Situated on the rugged southwest coast of Vancouver Island, Point No Point looks out across the Strait of Juan de Fuca to the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State.
So what’s with the name? According to the resort, when the British Royal Navy first drew up their marine charts, they found that from one direction, the landmass looked like a point, and from the other direction, it didn’t, so they named it Point No Point.
These 25 private beach-front cabins are perched on a bluff high above the shoreline on 40 acres of rugged, west coast waterfront. The western edge of the resort is bounded by Jacob’s Creek, which flows onto a boulder beach.
Once settled in to the resort, there are local trails which lead to several private beaches and cross bridges to the rocky points which dot the shoreline. We spent an entire afternoon tidal pooling and enjoying the misty afternoon. They also have a private beach house at the eastern most trail where you can tuck in out of the rain and warm yourself next to a fire. You’ll find lots of classic Adirondack arm chairs and benches there, just begging you to relax in with a good book or a pair of binoculars.
We spent a long weekend with our friends Karen and Nick. The rooms featured hot tubs on the outdoor decks and the food was world class.
It is a scenic hour and a half long drive from Victoria.
This is a must do if you are on Vancouver Island and love the outdoors and rugged west coast ambiance. The rooms also feature hot tubs on the balconies and the food was world class.
What to do
There are 2 low tides each day, which present a great opportunity to go tidal pool exploring. You’ll find green anemones, spiny urchins, limpets, gooseneck barnacles, mussels, crabs, sculpins and dozens of snail species and in the shallows along the shore, you’ll probably spot a Great Blue Heron patiently waiting for an unwary fish.
If you’re down at the Beach House, you’ll frequently see a family of resident Otters playing or doing the back float while eating shellfish or spiny urchins. We found them and watched them scampering along the rocks for a half hour.
Harbour seals also scour the rocks just off shore looking for rock cod. You can usually tell they’ve caught one by the flock of seagulls hovering close by, waiting for scraps. The larger California Sea Lion also cruises through these waters.
Pods of Orca or Killer Whales are often seen just off the point year round. You’ll also see Gray Whales in the bay in mid-summer. Some individual Gray Whales remain in the waters between Washington and Vancouver Island year round. Humpback whales also cruise through the Juan de Fuca Strait twice each year on their regular migration routes. Watch for them in July and August. We didn’t see any but it was an overall overcast weekend.
Back at your cabin, you’re likely to see stellar jays, hummingbirds; woodpeckers, grouse and overhead, bald eagles, ducks and Canada Geese.
If you haven’t brought your own binoculars, there are extra sets in the Tea Room.
Mystic Beach
Mystic Beach is a great day trip to include while visiting Point No Point. It’s one of the area’s most scenic beaches, located just northwest along the shores of the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The hike features a small waterfall that cascades from the sheer cliff above the beach area along with incredible views of the rugged, Pacific Northwest coastline.
To read more, visit our Mystic Beach post.
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