In summer when water levels are low, the San Juan River, located near Port Renfrew BC, is a great place to spend a day or possibly an entire weekend paddling and exploring. We recommend putting in at the San Juan Bridge Recreation Site and getting out at at Fairy Lake. NOTE It’s not currently possible to paddle all the way down to Port Renfrew as for some years a giant log jam has blocked the San Juan River just West of Fairy Lake. For those less adventuresome it’s also possible to paddle and line up the San Juan River from Fairy Lake and return the same way you came.
Latitude: 48.607673
Longitude: -124.128978
Direction: From Port Renfrew follow the Pacific Circle Route north for about 16.5 km until you reach a Y intersection. Stay right, leaving the pavement. At the next Y intersection stay right again onto Bear Creek Main. Follow until you cross the San Juan River on a long bridge (about 6 km of gravel). The San Juan Bridge Recreation Site is on the left immediately after the bridge.
Blog Posts: San Juan River
External Links
- Anglers Atlas
- Backroads Map Book VIBC02
- GoHiking – San Juan River
- San Juan River Ecological Reserve
- San Juan Bridge Recreation Site
- Fairy Lake Recreation Site
San Juan River Map