Kayak & Canoe

Discover Port Renfew’s ocean and river’s wildlife up close.

Kayak & Canoe

Discover Port Renfew’s ocean and river’s wildlife up close.

For those who have paddled only in sheltered passages, sea kayaking along the outside waters of Vancouver Island is another world;  one where you go big or go home. However, if you pick your time, particularly in summer months, you’ll find that the Pacific can be as well behaved as a sleeping giant.

The 37-mile (60-km) ocean route between Sooke and Port Renfrew, with its string of beaches to touch on can be paddled in a lengthy summer day. Of course, you don’t have to do the entire length of this coast to enjoy an outing, nor do you have to paddle it in one day as you can camp ashore along the way, or rent a cottage at Handsome Dan’s.

Pick your launch locations, such as from French Beach, one of the few beaches where you can drive to within a short distance of a launch site. Other good locations include Muir Creek, Jordan River and Pacheedaht Beach in Port Renfrew.

Guided kayak tour

There is currently no longer kayak tours or kayak rental available in Port Renfrew.

If you know anybody with ambition to start a business, this would be a great and exciting opportunity them, as we are being asked often about about this kind of activity.

Guided kayak tour

There is currently no longer kayak tours or kayak rental available in Port Renfrew.

If you know of anybody with ambition to start a business, this would be a great and exciting opportunity them, as we are being asked often about about this kind of activity.

Places to Kayak & Canoe

Explore the wild, west coast by kayak. The marine environment of the region is home to a wide array of wildlife from small fish and birds to elk and bears. As you paddle peacefully through the water you may spot majestic bald eagle, or a glimpse of a salmon jumping its way up river to spawn, or even see bears and wolves that come to feed and drink along the river’s edge.

Muir Creek Beach

From the parking lot, a hard packed dirt path leads you to beginning of the beach area; Orveas Bay estuary (west side of the creek). The piles of driftwood and bull kelp that line high tide mark on the south west shore of the estuary soon give way to the narrow beach that is boarded by steep cliffs. Be sure to check the tide tables, as much of the beach is impassable at high tides. Muir Beach is a mix of sand and stone. The first bit of beach you’ll approach is pretty rocky, but it gets better. As you turn right, you’ll notice a point of rocks jutting out to the Juan de Fuca Strait.  These are a photographers dream. Keep walking west.  Just past this rocky point the beach gets more sandy and the walking becomes easier.
Another 1/4 kilometer west and you’ll start to find a lot of sandstone, which makes for some wonderful photos. The smooth texture, swirls and colours are really cool!
Keep watching the sandstone cliffs, you’ll discover some very unique fossils in the rocks.

Lizard Lake

Another unique feature of Lizard Lake is the large 80 -100 foot boardwalk pier extending out from the shore. From the pier, extended out on the lake, people can fish, swim and launch canoes. Some of the other activities enjoyed at this Port Renfrew lake include hiking, mountain biking, picnicking, sightseeing, wildlife watching, camping and suntanning.

Wild Life

As you paddle peacefully through the water you may spot majestic bald eagle, or a glimpse of a salmon jumping its way up river to spawn, or even see bears and wolves that come to feed and drink along river’s edge.

Muir Creek Beach

From the parking lot, a hard packed dirt path leads you to beginning of the beach area; Orveas Bay estuary (west side of the creek). The piles of driftwood and bull kelp that line high tide mark on the south west shore of the estuary soon give way to the narrow beach that is boarded by steep cliffs. Be sure to check the tide tables, as much of the beach is impassable at high tides. Muir Beach is a mix of sand and stone. The first bit of beach you’ll approach is pretty rocky, but it gets better. As you turn right, you’ll notice a point of rocks jutting out to the Juan de Fuca Strait.  These are a photographers dream. Keep walking west.  Just past this rocky point the beach gets more sandy and the walking becomes easier.
Another 1/4 kilometer west and you’ll start to find a lot of sandstone, which makes for some wonderful photos. The smooth texture, swirls and colours are really cool!
Keep watching the sandstone cliffs, you’ll discover some very unique fossils in the rocks.

Lizard Lake

Another unique feature of Lizard Lake is the large 80 -100 foot boardwalk pier extending out from the shore. From the pier, extended out on the lake, people can fish, swim and launch canoes. Some of the other activities enjoyed at this Port Renfrew lake include hiking, mountain biking, picnicking, sightseeing, wildlife watching, camping and suntanning.

Wild Life

As you paddle peacefully through the water you may spot majestic bald eagle, or a glimpse of a salmon jumping its way up river to spawn, or even see bears and wolves that come to feed and drink along river’s edge.

Read Ken and Joy’s story on taking over for Handsome Dan & The French Girl.

We took over for Handsome Dan and the French Girl in Dec 2020 and we cannot wait to see where this vacation property management will take us.

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  • Cottage Location

6574 Baird Rd
Port Renfrew, Bc
V0S 1K0

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