Covering the southern part of the picturesque Vancouver Island in the Canadian Province of British Columbia is the ultimate road trip destination of Pacific Marine Circle Route. With its strategic location in the Pacific Northwest region, the area enjoys a mild climate that makes it suitable to visit in many seasons. This circular trip starts and ends in the capital city of British Columbia, Victoria, and affords breathtaking ocean vistas, rugged wilderness, forests, beaches, waterfalls, museums, restaurants, art galleries, and remote villages. Hiking, trekking, camping, fishing, wine tasting and many other outdoor activities are on offer along this beautiful route. We’ve compiled the ultimate guide to enhance your road trip experience. So, come along and take a look at our guide to Pacific Marine Circle Route.
Things to do / Highlights
Driving along the scenic route, you will encounter several noteworthy towns, picturesque spots, provincial parks, museums, and trails. Take your time and stop at as many places as you want. Taking side trips to explore hidden gems is highly recommended, but here are some absolutely must-do things along the route:
Explore the great outdoors of Sooke
The charms of Sooke are many, including the beaches, the network of hiking trails of East Sooke Regional Park, and the geological marvels of Sooke Potholes Provincial Park, where swimming in the river rock pools is a popular activity in the summer. Hiking along the rugged coastline for breathtaking mountain and ocean views, fishing in the Sooke River, watching the annual salmon spawn run, or visiting Sooke Region Museum are some other popular things to do here.
Hike along Cowichan Lake
As the source of the Cowichan River, the beautiful 30-kilometre-long (18.6-mile) Cowichan Lake is renowned for boating, canoeing, swimming, fishing, and tubing. Several small beaches and campgrounds are also scattered along the lake, but the best thing to do here is to go hiking. Several hiking trails are present, including a part of the Great Trail, where mesmerising forest, gorge, and canyon vistas await you. Shorter hikes include an hour-long loop in Cowichan River Provincial Park along the Cowichan River.
Go wine tasting in Duncan
In and around Duncan, make several stops to sample the finest wines of British Columbia in wine tasting rooms. Explore Averill Creek Vineyard and Blue Grouse Estate Winery or learn about the winemaking process. Several excellent breweries, distilleries, and cideries in this area are worth a visit too.
Travelers tips
Wheelchair accessibility
Most museums, visitor centres, and wineries along the route are wheelchair accessible. But there are steep cliffs, unpaved areas, and jagged rocks along many of the hiking trails in the regional parks, and they may not necessarily be wheelchair accessible. Several picnicking and camping areas within these parks are suitable for guests in wheelchairs.
Safety first at parks
River hazards in the form of partially and fully submerged trees and swift currents at Cowichan River Provincial Park can be faced by tubers, kayakers, and swimmers. Visitors should not panic over loud noises from a nearby gun shooting range at this park. At the Juan de Fuca Trail in the Juan de Fuca Provincial Park along the route, avoid disturbing wildlife or natural items in any way. Be aware of bear and cougar safety rules in this park. At the Sooke Potholes Provincial Park, watch out for steep cliffs and exercise extreme caution while hiking. Attention should also be paid to water level drops and rise after a period of rainfall here.
Gas stations and cell coverage
Some areas of the route are quite remote and out of the range of cell coverage and have no gas stations. It is best to stock up on gas at the nearest service station along the route. The patch between Lake Cowichan and Sooke has just one gas station, at Port Renfrew, but that too may not be open at times, so it’s best to fill up early on in Sooke.
Cell coverage is spotty in most parts of the route and the western bit is notoriously devoid of any form of cell coverage. So, if you need to send an urgent email or make an important phone call, it’s best to plan ahead before you enter the western part of the route. Between Sooke and Lake Cowichan, you are completely off the grid, which is great for those looking for an unplugged holiday. From Lake Cowichan to Duncan, you may get some network coverage, but don’t count on it too much.
How to get there
Self-drive
Driving is really the best and often the only way to see the Pacific Marine Circle Route. The province of British Columbia has an excellent network of roads and highways with well-posted signages that will ensure your road trip is seamless and hassle-free. Follow the road signs, follow a paper map, or navigate via a GPS as you drive your own car and take in the beauty of this route.
Rent a car
Another convenient way to explore the sights of this scenic route is by a rental car. Several international and local car rental companies are located at or near airports and in larger areas of the route. The most convenient way to pick up a rental car is from Victoria International Airport.
Parking information
Parking is easily available at most parks, museums, wineries, and visitor centres along the route. At Cowichan River Provincial Park, several parking lots are available near the campgrounds, day-use sites, and trailheads. At Juan de Fuca Provincial Park, beach trailheads, hiking trailheads, campsites, and day-use sites have ample parking available.
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Pacific Marine Circle Route Information
Pacific Marine Circle Route
Address: Victoria, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada
Official Website: Pacific Marine Circle Route
Department of tourism: The Canada Guide
History
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