Port Renfrew

Port Renfrew is a community of about 144 people (2016) on Vancouver Island in British Columbia.

Understand

The Tall Tree Capital of Canada

Port Renfrew is the home of the Pacheedaht First Nation, meaning "People of the Sea Foam", who have traditional village sites in and around the main town centre. The West Coast Trail, a world-famous hiking trail built in 1907 along the west coast of Vancouver Island to save shipwrecked sailors, is on the Jordan River adjacent to Port Renfrew. During the days of sail, 1830–1925, 137 major shipping tragedies occurred in the immediate vicinity of the entrance to the Strait of Juan de Fuca. International recognition was given to this stretch of water off Port Renfrew. It became known as the Graveyard of the Pacific. Founded as Port San Juan, the settlers changed the name to honor Lord Renfrew who planned to settle crofters there. The name was changed due to mail being sent to the San Juan Islands instead of Port San Juan. Port Renfrew's bay is still called Port San Juan. Like many coastal Vancouver Island communities, Port Renfrew has a rich history in forestry and fishing.

Get in

By car

110 km from Victoria: take the Trans-Canada Highway/Island Highway/#1 north to Goldstream, turn west onto the Westshore Parkway, and follow that to Highway 14/Sooke Road/West Coast Road.

By bus

• West Coast Trail Express, ☏ +1-250-477-8700, toll-free: +1-888-999-2288. Seasonal service allowing hikers of the West Coast Trail to reach the northern (Bamfield) and southern (Port Renfrew) ends of the trail. Also enables hikers to reach the Juan de Fuca trail head. Operator runs one bus route between Victoria and Bamfield via Port Renfrew. Travel time from Victoria is 2 hours and from Bamfield is 4.5 hours. Another route operates between Port Renfrew and Nanaimo (2.75-3 hours). Both routes operate from May 1 to September 30. (updated Mar 2022)

See

• 1 Avatar Grove (Deering Rd at Parkinson Rd, head the north end of Deering Rd and turn left at Gordon River Rd). A grove of large trees including Canada's "gnarliest tree," located 10 km from town. There are boardwalk trails set up to walk around the grove, while protecting the forest. The Ancient Forest Alliance (AFA) has worked hard to locate and preserve some of North America's largest trees around Port Renfrew. This preservation is paying off as people from all over the world visit. Reaching the grove requires driving on gravel road and a single lane wooden trestle over Gordon River. (updated Apr 2023)

• 2 Red Creek Fir. The world's largest Douglas fir, which is 4.2 m (14 ft) in diameter and 73.8 m (242 ft) tall, approximately 1000 years old. (updated May 2023)
• 3 San Juan Spruce. Canada's largest Sitka spruce by volume. It has a diameter of 3.7 m (12 ft) and was previously 60.48 m (198 ft). Until 2016, it was the second largest known Sitka spruce by volume, but it lost a significant amount of volume due to a lightning strike. (updated May 2023)

Do

• Local natural attractions include:
  • The West Coast Trail within Pacific Rim National Park Reserve
  • Juan de Fuca Trail and Botanical Beach within Juan de Fuca Provincial Park

• Port Renfrew is considered one of the best locations for salmon and halibut fishing in North America.

• There is also excellent sea and freshwater (San Juan and Jordan River) kayaking and birding.

Buy

• 1 Port Renfrew General Store, Parkinson Rd. Daily 11AM-7PM. (updated May 2018)

Eat and drink

• 1 Port Renfrew Pub, 17310 Parkinson Rd, ☏ +1 250-647-5541. M-W 11:30AM-8PM; Th 10AM-8PM; F Sa 10AM-9PM; Su 10AM-8PM. 10-tap draught system, pool table and flat screen TVs — micro-brews, burgers or boat-to-table seafood drawn from nearby waters. (updated May 2018)
• 2 Coastal Kitchen, 17245 Parkinson Rd, ☏ +1 250-647-5541. Daily 7AM-5PM. Fresh seafood (local catch, buckets of mussles, rich chowders), organic salads, power-packed smoothies, burgers, breakfasts. (updated May 2018)
• 3 Tomi's Home Style Cooking, 17152 Parkinson Road, ☏ +1 250-412-6099. M-Th 7AM to 3PM; F closed; Sa 8AM-6PM; Su 8AM-3PM. (updated May 2018)

Sleep

• 1 Big Fish Lodge, 6644 Queesto Dr, ☏ +1 250-647-0036. On the water with access to the beach. Common area with a pool table, foosball table, and guitar. Breakfast included. 6 bedrooms, large patio deck laundry, barbecue. From $119. (updated May 2018)
• 2 Wild Renfrew Seaside Cottages, 17310 Parkinson Road, toll-free: +1-844-647-5541. Private waterfront cottages by the ocean. Pub right next door. From $199. (updated May 2018)
• 3 Trailhead Resort, 17268 Parkinson Rd, ☏ +1 250-647-5468. Fishing lodge decorated with Vancouver Island fishing paraphernalia and local First Nations artwork. West Coast cuisine with BC seafood and homemade desserts. 1-, 2- or 3-day fishing packages available. From $70. (updated May 2018)
• 4 Stay Port Renfrew, 6574 Baird Road, ☏ +1 778 817 1488, info@stayportrenfrew.com. Check-in: 4:00PM, check-out: 11:00AM. Vacation rentals provider with locations throughout Port Renfrew. Hot tub, ocean view and pet friendly options available. From $325. (updated Apr 2022)

Go next

Routes through Port Renfrew

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→ Juan de Fuca Provincial Park → Victoria