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 slugwith 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.