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At Bonilla you finally officially cross from the Strait of Juan de Fuca to the Pacific Ocean.
Bonilla is a good campsite with a nearby waterfall. We prefer Carmanah Creek, though.
Headed towards Bamfield stay on the coast all the way to the Carmanah Lighthouse. You may tire of trudging through endless sand. Plan to take frequent rest breaks or break up the sand walking by doing some sections in the forest.
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Headed towards Port Renfrew walk the shore all the way to Walbran. (If the Walbran is in flood it may be impossible to wade. If the rivers are high keep checking with oncoming hikers as to the best route.)
On the beach, at higher tides, you may need to take the bypass trail around Vancouver Point.
Trivia — You may hear the story that Bonilla is Spanish for high; that the name was intended for Carmanah Point which is high but a booboo was made & this low point of land ended up with the Bonilla moniker. This is wrong. Many have perpetuated the story including this website. Thanks to Mark Fernandez of Port Alberni for correcting the error.
Mark is confident that Bonilla was named for Antonio Bonilla, colonnel and army general, commander of the Dragones de Mexico with detachements in several ports on the West Coast.
