Sandcut Beach – A Local Treasure
Raindrops fell on the ancient Douglas fir, cedar, and spruce trees around us, but we weren’t getting wet. One of the wonderful things about walking through a rainforest is that it doesn’t matter if it is raining. The forest canopy, nature’s massive umbrella, provides adequate shelter. This comes in handy on Vancouver Island, Canada, where there is a fair amount of rain.
The 1 km path to Sandcut Beach leads you across boardwalks and through incredible flora and fauna. After looking up to admire the giant trees, be sure to look down at the miniature mushrooms and other forest treasures.
Once at the beach, you may find the same swell keeping surfers happy 3 km away in Jordan River. During our visit, the surf was up, and small pebbles leapt out of the surging ocean like Mexican jumping beans.
A bit further along the beach, there is a cool waterfall.
The scalloped overhang near the waterfall sheltered us from the rain before our hike back along the trail.
Rain or shine, Sandcut Beach is a wonderful destination on Vancouver Island.
Directions:
Sandcut Beach, between French Beach Provincial Park and Jordan River, British Columbia, is approximately 1.5 hours drive from Victoria via Highway 14. A small parking lot and information kiosk mark the trailhead.
Travel Tips:
If you are visiting Victoria, B.C., check out this post on where to eat, drink, and shop in the city. And this article highlights a few of Victoria’s best beaches.
When you travel to Sandcut Beach from Victoria, consider a stop at the Stick in the Mud coffee house in Sooke, a small town about 30 minutes from Victoria. The Stick in the Mud is an exceptional boutique coffee house, and they roast their coffee beans.
After visiting Sandcut Beach, you may want to continue a few km further north to the village of Jordan River. The Cold Shoulder Cafe, popular with the local surfer crowd, is a perfect spot to refuel and warm up by the outdoor fire.
