Botanical Beach is close to Port Renfrew on the wild west coast of Vancouver Island, at the very north end at the long but narrow ribbon-like stretch of coastline protected in Juan de Fuca Provincial Park. From the wave-beaten shores of Botanical Beach it’s possible to see (on a clear day) spectacular views of the Olympic Peninsula to the south and the endless Pacific Ocean stretching out towards the horizon beyond.
Like most of Vancouver Island’s western coast, Botanical Beach is a rugged place, shaped by wind and wave and rain. While it may not be home to sunny sandy shores perfect for getting that summer glow, it’s one of the most popular places to visit in the region for a completely different reason. Botanical Beach is home to some of Vancouver Island’s most rich and diverse tidepools – certainly some of the most accessible. These fascinating glimpses into the intertidal zone offer a look at some bizarre creatures, and make exploring up and down the beach an adventure fit for anyone with good footwear, and altogether one of the best things to do in Port Renfrew. Make sure when tidepooling not to pick up or take anything, and be careful to step on rock as opposed to any living things.
Continue reading this blog post for everything you need to know to experience Botanical Beach near Port Renfrew on Vancouver Island for yourself, including distance, elevation gain, how to get there, the best time to visit, and lots of photos of my experience.
When hiking it’s important to avoid harmful practices such as disturbing plants or rock-stacking, or removing any natural object from flowers to rocks, as it’s important to leave the environment as natural as possible for the animals and for fellow hikers to enjoy in perpetuity. As many flowers as there are, there are few enough that if we all took one, then there wouldn’t be any left. Take only photos, leave only footprints.
If you haven’t heard of Leave No Trace principles, they’re also really essential to read up on before heading anywhere into the outdoors in general. Following these important principles basically means doing your best to leave beautiful places like Botanical Beach as good (if not better) than you found them, both for their preservation and for the enjoyment of other visitors.
Botanical Beach Round Trip Details
Distance: 4 KM / 2.5 MI
Elevation Gain: 80 M / 262 FT
Hiking Time: 1-2 Hrs
Hiking & Safety Tips
- Prepare for the possibility of wildlife encounters. There are almost no grizzly bears on Vancouver Island, but black bears are still common. Bear bells are proven to be an ineffective bear deterrent, and are even actively discouraged by Parks Canada. The best way to let bears know you’re around is simply to use your voice. Make sure to keep a respectful distance from wildlife and never feed the animals. It may seem kind but it doesn’t just kill wildlife and put people in danger, it’s also in many cases illegal.
- Research current trail conditions and make sure you are well-informed about the route before you leave, and assess if it is within your capability. Be aware of what time it gets dark and check the weather forecast. Make sure to tell someone where you’re going and when you expect to return. Every year as more and more people try hiking for the first time, the number of rescues goes up. Being prepared is the best defense.
- Pack everything you need for a successful hike, including enough water and energy-rich snacks. Remember to pack out everything you pack in though – don’t expect to find a convenient garbage can halfway up the trail. Bring appropriate layers (remember you’ll warm up once you start hiking) and sun protection. Hiking poles may be helpful but are not required. In addition to not leaving any garbage on the trail yourself, I highly recommend bringing a garbage bag and collecting any trash that you do see on the trail. You’re guaranteed to make the walk to Botanical Beach a more enjoyable experience for the next person.
When to Visit Botanical Beach
Make sure to check the tide chart for the area. Though the area is still beautiful even at high tide, seeing the tidepools requires the tide to be as low as possible.
How to Get to Botanical Beach Trailhead
The parking lot for Botanical Beach is located in Juan de Fuca Provincial Park near Port Renfrew, about two hours from Victoria. reaching the parking lot is super simple. If driving along the highway from Victoria, simply follow the road straight as it passes through town for about ten minutes, eventually continuing into the provincial park on the other side of Port Renfrew before it ends at the large and well-signed parking lot for Botanical Beach.
Click here to open the exact trailhead location in Google Maps.
Walking to Botanical Beach
Heading down the trail / old road from the parking lot.
At Botanical Bay. The trail turns to the left here to make its way to Botanical beach, but its worth heading down the stairs and checking out Botanical Bay first. This area doesn’t have the tidepools, but is nonetheless a beautiful stretch of coastline.
Botany Bay. It’s possible to continue left along the slippery rocky shoreline to reach the tidepools of Botanical Beach, but most people choose to just follow the trail.
Much of the trail is quite muddy. Make sure to wear appropriate footwear so you can walk through the mud instead of trampling and destroying vegetation on the sides of the trail.
A notable tree stands out beside the trail, where most of the vegetation is stunted due to the harsh environment.
These trees have twisted themselves into some unique shapes.
A turn right leads down to Botanical beach, and a turn left leads back up to the parking lot making a loop trail.
Exploring the many tidepools of Botanical beach at low tide. Make sure to walk on rock and not living things, and don’t pick up or touch anything that doesn’t want to be.
A purple sea urchin chilling surrounded by coralline algae.
Giant green anemone and a million other kinds of algae.
Sea urchin test (skeleton).
Recommended Hiking Gear
Water is a must whenever I’m hiking, especially if the sun is going to be out. My favourite water filter I’ve used is the Katadyn BeFree 0.6L, which unlike other water filters I’ve used packs up really small and lightweight. For hikes where I know there won’t be any readily available water sources along the way, I make sure to bring my own. The Hydrapak Stow 1L bottle is my go-to, for the same reason that it’s made of a soft plastic that folds up and doesn’t take up any more extra space than necessary in my pack. Finally, Aquatabs are another great option for purifying water, with one tablet being suitable for one litre of water. I previously used the Grayl water filter while travelling internationally, and though I found its hard body more convenient for day to day use and easier to drink from, it has a little too much bulk for my fast-and-light style of hiking.
The secret to all my photos of gorgeous sunset and sunrise mountaintop views? A lot of hiking in the dark. And let me speak from personal experience when I say that the last thing that you want to happen when hiking is to be caught in the dark without a headlamp. I used the Black Diamond Spot 400 for years and it worked great – until I lost it on top of a mountain somewhere. The only downside to it was having to worry about the batteries dying, though there’s also a slightly more expensive version that has a rechargeable battery. Nowadays I’m using the Petzl Actik Core, which is a bit pricier than the more budget-friendly Black Diamond, but is also brighter, more comfortable (in my opinion), and has a hybrid power system that is rechargeable but can also take AAA batteries if needed.
You won’t see me using trekking poles on shorter hikes often – but on long hikes and backpacking trips, as well as certain scrambles, they are an absolute lifesaver. I’ve invested in a high quality ultra-lightweight pair of MSR DynaLock Ascent carbon poles which, while pricey, I don’t regret one bit. If you’re not entirely sure how much use you’re going to get out of a pair of trekking poles, the best budget-friendly option would be the Trekology Trek Z 2.0. Amazon does sell a lot of cheaper Made in China-style trekking poles for cheaper, but these usually are much much heavier and not worth buying.
All the best and most long-lasting cables and power banks I’ve ever owned have been Anker. I once had a phone cable from them that lasted me over three years of daily use! That’s why I keep an Anker PowerCore Essential 20K power bank on me. Like many people I use my phone for a lot of stuff when hiking (checking in with family, using online maps, taking photos, flying my drone) so I like to be prepared for that low battery warning by having a backup power source on me just in case.
The only socks I ever buy for myself are from Darn Tough, and I almost always make sure to wear them when hiking. After years of having no problems only wearing these comfortable and rugged socks for hikes, I accidentally wore a pair of no-name socks on a hike last year and ended up with blisters on both feet. Safe to say I’m back to sticking with the Darn Tough. And the best part? They have a lifetime guarantee, meaning that if they ever wear out you can send them back for a brand new pair. For hiking footwear I go between a pair of lightweight approach shoes for quick and dirty mountain ascents or anything involving scrambling and more heavy-duty boots for longer treks. I’ve worn a couple different versions of the lightweight but super durable Arc’teryx Konseal FL 2 approach shoes for a few years now and am very impressed with the durability. I also really like the thick toecap that keeps me protected every time I stumble into a root or large rock. For longer, tougher, or muddier treks I rely on my LOWA Camino EVO GTX, which I find insanely comfortable and made of very high quality.
I wear my Ar’teryx Gamma Lightweight Pants on every single hike I go on, and on many days when I’m not hiking. After several years of abuse they are still holding together extraordinarily well, with only a few small holes from where I’ve fallen down and some slight stains from being repeatedly coated with mud. They’re lightweight, breathable, and super comfortable. For lightweight and breathable hiking tops I’m a big fan of both the Patagonia Capilene Shirt and the MEC Core Shirt. My Arc’teryx Squamish Hoody shows up in a lot of my photos. It’s super lightweight and packable, and does a great job of cutting the wind while also being pretty breathable. I also have an Arc’teryx Atom Hoody and Arc’teryx Beta LT that I pull out for cooler or wetter conditions.
I hope you enjoyed this guide to Botanical Beach on Vancouver Island! Feel free to leave any questions in the comment section below or to contact me directly via social media.