Botanical Loop Trailhead Location:
In Port Renfrew, at the end of BC Highway 14, in Juan De
Fuca Provincial Park.
Liked:
Tidal
pools, crashing waves, shoreline views (especially at Botany Bay), several fine
forest scenes, shade in the forest, no bugs, numerous educational information
signs.
Of Note: The
trail is popular, no shade on the beach, uneven ground, rocks and roots,
slippery rocks on the beach, crashing waves. Hiking poles and boots are
recommended, especially on the beach.
Vancouver Island, Victoria & Gulf Islands Backroad Mapbook (9th edition)
Coordinates:
Page 3 (Port Renfrew) C3.
Botanical Loop Trail is a 2.5 km-long hike located in
Juan De Fuca Provincial Park near Port Renfrew on Vancouver Island. It shares
the parking lot with
Juan De Fuca Marine Trail, which is 47 km-long and takes several
days to hike. There are two trailheads for Botanical Loop Trail, both
are at the parking lot and are in near proximity to each other. The one
on the left side is a shared trailhead with Juan De Fuca Trail. The
latter goes its own way eastbound about one kilometer later, while
Botanical Loop Trail goes by Botanical Beach and Botany Bay prior to
returning back to the parking lot.
The main attraction of Botanical Loop Trail are tidal
pools, which are numerous and quite interesting. The shoreline is quite
attractive as well, especially at Botany Bay. Beware of slippery stones
and crashing waves. Please, do not touch tidal pools to avoid
contamination, and do not remove contents and inhabitants.
* All trail distances are based on a GPS odometer and
are approximate.
1. Here is a Google Maps location of Juan De Fuca
Provincial Park - Botanical Beach parking lot in Port Renfrew, BC.
2. Entering Juan De Fuca Provincial Park - Botanical
Beach parking lot.
Coordinates: N 48⁰31.992’ W 124⁰26.718’. Elevation:
65 meters.
Juan De Fuca Provincial Park Botanical Beach parking lot
3. Botanical Beach parking lot has pit toilets and picnic
tables, but no garbage cans. To dispose of garbage in Port Renfrew use
the public dump (business hours only) located on the side of Highway 14. No
overnight camping is allowed on this parking lot.
Botanical Beach parking lot picnic tables
4-5. We used the trailhead entrance on the right side,
but the left side is just as good, as it is a loop trail.
Botanical Loop Trail sign
6. Botanical Loop Trail 300 meters from the parking lot.
It's an easy trail.
Port Renfrew hiking Botanical Loop Trail
7. Now at 490 meters with a pit toilet ahead.
Hiking in British Columbia - Botanical Loop Trail pit toilet
8. A boardwalk at 540 meters.
Hiking in Port Renfrew area - Botanical Loop Trail
9. Approaching Botany Bay at the 630 meters mark.
Hiking in Canada - Botanical Loop Trail
10. And here comes Botany Bay 680 meters from the parking
lot (if you take the trailhead on the right side).
Botany Bay
11-13. It's a very picturesque bay. Left to right.
Botany Bay near Port Renfrew British Columbia Canada
14. Interesting stone formations at Botany Bay.
Hiking on Vancouver Island - Botany Bay near Port Renfrew
15. Neat.
Botany Bay British Columbia
16. Looking right.
British Columbia Hiking - Botany Bay
17. Continuing on Botanic Loop Trail towards Botanical
Beach (where the tidal pools are located).
18. 60 meters from Botany Bay.
Hiking Botanical Loop Trail
19. There are several interesting information signs along
the trail.
Botanical Loop Trail information sign
20. A fine boardwalk 300 meters past Botany Bay.
Botanical Loop Hike near Port Renfrew BC Canada
21. Botanical Loop Trail 160 meters later.
Botanical Loop Hike
22-23. Arriving to Botanical Beach 770 meters from Botany
Bay.
Botanical Beach
24. A very fine beach with many tidal pools.
Botanical Beach on Vancouver Island
25. Looking right.
Botanical Beach British Columbia Canada
26. Looking left.
Botanical Beach near Port Renfrew British Columbia
27. We then started heading left (east) where all the
fine views appeared to concentrate.
Botanical Beach near Port Renfrew BC Canada
28. The waves are crashing, the tidal pools all around,
good times.