Road Trip 2025 - Forests of Vancouver Island

We arrived at Port Renfrew after a cloudy, yet exciting morning exploring Botanical Beach on the Pacific Marine Circle Route on the western side of Vancouver Island. As we sat outside at a picnic table eating a scrumptious lunch of fish and chips, rays of sunshine fell upon us. I heard a familiar hum and flutter. 

Ruby-throated Hummingbird on Crocosmias, 2025, Port Renfrew, BC

Sure enough, a ruby-throated hummingbird searched and slurped sugary goodness from the bright red crocosmias just a few feet from where I was sitting. I had hoped to see one of the hummingbirds that we don't see east of the Rockies, but any hummer is food for my soul.

We weren't back on the road very long before I started seeing tsunami signs.

Tsunami Evacuation Route Sign, 2025, Pacific Marine Circle Route, BC

I'm not talking about signs that a tsunami was about to hit. These were actual signs of how to evacuate the coast if there was a tsunami warning. We thought it was cute...until 2 days later when we were on the eastern coast of Vancouver Island and there was an actual tsunami warning after a major earthquake off the Russian coast. The warning was cancelled the next day and we were more appreciative of the little tsunami signs we'd passed along the way.

Further up the road we were on the lookout for the Harris Creek Sitka spruce. It doesn't have significant signage, nor a parking lot. You park on the side of the road, walk in to admire the famous giant, take your photos, and head back out. A quick and fun side trip to get you out of your vehicle for some fresh air and exercise. 

Harris Creek Sitka Spruce, 2025, Pacific Marine Circle Route, Vancouver Island, BC

The Harris Creek Sitka spruce is 4 m/13 ft in diameter, approximately 80 m/260 ft tall, and hundreds of years old. No one knows its true age, except that the old-growth forest was first logged, or harvested, in 1893 and this tree was saved. Sitka spruce are known to live 800 years and only grow within 80 km/50 mi from the Pacific Ocean. Although the Harris Creek area is part of the second-grown forest, this Sitka spruce stands much taller than the surrounding trees. 

A few days later we were on another inland road on our way to Cathedral Grove, an ancient forest in MacMillan Provincial Park. Back in 1981 we had passed through here on the way to Tofino and now we wanted to see how the old growth forest was doing and to revisit some spots for updated family photos.

Anita and Crystal, 1981, Cathedral Grove, MacMillan Park, Vancouver Island, BC

The trees in Cathedral Grove are some of the oldest and tallest in Canada, and we almost didn't recognize the place. We were looking for the tree in the above 1981 photo of me and Crystal, but now there are boardwalks directing you where to walk. Which path had we taken over 40 years ago? 

Cathedral Grove, MacMillan Park, 2025, Vancouver Island, BC

And then I recognized this tree...except we couldn't recreate our photo because we had no access to the tree unless we jumped the fence and left the path.

Of course, we could have asked for permission like George Lucas did to shoot scenes in his Star Wars VI: Return of the Jedi. Or like they did for Jurassic World: Dominion, which was released in 2022. Both movies show great examples of prehistoric and futuristic worlds and the fact that they were partly filmed in Cathedral Grove means they'll always be available to view on the big screen. 

Cathedral Grove, MacMillan Park, 2025, Vancouver Island, BC

Actually, there are Canadian TV series and movies currently available where I recognize parts that were filmed on Vancouver Island due to the look of the trees, ferns, and moss. It's a fantastic feeling of being there. 

Cathedral Grove, MacMillan Park, 2025, Vancouver Island, BC

The 1981 photo below is one we tried to recreate where Nelson pretended he was pushing over this huge tree. 

Nelson, Cathedral Grove, MacMillan Park, 1981, Vancouver Island, BC

You'd think it would be easy to recreate, but in 44 years things do change. Although we had to stay on marked paths, we feel the 2025 photo below seems a reasonable recreation.  

Nelson, Cathedral Grove, MacMillan Park, 2025, Vancouver Island, BC

Once we had the shot of Nelson pushing down a tree, we went looking to recreate the one below where he stands beside a toppled tree as if he had actually pushed it over. 

Nelson, Cathedral Grove, MacMillan Park, 1981, Vancouver Island, BC

The tree in the recreated photo below may or may not be the actual toppled tree in the above photo, but it appears to be about the same height so we took the best angle we could considering where we could walk. 

Nelson, Cathedral Grove, MacMillan Park, 2025, Vancouver Island, BC

Now, if you're wondering why Nelson's jacket is a few sizes too large for him, it's because we really were trying to recreate the 1981 photos and thus, tried to find similar clothing that matched the old photos. 

Cathedral Grove, MacMillan Park, 2025, Vancouver Island, BC

If you're wondering why Nick and JJ aren't in these photos, it's because they took one token photo and then headed off to a place that made their eyes shine. 

Cathedral Grove, MacMillan Park, 2025, Vancouver Island, BC

After a brief tour of Cathedral Grove, Nick and JJ skedaddled to Horne Lake Caves which will be the topic of our next post. 

A sad side note to our morning visit to Cathedral Grove in MacMillan Park was that later that day, we heard there was a wildfire on the north side of Cameron Lake which adjoins MacMillan Park. In fact, we had travelled alongside Cameron Lake on Hwy 4 to and from Cathedral Grove which encompasses both sides of the highway. As the day wore on, news about the out-of-control fire dampened our spirits with worry for the ancient forest as well as the hundreds of people who needed to be evacuated from their properties. 

This post on Cathedral Grove in MacMillan Park and the Harris Creek Sitka Spruce corresponds to the April calendar page. 

Road Trip 2025 - Botanical Beach - Part 3

This is the third and final post pertaining to our fascinating visit to Botanical Beach in Juan de Fuca Park near Port Renfrew on the west side of Vancouver Island. Part 1 and 2 showed our family exploring the rocky shoreline after the tide went out. This is not a place for those with mobility problems, so I gave my Nikon P950 to my son Nick and I stayed in the parking lot. All 5 members of the family contributed to an astounding array of photographs and I was given the hard task of choosing the most educational, eye-opening, and fun photos for this series about the Botanical Beach. 

Botanical Beach, 2025, Juan de Fuca Park, Vancouver Island, BC

The above photo shows a good view of the tidal pools in the foreground, and the rocky area closer to the trees which you'll see more of in this post. 

Botanical Beach, 2025, Juan de Fuca Park, Vancouver Island, BC

At some point, Nelson and the kids decided to head back inland as they didn't want to get caught far out when the tide rolled back. The above photo, shows JJ and Nick still encountering the craggy yet worn sandstone tidal pools as they get closer to the sandstone cliffs. The top left of the above photo shows the fallen, weathered tree I mentioned at the end of Part 2. It looks so small at this angle.  

Botanical Beach, 2025, Juan de Fuca Park, Vancouver Island, BC

This part of Botanical Beach isn't masked with seaweed, barnacles and mussels like we first encountered. We're closer to land and higher now, yet you still have to watch where you walk and discoveries are still to be made. Is it red dulce, also known as red kelp, in the above photo?

Botanical Beach, 2025, Juan de Fuca Park, Vancouver Island, BC

Nick and JJ climbed up into a sandstone alcove under a hangover of trees and greenery. It looks pretty, and it may be safe, but if I was there, I would probably have been yelling at them to climb back down in a hurry. 

Botanical Beach, 2025, Juan de Fuca Park, Vancouver Island, BC

The water-beaten rocks here are different. The tide is still out so there are other people exploring the shore, yet Crystal, JJ and Nick head for the fallen, weathered tree. It looks bigger now that they're closer. 

Botanical Beach, 2025, Juan de Fuca Park, Vancouver Island, BC

JJ has a great vantage point from the top of the fallen, weathered tree. He's got his phone ready and he's challenging Nick and Crystal to climb up, too. Check out this collage I created from the video he recorded while sitting up there.

Botanical Beach, 2025, Juan de Fuca Park, Vancouver Island, BC

Yep, my rock climbing kiddos will climb anything and have fun doing it. From here, they commenced climbing rocks instead of trees. 

Botanical Beach, 2025, Juan de Fuca Park, Vancouver Island, BC

Now, you won't find any tidal pools this high up, but that doesn't mean there's nothing to see. In this next photo, can you see what living creature caught the eye of whoever was holding my camera at the time?

Botanical Beach, 2025, Juan de Fuca Park, Vancouver Island, BC

If you look real close at the centre of the above photo, you'll see the length of a common garter snake. Yes, there are more photos of the snake, some real close, and no, I don't want to post any more than what you see here. Trust me, you can see its full body in this shot better than all curled up tightly between rocks with its eyes glaring in your direction.

Botanical Beach, 2025, Juan de Fuca Park, Vancouver Island, BC

Under the low cloud level, the beach looks menacing and quite treacherous if you don't mind your step. Our rock climbing offspring were quite tired as they headed back to the start up point.

Botanical Beach, 2025, Juan de Fuca Park, Vancouver Island, BC

Meanwhile, Nelson and Jessie had headed back to where they first entered the beach. Struck by the magnificent sight of a sea stack, Nelson took this iconic photo without realizing that similar photos appear in almost every promotional photo collection of the park. The sea stack is an island when the tide is in, and very approachable when the tide is out. The shore is still hard to walk on as the gravel shifts beneath your feet, but it seems more peaceful here and there are still discoveries to be found.

Botanical Beach, 2025, Juan de Fuca Park, Vancouver Island, BC

While in the vicinity of the sea stack, Nelson took this photo of a seep monkeyflower, also known as the common yellow monkeyflower. It seems out of place so close to the tidal pools, yet lends a whisper of beauty to a different view of the shore. 

Steller's Jay, 2025, Juan de Fuca Park, Vancouver Island, BC

I was taking photos of a Steller's jay when Nelson and our happy, exhausted kids trooped back to the parking lot. I may not have been able to join them exploring Botanical Beach, but pouring through their photos for these 3 posts has been pure pleasure. 

Jump if you ever get a chance to visit Juan de Fuca Park, but please keep in mind that it's huge and not suitable for the mobility challenged. Most importantly, check the tidal chart to see when the tide goes out and returns. It happens very fast. 

This is Part 3 of 3 Botanical Beach posts describing our exploration of the Juan de Fuca Park tidal pools and shore of the Salish Sea on the west side of Vancouver Island. We loved it!

Botanical Beach posts correspond to the March calendar page. 

If you enjoyed this adventure, join us in April when we head inland along a tsunami route and explore old growth forests and underground caves.

Road Trip 2025 - Botanical Beach - Part 2

In my last post, Botanical Beach Part 1 introduced you to the wonderful world of tidal pools carved into sandstone that we found in Juan de Fuca Park near Port Renfrew along the Pacific Marine Circle Route on the western side of Vancouver Island. 

Botanical Beach, 2025, Juan de Fuca Park, Vancouver Island, BC

It's fascinating to realize that marine life lives in tidal pools that are covered by water for hours at a time, and then exposed to air when the tide is out. Twice a day, tide in, tide out, every day, as directed by the moon. Incredulous, really. So what treasures are hidden in the pools?

Botanical Beach, 2025, Juan de Fuca Park, Vancouver Island, BC

Tidal pools hold a myriad of life. Green anemone and purple sea urchins such as in the above photo live beside mussels and shells in this pool. I suspect the orange colour is a velvety red sponge, but since I'm not a marine biologist, it may even be an egg mass. And then there are the surprises, such as the dwarf mottled henricia of the sea star family. Can you see it near the purple sea urchin? I'll give you a closeup in the next image.

Botanical Beach, 2025, Juan de Fuca Park, Vancouver Island, BC

The dwarf mottled henricia is a sea star that is only 2 inches across and looks so small beside the 4 to 6 inch purple sea urchins nearby. And it's positively tiny when compared to the purple sea stars we found on our 1981 trip to Gabriola Island in the Strait of Georgia on the east side of Vancouver Island. Back then, we called them starfish and they were plump purple and reddish creatures the size of a human adult male's large hand. There were masses of them when the tide went out. 

Purple Sea Star, 1981, Gabriola Island, BC

When I was researching for our 2025 BC trip, I looked for best places to find the purple sea star. It was then that I discovered that back in 2013 the Pacific Ocean and waters connected to it, such as the Salish Sea near the Botanical Beach, and into the Strait of Georgia, warmed to such a degree that we lost a huge percentage of our sea star population due to a bacteria that caused sea star wasting disease. 

Purple Sea Stars, 1981, Gabriola Island, BC

The sea stars are recovering, and you may find them in abundance when the tide goes out on some beaches, but not to the extent we saw back in 1981 when the tide went out and a beautiful display of purple sea stars covered the island shore.

Botanical Beach, 2025, Juan de Fuca Park, Vancouver Island, BC

Jessie found an interesting tidal pool with purple sea urchins, limpets, gooseneck barnacles, mussels, and a little mossy chiton. You have to look close to see the mossy chiton as it's the green oval creature in the upper right part of the image to the right of the purple sea urchin. Due to its shape, it reminded me of a dust mop, but I recognized it from a video Nelson had taken of a couple other chitons.

Botanical Beach, 2025, Juan de Fuca Park, Vancouver Island, BC

In the above collage:

Upper left: The mossy chiton from Jessie's photo shows the mossy, rubber-like hairs that cover the flesh on either side of its 8 armour-like plates.

Lower left: A mossy chiton snuggled in a watery rock abscess in another of Jessie's photos.

Right side top and bottom: Screenshots from Nelson's video that shows 2 mossy chitons. Both are partly submerged, and both show their poo pellets. 

Botanical Beach, 2025, Juan de Fuca Park, Vancouver Island, BC

This image of Nick pointing into a tidal pool attracted me because of the textured sandstone bottom. It reminded me of the textured bottom of the pools in the Japanese Garden that we visited on our tour of the Butchart Gardens a few posts ago. Upon zooming in to where Nick was pointing, I saw a mossy chiton similar to the one in the bottom left of the mossy chiton collage above. 

Botanical Beach, 2025, Juan de Fuca Park, Vancouver Island, BC

In the foreground of the above photo, aggregating anemones seem to be guarding the tidal pool. These anemones live in colonies and paralyze their prey with stinging cells on their tentacles. It's one reason you should never explore a tidal pool by hand. Also shown are limpets clinging to the rocky walls, mussels lining the bottom, and graceful coral seaweed clinging to the wall near the top of the photo. 

Botanical Beach, 2025, Juan de Fuca Park, Vancouver Island, BC

I found the above image of seaweeds fascinating. You can even see a hermit crab's legs sticking out from under the shell in the centre of the photo. Below is the same image with outlines and a legend.

Botanical Beach, 2025, Juan de Fuca Park, Vancouver Island, BC

With Crystal's help, the above image shows items I've outlined that I found to be the most intriguing. The following legend corresponds to the outlined image above.

Red outlines- sea grapes or sea sacs

Blue outlines - rockweed

Pink outline - graceful coral seaweed 

Yellow outline - hermit crab hiding under a shell (3 legs visible)

Botanical Beach, 2025, Juan de Fuca Park, Vancouver Island, BC

Nick took this photo of what I thought was a slug but is actually a sea lemon. Acorn barnacles that are in the top right corner and dotted throughout the image look small, so I researched the sea lemon and found it grows up to 15 cm/6 in long. No wonder it caught Nick's eye. 

Botanical Beach, 2025, Juan de Fuca Park, Vancouver Island, BC

Although we have so many more wonderful photos of life in the sandstone tidal pools, I'll end this post with another image of Botanical Beach when the tide is out. Note the fallen, weathered tree in the top middle of the photo which will be featured in the next post. And then note the size of the people. Botanical Beach is huge, and there was even more to see and do. Our kids like climbing and the next post will show that rock climbing is part of this park's adventure.

This is Part 2 of 3 Botanical Beach posts describing our exploration of the Juan de Fuca Park tidal pools and shore of the Salish Sea on the west side of Vancouver Island.

Check out Part 3 when it's posted next week.

Botanical Beach posts correspond to the March calendar page. 

Road Trip 2025 - Botanical Beach - Part 1

 

After our day at the Butchart Gardens and our morning whale-watching from the balcony of our Airbnb, we headed west toward Port Renfrew on the Pacific Marine Circle Route. The sky was cloudy and although there were many beaches along the way, we didn't stop until we arrived at Juan de Fuca Park where Botanical Beach is located. We had checked the tidal chart ahead of time and knew we had a few hours to explore the shoreline before the tide returned. 

Botanical Beach is a wide stretch of sandstone shore that reveals layers of tidal pools, sea creatures, seaweed, and other vegetation once the tide goes out. It's a beautiful, craggy, watch-your-step place. Due to my mobility issues, I handed my Nikon P950 over to Nick and had a much needed nap in the car.       

Trail to Botanical Beach, 2025, Juan de Fuca Park, Vancouver Island, BC

People with mobility issues will have hardship on the long, over half a kilometre path of exposed tree roots, uneven ground, muddy portions, and stairs that lead to the beach.

Trail to Botanical Beach, 2025, Juan de Fuca Park, Vancouver Island, BC

JJ's attention was drawn to one of many twisted trees that help make this trail unique. Meanwhile, Crystal found her own treat below. 

Trail to Botanical Beach, 2025, Juan de Fuca Park, Vancouver Island, BC

Someone took a photo of a bugs and slugs information sign, and then was careful to walk around this cute banana slug on the path. The collage is of the same slug with different views of its head.

Banana Slug, Trail to Botanical Beach, 2025, Juan de Fuca Park, Vancouver Island, BC

Botanical Beach, 2025, Juan de Fuca Park, Vancouver Island, BC

As Jessie reached the beach, she took this shoreline photo of surf-pounded sandstone and other rocks. It's an amazing image of the colours and layers that occur when the moon and weather causes water to repeatedly smash against something and change its shape. Astounding really.

Botanical Beach, 2025, Juan de Fuca Park, Vancouver Island, BC

Nelson took this photo as they reached the beach. As we had planned, the tide was out and almost every nook and craggy cranny was there to explore. Eager to feel the freedom of discovery, Jessie charged ahead on the wet, hard ground. Nick was next, keeping close to the rocks. JJ took a good look around, listening to Crystal as she explained what lay before them. The search was on for the tidal pools and other discoveries.

Botanical Beach, 2025, Juan de Fuca Park, Vancouver Island, BC

Walking was hazardous. The screenshot above is from a video of Jessie stepping past a tidal pool on the left, while mussels, gooseneck barnacles, and seaweed cling to the sandstone rock around her feet wherever they can get a grip.

Tidal Pool, Botanical Beach, 2025, Juan de Fuca Park, Vancouver Island, BC

This tidal pool contains barnacles, mussels, and seaweed both in the pool and out of it. Purple sea urchins, seaweed, and other sea creatures were spotted in the pool waiting for the tide to return.

Tidal Pool, Botanical Beach, 2025, Juan de Fuca Park, Vancouver Island, BC

Nick took the above image of the gooseneck barnacles and mussels that were everywhere. It also shows limpets, acorn barnacles, and different types of seaweed.

Botanical Beach, 2025, Juan de Fuca Park, Vancouver Island, BC

Dexterity and balance is a must when searching out the tidal pools, not only for the safety of the animals found here, but because this is a provincial park and the collecting, moving, or destroying of sea creatures and botanical specimens is not allowed. 

Tidal Pools, Botanical Beach, 2025, Juan de Fuca Park, Vancouver Island, BC

Searching for the tidal pools was like a treasure hunt as they never knew where they would find one, or what they would discover. 

Botanical Beach, 2025, Juan de Fuca Park, Vancouver Island, BC

Nelson found this tidal pool of green algae nestled among what looked like lichen-covered sandstone.  It was fascinating, but what caught my eye was the heart-shaped pink rock on the right side of the photo. And then I spotted a gold pearl floating on the surface. So romantic. 

Well, it seemed romantic until I did some research and realized the gold pearl was actually a float from a bull kelp plant, commonly known as bullwhip kelp or ribbon kelp.

Bed of Bull Kelp, Botanical Beach, 2025, Juan de Fuca Park, Vancouver Island, BC

The above photo shows a bed of bull kelp, stalks and floats lying on the surface basking in the sun as it shone for a few minutes before disappearing behind the clouds above the Salish Sea. Bull kelp rises to the surface on long hollow stems called stipes. It's an annual plant and can grow up to 36 metres/120 feet per season if needed in order to reach the surface where it uses sunlight for photosynthesis.

Botanical Beach, 2025, Juan de Fuca Park, Vancouver Island, BC

The above screenshot is a teaser for Part 2 of this series because it shows the different levels of a tidal pool and gives a hint at what lives in it. 

Part 2 will be posted next week and we hope you'll check out all the fascinating photos.

This is Part 1 of 3 Botanical Beach posts describing our exploration of the Juan de Fuca Park tidal pools and shore of the Salish Sea on the west side of Vancouver Island.

Botanical Beach posts correspond to the March calendar page.