If you find yourself exploring the west coast of Vancouver Island, checking out the China Beach hike is a must! This easy and relatively short hike, leads to a gorgeous sandy beach and is the perfect way to spend a leisurely day while exploring the coastline. It offers up a bit of everything Vancouver Island is known for, huge old growth trees which end in a sandy beach.
We had just finished the West Coast Trail a few days prior and were camping at the Jordan River campground for a few days, to relax and explore the area. We wanted a short hike and the China Beach hike ticked the box.
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The China Beach Hike
Distance: 1km each way
Elevation: 70m
The trail for the China Beach hike starts at the far end of the lower parking lot, don’t confuse it with the trailhead for Mystic Beach and the Juan De Fuca trail which starts in the upper of the two parking areas.
There is a clear trail sign which lets you know you are on the China Beach hike once you leave the parking lot. The start of the trail heads through a gorgeous forest, the trail is wide and easy to follow. There is also an outhouse shortly after the start of the trail.
You lose elevation gradually to begin with and it’s easy going and a fairly short and easy section, the trail is well maintained and mostly graveled making for easy walking. As you get closer to the ocean, the trail rounds a corner and there is a large platform, offering glimpses of the beach and ocean below.
After the platform there are a number of steps down to the beach, the trail here is narrower and not quite as easy as the beginning of the China Beach hike. But we still consider this an easy hike which is family friendly.
As you get to the beach, there is another outhouse and an information sign which details the rules of using the beach. Then you are out onto the sand! When we did the China Beach hike there was plenty of washed up driftwood from the previous winters storms which made for a great spot to sit and set up for the day.
You can explore the beach, dip your toes in the chilly ocean, kids can build sandcastles and everyone can enjoy a picnic. Take in the views across the Strait Of Juan De Fuca, looking over to Washington State and keep your eyes peeled for wildlife in the ocean.
There is also a hidden waterfall at one end of the beach, where you can spot the cliffs, however we didn’t explore this as the tide was coming in when we were at the beach.
Please practise leave no trace and follow the park rules while visiting China Beach, this is a popular spot but has minimal amenities. So pack out what you take down to the beach and make sure to leave the place better than how you found it.
The China Beach Trailhead
The trailhead for the China Beach hike is located almost half way between the towns of Sooke and Port Renfrew along Highway 14, which winds its way along the coast of Vancouver Island. An easy and scenic drive, the trailhead is clearly signposted. Just beware that there is also the China Beach Campground signposted off the highway nearby, you will be looking for the hikers parking sign.
This is a busy trailhead and we found parking to be quite difficult. It was completely full and very few people seemed to be heading back to their car to leave, eventually we got a spot, but we had to wait a while.
The parking is also quite tight so it isn’t suitable for trailers and there are few turnaround spots, so it can be difficult for larger vehicles to get out if they can’t find a spot.
What You Might Need To Complete The Hike
The China Beach hike is fairly easy and we did it in our Chaco Sandals, which were perfect for this with cushioning and straps which keep the nice and tight on our feet. They were also perfect for exploring the beach and wading into the ocean if we wanted.
We also took a backpack, which we filled with a layer in case it was windy down at the beach, as well as a picnic lunch to enjoy on the beach. As with any hikes on Vancouver Island, it is always worth packing a rain jacket just in case as well, it also works great as a wind break if needed.
Where To Stay
There is the China Beach Campground which would make a great base to explore the area and complete the China Beach hike. It was fully booked while we were visiting. However you can reserve ahead of time through the BC Parks Camping website to guarantee your spot.
We camped a short drive away at the Jordan River Campground, this oceanside spot has a mix of RV and walk in tenting sites. Known to get quite breezy at times, this spot is a prime location right on the water, with easy access to the rocky shoreline from all the camping spots.
If you like a bit more luxury, the two closest towns would be Sooke, which is just over a 30 minute drive or Port Renfrew which is a similar distance away in the opposite direction along the coast. Both of these places offer a variety of hotel accommodations. We’ve stayed at the West Coast Trail Lodge in Port Renfrew and it was a great, reasonably priced option.
