If you are looking for the ultimate spot to camp along the south west coast of Vancouver Island, look no further than Jordan River Campground. Sandwiched between the highway and the ocean this is the perfect spot to relax or explore the area, or both! There is a day use area here but camping here is the real treasure and it is the perfect spot for exploring Sooke and the Juan De Fuca Provincial Park.
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The Jordan River Campground
The Jordan River campground is first come first serve and it gets very busy during the busy months of July and August, so arrive early to avoid disappointment as there are only 23 sites here. There are also a number of sites which stay open year round for those looking to surf or storm chase in the winter.
The walk in tenting sites offer some great privacy, some of the best I’ve found in a campground for a long time. Of course, the downside is you have to walk all your scented items back to the car every time you leave and we have a BBQ which is a little heavy to be lugging around. We also don’t have a battery operated air pump so we ran three cables to our site to blow up our air mattress from the car. It was absolutely worth the short lived inconvenience though! The walk-in sites are sheltered from the wind, surrounded by trees and a good distance away from your neighbours for the most part.
The majority of the drive-in sites are mostly suited for RVs with no grass or clear area to pitch a tent. A few sites along the inlet to the ocean are a little more spacious and private but the majority of the sites sit just inside the campground entrance, side by side, looking out at the ocean with direct access to the rocky shore.
Each campsite at the Jordan River campground has a picnic bench and a firepit, but do check for any fire bans before heading out. The walk in sites also have dedicated sand based, raised platforms to pitch your tent on.
There are two sets of outhouses at the Jordan River Campground. These are impeccably clean and spacious drop toilets, with toilet paper and sanitizer available as well. There is also a large barrel like structure beside the main road through the campsite and this offers potable water for campers.
Where Is The Jordan River Campground
The Jordan River campground is around a 70 kilometre drive from Victoria, via Highway 1 and Highway 14. Once on Highway 14 the road gets a little windy and can take time to navigate. The campground is clearly signposted from the Highway, located on the left side, heading North.
If you are driving the Pacific Marine Circle route and coming from Port Renfrew, you’ll follow Highway 14 for approximately 40 kilometres. The campground is signposted on the right of the Highway when you are heading South.
Things To Do Nearby
The Jordan River campground is the perfect base to explore the south west coast of Vancouver Island. A short 10 minute drive south takes you to the parking lot for Sandcut beach, a popular spot, a short hike through the forest brings you out to the coast.
Head North a short way from the Jordan River campground and you’ll find the popular China Beach trailhead. From here you can take a short hike down to China beach, a large sandy beach, popular for day use and picnics. It is also one of the trailheads for the longer Juan De Fuca trail, a multi-day trail, however sections can be completed in a day, such as a trip to Mystic Beach, although this would be a long day.
Heading towards Sooke from the Jordan River Campground, there is a sign for the Sheringham Point Lighthouse, down a windy road, you’ll find the parking lot, a short walk takes you down to the lighthouse, with information boards and items recovered from times past at the lighthouse, this is a great, relaxing way to spend an hour. Make sure to stop at Shirley Delicious on your way back for a great feed!
Items You Might Need
When it comes to camping on the West Coast of Vancouver Island, it is best to be prepared for any weather! We were lucky, however we had a tarp in case it really rained. This can help protect the tent from a downpour or provide a dry spot to cook and relax outside of the tent.
You won’t want to forget your tent pegs if you are camping at the Jordan River Campground, while a few tent spots are fairly protected from the wind, others are less so and it gets windy. Good tent pegs will make a world of difference!
As always, I lived in my Chaco sandals for our trip here. Perfect for the short hikes to the beaches in the area and around camp. These are comfortable all day.
If you want to inflate an air matress in your tent in the walk in sites, I’d absolutely recommend a battery operated air pump. Stringing together numerous cords worked in a pinch but it would have been far faster to have a battery operated pump at our disposal.