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Jordan
River
Jordan River or sometimes called River Jordan is located 31 km (19
miles) north of Sooke and 40 km (25 miles)
south of Port Renfrew on Hwy 14.
Jordan River is named after the river located here that flows into
the nearby Pacific Ocean.
Western
Forest Products
Jordan River is a very small hamlet that has traditionally operated
as a logging camp harvesting the forests starting in the late 19th
century. Today Western Forest Products has a large dryland log-sorting
area near the river and can be seen from the West Coast Highway
hill towards Port Renfrew. Western
Forest Products also owns a small number of company homes and industrial
property throughout the village and is in the process of selling
off large parcels of property for real estate development.
Commercial
Businesses on Hwy 14
There is very little commercial businesses in Jordan River with
the only exception being a small coffee shop called Chula Espresso
& Juice Bar which is also situated on the edge of town on Hwy
14 at the base of the hill towards Port
Renfrew. Unfortunately, a local favourite burger stand called
Shakies Drive-In, has been closed down for some time and the Breakers
Café is not open and, for a long period, has been for sale.
Chula
Espresso & Juice Bar
The Chula Espresso & Juice Bar sells a few local handicraft
and eclectic items plus offers chocolate bars, muffins and a custom-roast
coffee. Unfortunately, there is limited seating and no washrooms
but the Chula Espresso & Juice Bar has a beautiful view across
Hwy 14 of the ocean waterfront along the bay.
Jordan
River Surf Club
The beach and tidal area that fronts Jordan River is a point where
the ocean waves that break are of the type popular for surfing especially
in the winter. At one time a long-time established Jordan River
Surf Club, made up a group of locals, had been surfing off the Jordan
River coastline and farther north-west at Sombrio Beach for a number
of years. There are three different locations at Jordan River to
surf called Rock Piles, Sewers, and The Point.
Oceanfront
Campground
There is a campground at Jordan River operated by Western Forest
Products located right on the water near where the old clubhouse
for the Jordan River Surf Club sat. The popular campground offers
beachfront campsites with fire-pits near where the river empties
out and within walking distance to the Chula Espresso & Juice
Bar. Western Forest Products also has a day-use, walk-in recreation
site at Sandcut Beach, with the parking lot situated about 2 km
(1.3 miles) south of town on Hwy 14.
BC
Hydro
The electrical utility, BC Hydro, also operates a small one-unit,
hydro-electric generating turbine from Jordan River, with the original
construction finishing in 1911. The generating plant is a product
of a number of dams and lakes situated upstream on the Jordan River
that had been originally built to power the Bamberton Cement Plant
and Victoria. The series of dams and
generators have since been upgraded with a penstock feeding a one-unit
turbine located behind the community near the dryland log sort.
China
Beach
Jordan River is just south of China Beach which happens to be included
in the Juan de Fuca Provincial Park. At China Beach you can find
a provincial campground, beautiful beach and the southern trail
head of the Juan de Fuca Marine Trail that travels 47 km (29 miles)
north-west to Botanical Beach near Port Renfrew.
Juan
de Fuca Marine Trail
Unlike the West Coast Trail, the Juan de Fuca Marine Trail requires
no reservations and is open all year round. The hike takes you along
beautiful ocean beaches by going through lush rain forests to Mystic
and Sombrio Beaches. Several rustic campgrounds have been made along
the way to enhance your hiking experience. Just remember to pick
up a camping permit, tide table and practice 'wildlife awareness'
and 'bear-safe' techniques when hiking.
Tansky
Motorcycle Trails
For people who love Enduro riding and, especially those who belong
to BCORMA, make sure you get to try riding up the Tansky Main. Located
near the entrance to China Beach Provincial Campground is where
you'll access onto forestry roads leading to the previously logged
Tansky Main forestry road. Here you can find at least 20 square
km (7.7 square miles) being developed into off-road Enduro trails
by the Victoria Motorcycle Club and the Juan de Fuca Enduro Riders.
Information
on Jordan River
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