Sombrio Creek
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| | Raps:5, max ↨115ft
Red Tape:No permit required Shuttle:Optional 15 min Vehicle:Passenger | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Condition Reports: | 31 Aug 2025
"Did Sombrio and some upper sections today! Super fun day out with an amazing crew.we moved very fast through the entire canyon. Our time for the secti |
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| Best season: | Summer / Fall
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48.5136, -124.2878
48.5135, -124.2876
48.5012, -124.2955
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Introduction[edit]
Sombrio is a fun canyon along the Juan de Fuca which exits right at Sombrio Beach. It has some interesting rappels, some great jumps and is set in a scenic rain forest environment. Although it has not been investigated there are many potential exit points although the bushwhack out could be long and difficult. There are also sections with steep walls and no possible escape.
Approach[edit]
Follow Hwy 14 from Victoria toward Port Renfrew. After Passing though Jordan River and into the Juan de Fuca Park, look for signs to Sombrio beach. Turning down to Sombrio beach will take you to the exit parking lot. Continue past this turning 1km and you will come across the first of three bridges for Sombrio River. Find a place to park off the road on the south side just after the Sombrio River II bridge. Access to the canyon can be made by scrambling down under the bridge on the north east side.
Descent[edit]
After entering the canyon walk down creek you will arrive at a gentle left then right switch back. This is followed by a pool (approx. 6') this can be jumped from canyon right approx 3m.
- Rappel-1 18m (55’) from 2 bolt on the large boulder on canyon left ends in a deep pool, This "Jumpable" pitch can be done by a staying on canyon left and finding a launch spot 3m down from the anchor. Swim across to R-2
- Rappel-2, 35m. This has two options; a handline can be rigged on canyon left to reach a station around the corner. Or there's a small station with black webbing (2025) on canyon right. As of 2025 there's a down tree in flow at the bottom of the pitch. Take care as not to get entangled. This pitch ends in a deep pool. Swim across pool for clean pull.
- Pool is followed by down climb on left side of canyon (this can be rappelled via bolts on canyon right) 8m
- After down climb and swim under trees you will arrive at a 5m jump into deep pool, which can be down climbed.
- Rappel-3a 30m two stage 6m>14m. From a single bolt ledge canyon left rappel to shallow pit, rappel continues at on 2m rappel before dropping again to 12m rappel to ledge in deep pool. This rappel is known to cause injury in higher flow. The more common method to navigate this feature is below.
- Rappel-3b 7m Find a small path with a blue fixed line to climb slightly out of the canyon. Continue along this well-defined trail to a small tree with green webbing and a ring (2024)to rappel down to dry pothole where you'll find a bolt to add a hand line to access the following anchor.
- Rappel-4 14m (Bypass of R3a) find the single rap ring on canyon left and rappel down into the bowl feature to a deep pool. You can also jump this from two locations one right near the bolt slight to the right (15M) and one 4m down on a ledge in line with the upper spot (11m). Ensure to jump towards your left (The opening of the bowl down canyon).
- Jump 6m!, Into narrow pool aim far and towards canyon left. This can also be jumped from the top of the down tree (Hard to access but a clean jump 10m)
- Jump 4m. At the point where Sombrio River 3 meets Sombrio River 2 there is a jump on canyon left, find the pool towards and keep to the left. This can be jumped at different heights from 4m to 8m.
- Rappel-5 10m free hanging rappel anchors located on canyon right. This pitch can also be Jumped (11m!) by climbing up canyon right to a launch platform. Ensure to tread the needle and land where the canyon opens back up.
- Jump 3m. Down climb canyon right to 3m jump in to deep pool. Potential for higher jump.
- Jump 4m, off canyon left in to shallow pool
- Jump 5m canyon central in shallow pool
- Rappel-5 - To be written
- Rappel-6 - to be written
- Down climb 2m in between/under rocks or jump from top log in very shallow pool
This Description is in the middle of being edited to reflect the new state of the canyon as of 2025.
Exit[edit]
On completing the canyon will be greeted by a suspension bridge and a view out in the strait of Juan de Fuca. Either exit via this currently closed suspension bridge (2025) or walk along the beach to the main trail head to be questioned by all the tourist around.
Red tape[edit]
The whole river is in a park. There is a fee for overnight camping and parking.