Juan De Fuca Park

Backcountry hike-in camping is available along the Juan de Fuca Marine Trail, sites are either on the beach or in the forest. 

Please camp at established camping areas to minimize your impact. 

The trail and campsites along the trail are open all year. Detailed maps of campsites are installed on the trail at each designated camping location. 

Detailed maps of campsites are installed on the trail at each designated camping location.

• Trailheads: Overnight camping in your vehicle is allowed at China Beach (Juan de Fuca East), Parkinson Creek, and Sombrio Beach trailheads. The camping fee applies for overnight camping in the parking lot. No overnight camping is allowed at Botanical Beach. Private camping facilities are available in nearby Port Renfrew.
• Beach sites: Camping at Mystic Beach, Bear Beach, Chin Beach, and Sombrio Beach (East) is available on the beach. Please use camping pads at West Sombrio camping area. In other areas there are no designated sites. Camp on the beach to prevent degradation of the forest vegetation.
• Forest sites: Camping at Little Kuitsche Creek and Payzant Creek is in the forest and away from the beach. There is limited shoreline access at Little Kuitsche Creek and no shoreline access at Payzant Creek. Fires are not permitted at these sites. A portable camp stove will be required for cooking. Camp only on designated tent pads.

Bear-proof food caches are available at the Mystic Beach, Chin Beach, Bear Beach, Sombrio Beach, Little Kuitsche Creek, and Payzant Creek campsites. If caches are full, it may be necessary for visitors to rig their own food cache. Cache food out of reach of animals. Plan to pack out what you pack in. Do not put garbage in pit toilets, it attracts bears. 

Backcountry camping fees

• $10 per adult (16+) per night
• $5 per youth (6–15) per night

Backcountry camping permits can be purchased ahead of time through the backcountry permit registration service. Although the system does not reserve a campsite, the system provides visitors the convenience of prepaying for their trip and not having to carry cash.

Self-registration envelopes and safes are located at each trailhead for depositing your camping fee if you have not prepaid. On-site fees are cash only (bring exact change). 

The China Beach campground does not offer walk-in sites and is closed for the winter. 

China Beach Campground: This area offers vehicle accessible campsites. The campground is located in a forested area with open understory just east of the China Beach day-use area and Juan de Fuca East trailhead. Campsite reservations are required during peak camping seasons. 

Juan de Fuca Trail: No vehicle accessible camping except at three of the trailhead parking lots: Juan de Fuca East (China Beach), Sombrio Beach and Parkinson Creek. Camping in these parking lots are for self-contained vehicle units only. Fires and tents are prohibited at trailhead camping locations and backcountry camping fees do apply. There is no camping at the Botanical Beach Trailhead. 

Vehicle-accessible camping fee: $20 per party per night

There are no wheelchair-accessible facilities at China Beach Campground.

• China Beach: There are no water taps located in the day use area. Only in the China Beach campground.
• Juan de Fuca Trail: Bring your own drinking water as potable water is not available in the area. Water is available from streams but must be boiled, treated or filtered before drinking.
• Drinking Water System Report 2021: China Beach [PDF] 

Campfires are not permitted at the Botanical Beach and China Beach day-use areas. 

China Beach Campground: While fires are allowed, we encourage visitors to conserve the environment by minimizing the use of fire and using stoves instead. Campfire rings are provided at each campsite. Firewood can be purchased from the Park Operator or you can bring your own wood. Fees for firewood are set locally and may vary. 

To preserve vegetation and ground cover, please don’t gather firewood from the area around your campsite or elsewhere in the park (this is a ticketable offence under the Park Act). Dead wood is an important habitat element for many plants and animals and it adds organic matter to the soil. You can conserve firewood and air quality by keeping your campfire small. Limited burning hours or campfire bans may be implemented. Be prepared to bring a portable stove for cooking. 

Juan de Fuca Marine Trail: Portable campstoves for cooking will be required at some campsites. Small fires are permitted on beaches below the high tide mark. Use only driftwood for fires – do not cut trees or snags or use other vegetation (this is a ticketable offence under the Park Act ). Never leave your fire unattended and practice "Leave No Trace" camping ethics.

• The western section of the park around Botanical Beach contains two smaller trails: 
  • Mill Bay Trail accesses a small pebble and shell beach; portions of this trail are steep. Parking for this trail is at the Mill Bay Trailhead, beside the road to Botanical Beach. 
  • Botanical Loop Trail connects Botanical Beach and Botany Bay. This is an easy to moderate walk.
• China Beach day-use: A scenic 1km trail leads from the parking lot through mature forest to the beach. A large viewing deck offers views of the beach and Juan de Fuca Strait. This is an easy to moderate, fairly steep trail.
• Second Beach Trail: Second Beach can be reached from the China Beach campground via stairs and a 1km long fairly steep gravel trail. The 15 to 20 minute hike (each way) through the mature forest of Sitka spruce, Douglas fir, and western red cedar leads visitors to the great rolling breakers of a tumultuous sea. Benches along the way provide a spot for visitors to stop to enjoy the views of Juan de Fuca Strait.

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 are no designated swimming areas at Juan de Fuca Park. There are no lifeguards on duty at provincial parks.

Canoeing and kayaking opportunities exist at this park, however exposure to the open Pacific Ocean can result in extreme sea conditions. Please be aware of ocean currents.

This park offers opportunities for salt-water fishing. Botanical Beach, Parkinson Creek from Little Kuitsche Creek to about Payzant Creek are closed to fishing. 

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 or angling in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence.

There are interpretations services available at the Botanical Beach area of the park. For more information, please contact the park operator.

Terrific views can be seen from many points along the Juan de Fuca Marine Trail, particularly at the Loss Creek Suspension Bridge and the Minute Creek Suspension Bridge. The Juan de Fuca trail also offers spectacular views of the coastline, Juan de Fuca Strait, and the Olympic Mountains. Whales, marine birds, and other wildlife can also be seen in the park. 

Botanical Beach offers one of the richest tidal areas found along the west coast and opportunities for viewing in these tide pools is excellent. A low tide of 1.2 metres or less is best for viewing the tide pools. 

Visitors should reference a tide table prior to visiting the area. Use Canadian Tide Tables Port Renfrew section. Remember to use the PDT (Pacific Daylight Savings Time) for tidal times during March to November. 

When visiting Botanical Beach, please look in the tide pools only. Do not touch the marine life. 

Do not remove, collect or disturb any tide pool life, shells, plants, flowers, kelp, or other natural objects. Even touching the water in a tide pool with sunscreen on your hands can create an 'oil slick' that could kill the vulnerable creatures in this sensitive ecosystem. Photographs make great souvenirs.

Pets and other domestic animals are allowed, but must be on a leash at all times. You are responsible for their behaviour and must dispose of their excrement. Dogs are allowed on the trail but backcountry areas of this park are not suitable for dogs or other pets due to wildlife issues and the potential for problems with bears and cougars. It is recommended that pets be left at home. 

Dogs are allowed on the beach area of China Beach and also China Beach day-use area, but please ensure that dogs are kept on a leash at all times.

Bicycles must keep to roadways. Cycling is not permitted on the Juan de Fuca Marine Trail. Various logging roads in the area may be available for mountain biking. Cycling on park trails is not permitted. Bicycle helmets are mandatory in British Columbia.

Please note that bicycles with electric assist motors (e-bikes) are not allowed on the trails within Juan De Fuca Provincial 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.

Limited opportunities exist for scuba diving in Juan de Fuca Park due to the extreme ocean conditions, tides, and currents.

The foreshore around Botanical Beach and Botany Bay as well as the foreshore from Little Kuitsche to Payzant Creek is closed to scuba diving.