South Island. 
Know before you go
Advisories
Safety information
Canoeing and kayaking at French Beach is not recommended due to the strong ocean currents.
Special notes
- There is no boat launch at this park. The nearest launches are near Jordan River or Sooke.
- Tide tables are posted at trailheads and available at local bookstores. Remember to add one hour to the listed tidal times from May to October, as Daylight Savings Time is in effect. For this area, visitors should reference the Fisheries and Oceans tide table for Sooke.
- There is no sani-station available in the winter season.
Review the detailed guides under visit responsibly for more information on staying safe and preserving our natural spaces.
Visit responsibly
Follow these guides to ensure your activities are safe, respectful, and ecologically friendly:
Maps and location
Getting there
French Beach Park is on the west coast of southern Vancouver Island. The park can be accessed via Highway 14, 20km west of Sooke. Directional signs are posted. The park is located approximately 11km from Jordan River.
The nearest communities are Sooke, Jordan River, Port Renfrew, and Victoria.
Things to do
Approximately 2km of maintained hiking trails travel through the park. Trails lead through salt marsh and second-growth forest of douglas fir, sitka spruce, western hemlock, and western red cedar, connecting with shoreline walks along the beautiful beach. This trail system is accessible from the day-use area and the campground. For your own safety and the preservation of the park, obey posted signs and keep to designated trails. Shortcutting trails destroys plant life and soil structure.
There is no designated swimming area at this park, however French Beach is located on the Pacific Ocean and there are opportunities for swimming. The water is very cold. Bring good footwear if you want to walk along the sand and gravel beach.
There are no lifeguards on duty in BC Parks.
There are saltwater fishing opportunities at this park. Fishing is permitted as per provincial and federal fishing regulations. All anglers should check the current regulations issued by Fisheries and Oceans Canada prior to fishing.
Anyone fishing in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence. To learn more, see the fishing and hunting guide.
There are interpretations services available at this park. For more information, please contact the park operator.
In addition to offering fabulous views of the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Olympic Mountains, French Beach is an excellent location for whale watching. Magnificent gray whales pass by the park as they migrate to northern feeding grounds in the spring and return in the fall. Roaming pods of resident killer whales are often seen offshore, as well as otters, seals, and sea lions. French Beach is also a good location to see bald eagles, ospreys, and a variety of seabirds.
Pets and all domestic animals must be on a leash at all times and are not allowed in beach areas or park buildings. You are responsible for their behaviour and must dispose of their excrement.
Backcountry areas are not suitable for dogs or other pets due to wildlife issues and the potential for problems with bears.
Bicycles must keep to roadways. Bicycle helmets are mandatory in British Columbia.
Please note that bicycles with electric assist motors (e-bikes) are not allowed on the trails within French Beach Park. E-bikes are restricted to park roads and areas where motorized use is permitted. The only exception to this policy will be for authorized and identified trail maintenance bikes conducting work on behalf of BC Parks.
There are opportunities for windsurfing at French Beach.
French Beach Park is open year-round with limited services.
About this park
French Beach lies within the traditional territory of the T’Sou-ke First Nation. Their economy was based on hunting, fishing, and gathering, and extended families among the Straits people owned the lands and resources, which could not be sold, only inherited.
Imagine loving to travel so much, you would walk across Canada! Imagine falling though the ice in the Northwest Territories, losing all the toes off one foot and the heel off the other to frostbite, thanking Indigenous knowledge that you did not lose more! Imagine not stopping there, traveling by boat and canoe down the Bulkley Valley to Vancouver and then paddling around Vancouver Island to find your future home.
It took pioneer James French two adventurous years to travel from New Brunswick to Victoria. He pre-empted the land west of Sooke in 1885. French was an early naturalist, traveling the world to bring exotic animals to zoos for public enjoyment and education. After an expedition to Africa, French once brought home a small elephant, before selling it to the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle.
French died in 1952, survived by his family who continued to live on the property and play an active part in local logging. French had hoped that a much larger section of the west coast of Vancouver Island would be made into a provincial park. His home and favourite beach would become French Beach Park in 1974. Twenty years later, Juan de Fuca Park would further his dream.
Beautiful hiking trails lead you through second growth forest of Douglas fir, sitka spruce, western hemlock, and western red cedar to the sand and pebble beach. You will also find salal, Oregon grape, evergreen huckleberries, and a large variety of ferns along the trails.
Once on the beach, there are excellent whale-watching opportunities, particularly for gray whales. These magnificent creatures migrate to northern feeding grounds in the spring and return south in the fall. Killer whales, otters, seals, and sea lions can also be seen offshore.
French Beach is also a great place to observe seabirds, bald eagles, and ospreys. A number of other animals can be found in the park, including frogs, salamanders, and small mammals such as minks, squirrels, and raccoons. Black bears and cougars make their homes in the surrounding areas and may move through the park, especially during warmer months.
Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples
BC Parks honours Indigenous Peoples’ connection to the land and respects the importance of their diverse teachings, traditions, and practices within these territories. This park webpage may not adequately represent the full history of this park and the connection of Indigenous Peoples to this land. We are working in partnership with Indigenous Peoples to update our websites so that they better reflect the history and cultures of these special places.
Contact
| Reservations, changes, and cancellations | Our call centre is open from 7 am to 7 pm Pacific Time. There is a $5 fee for reservations, changes, or cancellations made by phone.
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| Park operator | This park is operated by RLC Park Services. |
| General questions and feedback for BC Parks | We answer emails weekdays from 9 am to 5 pm Pacific Time. |
