Botanical Beach Provincial Park, near Port Renfrew, is one of the most fascinating spots on Vancouver Island’s west coast. With its lush rainforest, sandstone tide pools teeming with marine life, and dramatic rock formations at Botany Bay, it’s a place that never feels the same twice. The loop trail takes you through easy forest paths and rugged coastal terrain, offering a chance to explore the diverse landscapes of this wild stretch of shoreline. The circular rock pools, twisted shore pines, and constantly shifting driftwood add to their raw beauty.

Over the years, I’ve had good luck photographing Botanical Beach and Botany Bay, though they can be tricky locations to shoot. The light is everything here—when it’s good, I go for grand landscapes, but when the conditions are less than ideal, I focus on abstracts or close-ups of the washed-up logs and more minor details scattered along the beaches. The tide pools are always worth exploring, and the powerful storm waves make for an entirely different kind of experience in winter. Botanical Beach has endless variety, and there’s always something new to discover.