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There are four trail heads to the Marine Trail
at Botanical Beach, Parkinson Creek, Sombrio Beach, and China Beach.
Day and multi-day hiking trips can begin at any of these trail heads
which also offer many day use opportunities.
Botanical Beach affords visitors access to uniquely
rich tide pools and shoreline trails with fantastic geological features.
It is a good idea to check local tide tables to maximize opportunities
for wildlife and tide pool viewing. A low tide of 1.2 m ( 4 feet
) or less is best for viewing. The area offers parking, toilets,
information, and picnic areas. A number of trails: Mill Bay ( some
steep sections), Botany Bay, botanical Loop ( connects Botany and
Botanical Beach) and botanical Beach are suitable hiking for most
young children and the elderly ( 20 minutes one way on each trail).
No camping or fires allowed.
Parkinson Creek trail head provides access to
begin or end a day long (10 km ) hike to Botanical Beach or a 9
km hike to Sombrio. This is a moderate section of the trail through
beautiful mature forest. Watch for the marine mammals that frequent
this area.
Sombrio Beach is a large cobble beach and an easy
10 minute (one way) walk along the trail from the parking lot. Explore
the beach, camp, surf, or hike eastward along the beach ( 30 minutes
one way) .
China Beach the find sand beach is ideal for picnicking,
sand building, wading, and relaxing. A wide, gravel trail ( some
steep sections) suitable for most young children and the elderly
( 20 minutes one way ) takes you from the parking lot through mature
forest to the beach. Take a short walk to the western end of the
beach to the waterfall or wander at length to the east.
Detailed maps of campsites are installed on the
trail at each designated camping location.
The camping
fee is $6.00/night per family or party of 4 persons. Fees are subject
to change without notice. Self registration envelopes and safes
are located at each trail head for depositing your camping fee.
Cash only ( bring exact change).
Trail heads over night camping in your vehicle
is allowed at China Beach, Sombrio, and Parkinson Creek. The camping
fee applies for overnight camping in the parking lots. No overnight
camping is allowed at Botanical Beach. Private facilities re available
in nearby Port Renfrew.
Camping along the Juan de Fuca Marine Trail is
available in both beach and forest sites:
camping at Mystic Beach, Bear Beach, Chin Beach, and Sombrio Beach
(east) is available on the beach. There is no designated sited.
Remember to camp on the beach to prevent degradation of the forest
vegetation.
camping at Little Kuiche Creek and Payzant Creek is in the forest
and away from the beach. There is limited or no shoreline access.
Fires are not permitted at these sites. A portable camp stove will
be required for cooking. Camp only on the designated tent pads.
group size should be limited to a maximum of 10 people. The trail
standards and park facilities such as campsites are not designed
to accommodate larger groups.
Watch for orange balls as you
hike, they mark an exit from the beach to the trail. With high tides
and during storms, beaches may be cut off from the trail. See campground
maps on trail for exact location. Use Canadian Tide Tables "Tofino"
section. Remember to add one hour to the listed tidal times during
May - October as Daylight Savings Time is in effect.
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No
vehicle-access camping 
