be seen. Camping on the beach is by permit. China Beach Is a 150 acre park created on January 4, 1967. Now mile 0 trail-head for the Juan de Fuca Marine Trail for those headed north. With a day-use area, and vehicle accessible camp-grounds separate from each other. Historically the land was traded in a deal with the provincial government and a local lumber company in 1967. The deal agreed upon by the BC provincial government, to allow logging company to log in the Bedwell Valley of Strathcona Provincial Park in exchange for the 150 acres at China Beach. This is a great day access beach with a little of everything for the outdoors type. The beach is rocky but with tides out makes for finding little cubbyholes to suntan in. Great beach to go drift wood hunting or just a day hike. Provincial Parks charge camping fees during peak seasons. Please check with that particular park for more information. China Beach by Bus - From Victoria, BC, catch the # 61. Check out Transportation Links Mystic Beach An hour plus drive from Victoria B.C. From the China Beach parking lot is a 2 km trail 30 minute walk to the beach, hiking through some old growth forest to a very remote beach. A ½ km stretch of mostly sandy beach with creeks, a suspension bridge that goes over Peter Wolfe Creek, board-walks, sandstone cliffs, tidal pools, and a water falls onto the beach at the end, all in a one day hike. This was home to the squatters that lived on the beach back in the 60’s. Long gone and forgotten. Low tide is the best time to visit this beach. The rope swing is a surprise! This is the southern end trail-head for the Juan de Fuca Marine Trail. Jordan River Regional Park On a clear day you can see beautiful views of Washington’s Olympic Peninsula. At the south end of the beach is a spectacular water fall. Also very popular for surfers. There still is an active Surfers Shack at the river mouth where the camping grounds are. Also room for RV and campers on a first come first serve bases. From the campgrounds is mostly cobble beach with some sandy regions over looking the Straight of Juan de Fuca. Not very sandy but patches can be found along the beach. Home of Shakie's Drive-in long-gone, and the many restaurants and accommodations that went with it when the hamlet was designated a hazard zone due to a 100 year old reservoir located up the river. Very popular during the summer months and also in the winter when the surf’s up. (surf story) Sandcut Beach Located between French Beach Provincial Park and Jordan River, about 19 miles (31 kms) west of Sooke, BC , Canada. Its about a 10 minute walk 400m from the parking lot to the beach. Sometimes the trail is muddy and slippery so wear proper foot ware. French Beach Has 69 campsites with washrooms picknic tables and fire pits. French Beach Sani-dump Station is located on the north side directly on Hwy 14. French Beach has a day use area for picnics. A well covered area bbq shelter. Lots of parking and easy day access to the beach. Sooke Beaches Sooke is 38 kilometres from Victoria. Sooke has many beachs headed towards Port Renfrew. Popular Beaches locally are the Sooke Pot Holes in the summer, not really a beach but you can find great sun tanning spots along the river. Gordon Beach is the first real public beach when headed towards Port Renfrew when you leave Sooke. Small cottages can be spotted along this stretch of highway 14. Look for easy to miss beach access entrances. Usually just a couple cars can park safely off of the road. The beach is mostly cobble with sandy patches found here and there. BC Parks Canada. Fire bans in effect during the 2020 Season