Juan de Fuca Marine Trail Map
The Juan de Fuca Marine Trail is a rugged 47-kilometre wilderness hiking trail located within Juan de Fuca Provincial Park along the southwestern coast of Vancouver Island.
The trail stretches from China Beach, 35 km west of Sooke, to Botanical Beach, just outside Port Renfrew.
The trail can be hiked in part, as a day hike, or backpacked in its entirety in four to six days. Unlike the longer West Coast Trail (75 km), the Juan de Fuca Trail does not require a reservation; however, there is a backcountry camping fee of $10 per person/per night.
Juan De Fuca Trail offers scenic beauty, spectacular hiking, wildlife viewing, and roaring surf in its course along the Pacific coastline of the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Most of the trail is designed for strenuous day or multi-day hiking in this rugged and isolated area. Some easy to moderate day hiking opportunities to the beach or along the trail are available stating from the trail heads at China Beach, Sombrio Beach, Parkinson Creek, and Botanical Beach.
Day Use Opportunities
Botanical Beach
Botanical Beach affords visitors with access to uniquely rich tide pools and shoreline trails with fantastic geological features. It is a good idea to check local tide tables to maximize opportunities for wildlife and tide pool viewing. A low tide of 1.2m (4 feet) or less is best for viewing. The area offers parking, toilets, information and picnic areas. A number of trails: Mill Bay(some steep sections), Botany Bay, Botanical Loop (connects Botany Bay and Botanical Beach) and Botanical Beach are suitable hiking for young children and the elderly (20 minutes one way on each trail). No camping or fires are allowed.
Parkinson Creek
Parkinson Creek trailhead provides access to begin or end a day long (10 km) hike to Botanical Beach or a 9 km hike to Sombrio. This is a moderate section of the trail through beautiful mature forest. Watch for marine mammals that frequent this area.
Sombrio Beach
Sombrio Beach is a large cobble beach and an easy 10 minute (one way) walk along the trail from the parking lot. Explore the beach, camp, surf or hike eastward along the beach (30 minutes one way).
China Beach
The fine sand beach at China Beach is ideal for picnicking, sand building, wading and relaxing. A wide, gravel trail (some steep sections) suitable for most young children and the elderly (20 minutes one way) takes you from the parking lot through mature forest to the beach. Take a short walk to the western end of the beach to the waterfall or wander at length to the east.
The Juan de Fuca Trail does not connect to the West Coast Trail, part of the Pacific Rim National park Reserve.