This two-day road trip from Victoria to Port Renfrew takes you along one of Vancouver Island’s most scenic coastal routes — where rainforest meets the Pacific.
Follow Highway 14 west through Sooke, Shirley, and Jordan River, stopping for ocean views, beaches, waterfalls, and local coffee spots like the Cold Shoulder Café.
In Port Renfrew, explore Botanical Beach and its colourful tidepools and local hikes through beautiful rainforests. Stay in a cozy seaside cabin or camp on the beach at Pacheedaht, dine at The Renfrew Pub, and end your night with a west coast sunset over the ocean.
This is the perfect short getaway for travelers craving nature, solitude, and the raw beauty of Vancouver Island’s west coast.
Growing up on Vancouver Island, I spent most of my time on the Northern tip. Just over ten years ago, I moved to a more central area, and that meant my map opened up, like in a video game. So, off we went, and the first was Hwy 14 from Victoria to Port Renfrew. We headed out bright and early, only for a day trip.
From Victoria, we drove to Sooke and stopped at Sheringham Point Lighthouse, as we needed to stretch our legs. It’s a short walk down, and we got to have a look inside as it’s open to the pubic daily. Then off to Jordan River for Coffee and lunch to go from the Cold Shoulder Cafe. We sat and enjoyed our lunch while watching the surfers. Lunch was delicious!
If you love to drive, then you’ll love this road from Jordan River to Port Renfrew. If you get car sick, maybe a little Gravol will help because this road has many twists, one-way bridges, and the odd Deer. This road follows the Juan De Fuca Provincial Park. This park has beaches with waterfalls, trails, pebble and sandy beaches, nature watching, and so much more. I had heard that Sombrio was great for surf watching, and at low tide, there is a hidden waterfall. It was fall time when we went and made sure we had our bear spray and good waterproof shoes.
The trail down was rooty, muddy, and full of beautiful trees. There are boardwalks and stairs leading down. If going, remember you have to get back up. It’s steep in areas, but there are stairs to help. When we went to the beach, we headed to the left and walked until we found a small creek cutting into the beach. Following the creek at low tide, you are rewarded with a stunning, narrow waterfall carving out the cliff. It’s amazing!!!!!! After walking on the beach and collecting as many rocks and shells as I could, we headed back up the trail to the parking lot.
Hungry, wet, and happy, we drove on to Port Renfrew for dinner at the Renfrew Pub. Ummmm! I had the best Halibut burger and fries I’d had in a long time. Maybe it’s all the fresh air, but I was a happy girl.
I made sure to check out Wild Renfrew.com before ending up eating or staying somewhere that didn’t suit us. It’s the town's website with all things Renfrew. It’s a great place to find accommodation. We stayed at Handsome Dan’s Cabins, which look over the Inlet. I slept like a baby.
The next morning, we headed to the Coastal Kitchen for breakfast and delicious coffee. The Brekkie Bun was just the perfect size to energize us for our next stop.
A one-of-a-kind area that, at low tide, makes you feel like you're on another planet. Botanical Beach is a must-see! This beach is rich in tide pools full of marine life. From starfish to urchins, we walked along the sandstone cut formations, just amazed that this exists. We walked down the trail and found another beach that led us to a family of bears fishing off the cliff. We were far enough away to sit and watch them. Pictures or video didn’t do justice, so we just sat and watched. This is the reason we explore, to be lucky enough to enjoy nature and wildlife.
We spent most of the afternoon exploring before the tide changed. It’s very important to watch the tide schedule; low tide is your friend, and high tide can trap you. Be safe! BC Tide Schedule
The drive home was full of laughter, stories, and calmness. We have been back during the summer and had the best time in the warm sun.
Vancouver Island has taught me that life is full of amazing nature, people, and taking it slow. We call it Island time.
I hope you enjoy exploring this area as much as I have. Remember to always resect the land and the people.
Thank you for supporting local small businesses. It really means a lot.
Now, let's get going!
