Camping & Outdoor Blog
Family Camping Activities for All Ages: Games, Hiking, and Campfire Fun
The legendary heart of Joshua Tree National Park.
Introduce
French Beach Provincial Park is a hidden gem located in Sooke, British Columbia, offering a picturesque escape for nature enthusiasts. This charming park provides a perfect blend of natural beauty, recreational opportunities, and cozy amenities, making it an ideal destination for both day trips and overnight stays.
- Environment: Nestled along Juan De Fuca Hwy, French Beach is renowned for its pristine beaches and lush surroundings. The park features a 1 km easy hike from the parking lot to the beach, though recent windstorms have temporarily created trail challenges that are expected to be resolved soon.
- Service Items: Visitors can enjoy camping facilities, a day use area with picnic tables, campfire rings, and a children’s playground. The park also offers restrooms and plenty of open grassy areas for relaxation.
The park is particularly popular for its sandy beach, which is a rare find on the island. At the south end of the beach, visitors can explore small tide pools, adding an extra touch of adventure for families. French Beach Provincial Park is a haven for those seeking a mix of tranquility and fun outdoor activities.
- Customer Feedback:
- "A really beautiful park with camping and a great day use area."
- "Only a 3-5 minute walk from the car park to the beach, perfect for an easy visit."
- "The beach is sandy, which is nice since there aren't too many sandy beaches on the island."
French Beach Provincial Park is more than just a destination; it’s an experience that brings visitors closer to nature while offering all the comforts they need. Whether you’re looking for a peaceful day by the beach or a weekend camping adventure, French Beach has something for everyone.
Gallery
Service options
Onsite services
Highlights
Picnics
Accessibility
Wheelchair accessible entrance
Wheelchair accessible parking lot
Activities
Hiking
Amenities
Picnic tables
Public restroom
Slides
Children
Good for kids
Kid-friendly hikes
Playground
Pets
Dogs allowed
Owen Taylor
Feb 08
Beautiful beach and a relatively easy 1 km hike each way from the parking lot. Unfortunately, recent windstorms have made the trail down an obstacle course. Hopefully that will be cleared up soon.
Jordan Buren
Sep 18
A really beautiful park, has camping and a great day use area Only a 3-5 minute walk from the car park to the beach The beach is sandy which is nice since there aren’t too many Sandy beaches on the island At the south end of the beach there are some small tide pools The day use area has about 5 campfire rings, some picnic tables, a children’s playground, lots of grass, and a toilet
Timara Laframboise
Aug 22
Gorgeous views, the only downside is that there’s no onsite office so for questions you just have to wait for someone to come around when they do their rounds! Besides that overall nice camp. No showers but nice scenery. All campsites had trees surrounding to provide bit of privacy. Water and pit-toilets.
Tatianna Landry
May 31
Booked this back in March (had to book 2 months in advance online) was SO WORTH IT. We lucked out in the weather, and the campsite was so clean and well kept. We were a 5 min walk from the ocean and they had a brand new children's playground. There is drinking water and pit toilets available on site. And you can have fires (there are picnic tables and fire pits in each campsite) There were two bears when we stayed. Although we did not see them, it's important your food stays in your vehicle. (They have steel containers If you come with no car) One thing to note is there is no service when you are at the campground. So keep that in mind prior to your visit. You can technically get roaming from the US but we opted not too. When you arrive you check the sign of the list of campsites to find yours, and a park ranger will meet you on their rounds for check in. I only had to show my ID for check-in. They also sell wood but it was cash only. I couldn't get over how green the trees were and how calming the ocean sounded. I HIGHLY recommend this campsite. We will definitely go next year.
Anastasiia Kutsiak
Oct 16
Just a beautiful place! I would like to return here at summer!