Juan de Fuca Trail

The Juan de Fuca Marine Trail runs forty-seven kilometres between China Beach and Botanical Beach along the strait, and it has a reputation as the harder-than-it-looks alternative to the West Coast Trail: less famous, no quota, but relentlessly muddy, with root staircases, ladders, suspension bridges and long sections of boulder beach. Several stretches can only be passed at low tide, so a tide table is not optional. Kilometre markers count from China Beach. Grey whales pass offshore in spring, and black bears and cougars live along it. Four campsites with bear caches are spaced along the route, and day walkers use the four road access points.

What you actually see

• The tidal sections - beach stretches passable only around low water.
• The mud and ladders - root staircases and boardwalk through rainforest.
• The whale passage - grey whales offshore on spring migration.
• The four access points - road entries allowing day walks on any section.

When to go

June to September; the trail is a mudbath outside summer and winter storms make sections impassable. Book campsites ahead in July and August. Check tides for every crossing.

Honest expectations

This is genuinely harder than the distance suggests, with people regularly needing rescue. Mud is knee-deep in places even in summer. Cougars and bears are present and food must be cached.

Nearby

Botanical Beach is the northern trailhead; Sooke lies east.