Sandcut Beach – Jordan Rivers Secret Waterfall
Sandcut Beach is a great easy coastal hike near Victoria BC with a beautiful waterfall. Very easy to access the short hike gives you great views over the Olympic peninsula and a pretty pebble beach. This is a great add on to a West Coast itinerary or a great place to hang out.
Sandcut Beach Waterfall Hike Info
- Difficulty: Easy well maintained trail
- Elevation Gain /Loss: 30m
- Distance: 1.6 km round trip
- Time: 30 minutes each way
- Opening Times: Trail is open year round
- Dogs: Dog friendly trail make sure pets stay leashed
Sandcut Beach Views
How To Get To Sandcut Beach
Sandcut Beach can be accessed from the Victoria or the Lake Cowichan direction. If leaving from victoria it is only a 25 minute drive from Sooke and about an 1 hour from Victoria. Highway 14 is windy and can be darker than you expect at night. Drive carefully and expect wildlife.
Leaving from Lake Cowichan it is a scenic 1 hour and 25 minutes passing Port Renfrew and Sombrio beach.
Sandcut beach trailhead is easy to find. Look for the side pullout with parking. If you see a big wooden Sandcut Beach sign you are in the right place!
Sandcut Beach Waterfall Hike Directions
The trail leaves right from the parking lot and has a convenient trail map at the beginning.
It is an easy 400m walk down to the beach with a couple stairs and a little boardwalk. It is a pleasant walk but bring good footwear as West Coast boardwalks can be slippery.
Once you get to the beach the waterfall is super easy to find. You just turn left at the water walk about 400m and you should see the falls.
As always on the westcoast gumboots and waterproof shoes are a good idea. The trail is wide and clear but does get muddy.
Elvis is amazed with the view
There is lots of beautiful old growth on the way including this huge washed up deadfall.
Sandcut Beach Waterfall
The sandcut that give the beach and the falls its name
Best Time To Visit Sandcut Beach
Sandcut Beach is a great visit year round. It is particularly rugged and peaceful in winter. Dress warmly and get the beach to yourself. In summer the beach gets a little busier but the traffic is nothing like Sombrio or China Beach.
Where To Stay Around Sandcut Beach
If camping isn’t your vibe the best place to stay around here is the Jordan River and Shirley area. They are both super small and Jordan River only really has a coffee shop and single restaurant so make sure you stock up on groceries before your visit. There are tons of beaches and surf breaks in this area and its a great spot to spend some time. If you want to stay somewhere a bit bigger you can opt for Sooke or Port Renfrew. Port Renfrew is also quite small but has a store a pub and some good restaurants. Sooke is closer to Victoria and has everything you could need.
Where To Stay In Jordan River
Jordan River has some incredibly cool wild feeling guesthouse options. I have listed some of the more unique and recommended ones below.
The Rad Shack – A lost in the forest tiny house
Pipers Nest – Cute modern detached tiny house with outdoor clawfoot
Oceanfront Nature Retreat – Beautiful modern cedar cabin looking right at the ocean
Tips for Your Visit
- The West Coast can be cold and wet even on a nice day. Extra layers, a beach blanket and a good jacket are always wise to have.
- Leave no trace reminder Juan De Fuca is a particularly sensitive wildlife area don’t encourage bears and wolves by leaving food out.
- Wolves do frequent the area so make sure to keep pets leashed
If You Have More Time On The West Coast
If you have some more time for exploring why not explore some more of the beaches in the Juan De Fuca area. We hiked to all of them when we did the Juan De Fuca and you can see the pics here!
You are also right beside the trail to Mystic beach and it’s seaside waterfall.
Sombrio Beach and its hidden waterfall is a great way to spend a day and easily one of the prettiest beaches on the island.
If you are in the area you might as well check out Southern Vancouver Islands nicest beach, China Beach
