13 new campsites, accessible showers, washrooms added to China Beach in time for opening: province (2025)

China Beach Campground on Vancouver Island is now home to more accessible campsites, along with new washrooms and showers, in time for its opening next month.

The 13 added sites, including eight drive-in tent sites and five walk-in sites, were part of an expansion that builds on the 33 sites added last year, bringing the total number to 125 at China Beach, according to B.C.’s Environment and Parks Ministry.

It says visitors will also notice two accessible shower and flush toilet buildings, which incorporate universal design standards where possible — and, together with the new sites, were completed ahead of the upcoming busy summer season.

China Beach Campground is scheduled to open on May 15, with reservations for the new sites available starting May 1 for arrivals between May 15 and Sept. 1.

After that, reservations will be on a four-month rolling window.

BC Parks carried out the expansion project in collaboration with the Pacheedaht First Nation, on whose territory Juan de Fuca Park — which encompasses China Beach Campground — is located, on the Island’s rugged southwest coast.

The land “offers scenic beauty, spectacular hiking, marine and wildlife viewing, and roaring surf in its course along the Pacific coastline of the Strait of Juan de Fuca,” according to the BC Parks website, which also provides tips for visitors.

The 1,528-hectare park includes campgrounds, day-use areas, beaches and the 47-kilometre Juan de Fuca Marine Trail, which will remain closed for the summer, the province says, so crews can fix damage caused by previous storms.

READ PREVIOUS FROM APRIL 17: Juan de Fuca Marine Trail remains closed for upcoming summer

Together, the 46-site expansion at China Beach — 13 sites this year, 33 in 2024 — totalled $2.3 million, but work isn’t done yet. The province says updates will be made this fall at the nearby day-use parking area to accommodate more visitors.

“The new parking area will have approximately 45 new stalls, a dedicated space for RVs and a turnaround area for large vehicles. A service centre with a pit toilet, bike racks and an information shelter is also part of the project,” the province says.

The ongoing work at China Beach is part of a larger, $21.5 million investment aimed at increasing and improving opportunities for outdoor recreation across B.C.

Juan de Fuca-Malahat MLA Dana Lajeunesse says he has fond memories of the local beaches and was fortunate to spend his childhood there.

“BC Parks are more popular than ever, and I’m happy to see more opportunities for families and friends to enjoy more of what B.C. has to offer,” he said.

And with more visitors comes a bigger boost to the local economy, adds B.C.’s Environment and Parks Minister, Tamara Davidson, on Tuesday.

“For so many people, camping is a way to connect with family and friends, and spend time together in nature,” Davidson said in a news release. “That’s why we’re building more capacity with new, accessible campsites on Vancouver Island as more people choose to vacation within Canada and support our economy.”

Drivers can access Juan de Fuca Park at various points along West Coast Highway 14 between Jordan River and Port Renfrew. China Beach Campground specifically is just east of China Beach day-use, approximately 35 kilometres west of Sooke.

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