Mystic Beach, ocated close to Jordan River in the Juan De Fuca Provincial Park, is one of the best hikes on Vancouver Island and is well known for its coastal beach waterfall that flows right into the ocean and is a must-see if you’re visiting Victoria or road-tripping Vancouver Island.
We were spending the weekend at Point No Point and left from there, so it was a 15 minute drive. From Victoria, it’s about an hour and a half long drive.
The day we hiked the trail started into a light but steady rain, which chose to turn into a steady rainfall by the time we arrived. Nonetheless, the skies cleared and we enjoyed the hike.
As you get close to the trail entrance; the trailhead that you are looking for is a bit tricky. It is the “China Beach Trail Parking Lot” you want to find and there are signs on the road. Don’t confuse this for “China Beach Campground,” which is about 400M back towards Jordan River.
When you arrive, you’ll find 2 parking lots. Mystic Beach access will be the first parking lot on the right, and China Beach access is down the road to the left. There are bathrooms available at this trailhead and information posted. The parking fee at the large gravel lot is $3.00.
I fumbled getting my three loonies into the soaking wet envelope that the BC Parks service leaves for you to fill in, while not supplying any type of writing instrument, and leave in a mailbox type slot with a copy on your windshield surrounded by signs which clearly proclaim that thieves regularly patrol this either.
From the parking area, walk to the wooden map board and make sure you are at the start of the Juan de Fuca trail (not the trail to China Beach). The map will show the entire route along the Juan de Fuca Trail, however Mystic Beach is the first stop and the hike is on the easier side of intermediate.
Victoria to Mystic Beach
Mystic Beach Trail
The trail to Mystic Beach is also the start of the Juan de Fuca Marine Trail, the lesser-known cousin of the West Coast Trail.. We were only heading out for a day hike, but you can head out on the trail for an overnighter, or a multi-day backpacking trip.
The Mystic Beach trail immediately enters a lush forest, filled with ferns and can be moderately hard to follow in places if you don’t know what to look for. I found that the simplest thing to do was to look for the colour green. If you don’t see it, then that’s where the trail is.
Even though the trail starts out on a gradual descent, there is actually a bit of uphill hike in the first kilometre of the hike. There are tree roots everywhere along the trail, so step carefully. Mud can be a problem depending on the recent weather. It was a bit muddy in places when we went, but nothing we couldn’t walk around or just walk through.
The trail then reaches a suspension bridge that crosses Pete Wolfe Creek. Cross the bridge and continue along the trail as it continues to step over logs and tree roots and then reaches a wider gravel trail, where it veers to the left and begins to descend. This section is much quicker to walk along as you descend through the forest, which is thick with trees in this section and quiet. You may begin to hear the waves hitting the shore at this point.
As the sound of the waves grows louder, the trail follows along some stairs made out of a very long single fallen tree, which is and of itself is pretty amazing, and as you veer to the left, you will make the final descent towards the beach. Just after the log stairs end, you reach an opening where you can walk down onto Mystic Beach.
Of course, once on the beach, the main highlight is the waterfall pouring out over the cliff into the ocean.
The scenery is also incredible, no matter which direction you decide to explore and it’s worth planning to spend some time on the beach before hiking back. Yim and I brought a lunch and a blanket and had a nice little break and rest.
About the Region
This part of Canada has been home to various First Nations peoples for millennia. In fact, archaeological evidence and anthropological accounts point to the existence of indigenous cultures in these parts as far back as 5,000 years ago.
The reason for this is the vast resources that have been available in this area throughout time. The bountiful sea and swathes of backcountry have provided communities with access to fresh fish, valuable shells, whale oil, furs, and various other treasures. These were traded between communities and even to traveling explorers and traders from far afield.
Juan De Fuca Provincial Park, where Mystic Beach can be found, has historically been home to two main First Nations peoples: the Pacheedaht and Lkwungen. The clues to these peoples’ intractable relationship with the sea can be found in the translation of their names, which mean ‘Children of the Sea Foam’ and ‘Place to smoke herring,’ respectively.
This part of Vancouver Island was so rich in natural resources that it also had a key part to play in maintaining the neighbouring Makah, Elwa Klallam, Ts’ouke, and Schian’exw peoples.
Point No Point
If you wanted to spend the night close to Mystic Beach, you have a number of options available to you.
There are campgrounds at both China Beach Provincial Park and French Beach Provincial Park. If you want serviced camping, you will have to head back to Sooke. Additionally, if you prefer backcountry camping, this is also possible at Mystic Beach if you have the correct backcountry camping permit for this area. To find out more information on how to obtain one of these permits, pay a visit to the BC Parks website. These permits are well worth it as they can be used to backcountry camp at many locations along the Juan de Fuca Trail.
If you would prefer a more cushy place to relax after a long day of hiking and having fun at Mystic Beach, there are cabins you can rent nearby.
We stayed at Point No Point Resort, which has 25 different cabins to select from, which are all kitted out with fireplaces, kitchens, a hot tub and splendid views of the stunning ocean.
Photo Gallery Below
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