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Pacific Marine Road, Vancouver Island, British Columbia
Photo: Brian Burger · CC BY-SA 2.0

Drives British Columbia Vancouver, the Sea-to-Sky and the BC Coast

Pacific Marine Road

Vancouver Island, British Columbia · Port Renfrew → Lake Cowichan

Sweeping35 mi1 hr3,600 ft climbHigh point ≈ 1,300 ftOne way
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The drive

Pacific Marine Road runs from Port Renfrew over forested hills to Lake Cowichan. It is winding and sometimes narrow, with tight corners and some one-lane bridges, the first a long one over the San Juan River. It finishes on South Shore Road into Lake Cowichan, on the eastern shore of Cowichan Lake.

The 34.6 miles take about an hour. It is the quietest part of the Pacific Marine Circle Route, which continues from Highway 14, and logging trucks use it.

Along the way

  1. Port Renfrew
  2. Lake Cowichan
Elevation
3,600 ft of climbing · high point ≈ 1,300 ft
Port RenfrewLake Cowichan
Curves
Mostly gentle, with two twisty stretches
Port RenfrewLake Cowichan
GentleHairpins

Good to know

  • There are no services between Port Renfrew and South Shore Road, and phone signal is limited.
  • Give logging trucks plenty of space.

Open all year, weather permitting. Roads close for snow, fire, storms and repairs: before you set off, check DriveBC.

Questions about this drive

How long does Pacific Marine Road take to drive?

Pacific Marine Road from Port Renfrew to Lake Cowichan is 34.6 miles and takes about an hour.

Are there services on Pacific Marine Road?

No. There are none between Port Renfrew and South Shore Road, so fuel up first.

Is there construction on Pacific Marine Road?

It can have work zones. Bridge work at Salmonberry Bridge has meant single-lane alternating traffic with delays of up to 10 minutes, so check DriveBC before you go.

What you get in the app

Turn by turn, on this roadSpoken directions along the exact route. Carve never reroutes you onto a faster one.
Preview it in 3DFly the whole drive over satellite and terrain before you go.
Drive it with no signalAPEXDownload the map and every turn before you go.
Live Group TrackingAPEXEveryone on the route, on the map, by name.
Road conditionsAPEXWet or dry, ice, fog and wind along the road before you go.
Record your drivesAPEXRecord a drive and turn it into a route to drive again or share.

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More drives near here

All 33 drives in British Columbia ›

Distance, time, elevation, curves and intensity are from Carve's route. Checked 2026-10-28.

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Map of Pacific Marine Road, from Port Renfrew to Lake Cowichan